The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-08-26
sIxTY AND SIXTEEN.


of bis neck cloth.
.sf Copfound this neckerchicflv be ejacula
-a8 ted, giving it pull this way and twitcf
:hat. Jim, what's the reason my neck rig
gng won't set as trinity ss yoursi You young
chaps have a knack that somehow cant gel
the hang Of, about your drcssp'
90 ~ am sure can't account for il, uncle r
laughed a handsome youth Of about twenty
"Perhaps it's something incl ent to our youth
Ike scarlet fever, or falling in lovew
"That's just it, jim The fact s--now le,
me catch you laughing il you dare, you young
r9gue-Pm going to be married.
"Going to be married, unclew exclaimed
James Ashley, in open.eycd astonishment.
"- 81 never dreamed OF itp'
s "How should you, when you only arrived
B yesterday from years absence in Europe?
I'm going TO call on her this morning. Jim
come with me, and be introduced to the
Sweetest sixteen alivep
el "Only sixteen, do you say, z"
ks Don't look SO honifed, .Jm-of course L
don't expect her to DO desperately in love
with an old codger like me--that would be
unreasonable But she'll make me sweet
900 dutiful little wife, and I--there's no use
talking, can only say one thing-the Lord
deal with me as / shall deal with this child"
The old man lifted his hands reverently to-
. wards Heaven as he spoke.
Josephine Glare was sitting among her
flowers in the sunshine, blonde aud golden
haired, with blue eyes, aud delicate little
mouth, tinted with the softest crimson. One
Tiny dimple cleft her round chin, and peacEy
bloom upon her cheeks was such as comes on
iy TO sixteen. No wonder General ST. Aubyn
lost his heart to the wondrously beautiful
child--it must have been an iron sort of ma
chine if he hadn't.
She rose with varying color to greet her
fine old loyerss he entered
"Josey," he said, cheerily, after. the words
Of sautaton had been exchanged, IL am not
aloue to day--let me Introduce my nephew,
james Ashlcyw fe
Josephine lifted her blue eyes to the strang
er's face for the first time, with wild terri
fled gaze-lhe peach blossom red faded from
her check, and the first General ST Aubvn
knew, she tainted in his arms.
"What's the matterg' staminered the vete
ran in breathless terror. 'Is she dead? is
dyngl For Heavens sake get some cold wa
ter. Open the windows, somebody-brng
burnt feathers!p
.Do lay the poor child down, General"
exclaimed Miss Betsey Glare, Josephne's
maiden aunt, who rushed in at this juncture
Don't hold her SO tight. There now she's
COMM round all right, don't you see !"
The General looked on admiringly gly--all his
military tactics seemed as nothing 10 the
deftuess with which Miss Betsey arranged !
matters
"What could have made You faint, my
-f love!" he asked, when she was smiling again. !
~ II don't know" she murmured; "it was
the--heat, | suppose!'
"And where's Jim?" asked the petplexed
warrior.
"lf you mean that tall young shaver, 4
struck in Miss Betsey, shes gore home like
- n feller o sense, seeing lie couldn't be o no
nse here"
- General St. AGbyn," said Josephine, in a
p very low voice, "I know you will think me
silly little goose but pelse dou'! bring that
young man here againp
Josephine, my own loEe, why not?"
"Because- because faltered the girl, play.
ing with his watch chain, aud hiding her flush
ed face against his breast, ''it's whim of
mine"
f5f, swell, Just as you say, Josey" said the
old General, "but must remark, it's perfect
ly unaccounlable."
Women are unaccountabe creatures" said
Josephine, trying to laugh "And now tell
me about your new pictures"
But long after the General had gone, the
chiId-bride lay on her sofa, shutting out Heav
ems light from her eyes with closely clasped
hands, and breathing out the wild, wsing
moans that can only come from a broken heart.
Poor sacrificed Josephene Clare!
When General St. Aubyn returned to bis
room at the hotel, he found James Ashley pa
cling the floor with hurried steps.
'sUncle," he said looking up as the Gene
raj entered, 81 have changed my mind about
that far-sway official post in India. Will
you obtain the appointment fol meY'
certainly; but James, you would be oblig
ed to sail immediately" Il
"The sooner the better, sir. Every hour
that remain in this country seems an age to
me-
"Jamesp said General ST. Aubyn, regard
ing his nephew with keen, piercing gaze,
"what does this mean And why does Jose
phine object to seeing you againl There is
= some mystery herep i
81 would TO Heaven had died ere / had
~ gone there te.day," gasped Ashley. "Ask
me no further, uncle--it is the best for the
happiness of all to bury the past iu eternal
oblivionp
nA@ General st. Aubyn stood moment In deep
r thought, as James hastily Quilted the room.
= Suddenly new light seemed to break upon
him-he grew ghasily pale and clenched bis
hands firmly.
49, al have itp he mutiered between bis
teeth; "tbis tho girl to whom James was
engaged before he went to Europe, aud that
mercenaiy scoundral Glare would have broken
their hearts, and put me ir this false position,
10 secure his own ends. 1t shall not be.
Two long hours General st. Aubyn paced
bis room-lhe mental conflict was sharp aud
fierce, but the noble heart triumphed The
next day he sought Josephne's presence, after
long interview with ner l...~'
nJosephine,' he said, swould you object TO
celebrating the wedding next week instead Of
next month";"
She looked up in surprise.
"a bridegroom is privileged 10 be impa