Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-31
JOSEPHA.
lulu W. Mitchell in Chicago Tribune.l

from my young nephew, Reginald Trayers,
containing sad news. My dear ole friend
Oswald Hamilton was dead: his affairs left
in a bad way, The arrangement of his pa
pers, Strengthening accounts, and settling
up of the estate were left in my hands. A sec
ond was to the effect that Josepha the only
and motherless daughter of my old friend,
now about "a years of age had finally re-
fused him. That he had secured a change
into the Tenth, which was soon TO be ordered
away to fight ZuIus, and closed by saying
that the best thing l could wish him was a
bullet through the head in the first engage
ment.
Ny poor Reg! It was his first taste OF
iife's bitter, and it was going down hard. l
longed to grasp his hand in sympathy. l
cursed the stupidity OF mall-cal1lers and
Stormed and swore at the hundred II one
annoying delays that kept me so long o n my
homeward way. However, in two days 1
was Wei on my journey.
Soldiers are rough of speech. I began to
fashion some soft phrases of sympathy for
nv old friends daughter, but gave up in
despair. trusting that, as in battle, when the
opp9rtgri5g comes, l should be ready to equal
It. And. after al, to such self-reliant natures
Us Josepha's sympathy held a tone of pity
FLA'L zA'I "a q AiSLdSLcll1 lidFOT.
\ word Ct myself here. An old soldier
nearing 50, but hale and hearty, 1 inheri ted
atmv brothers death the pile Of stone he
called home, and his large business interests.
4 misanthrope, ne had shown little taste Tor
the society Of his kind. Ny visits to him
were few and brief. Ihad taken little notice
Of Josepha until I came to Deerwood as its
master. Her name describes her. Diyinely
tall cr4 I~a np1a 1F L7,a n u-1-v-0-1r1-. 10
cuiiar IN women Of her stature, but her mo-
lion was at all times free, suggesting the
flight OF 4 sea bird. Better than beauty, her
face expressed dignity and character. Her
mouth was shapeIy and red, although q
square jaw and long chin proved somewhat
detractive 10 It.
But her eyes-glorious? Clearest gray with
pupils Of velvet, set under a mans forehead.
She had q frank, bon camarade way which
played sad havoc with mems hearts, what
ever their arInor. Many of the wisest and
wariest knelt at her shrine, but each and all
vainly. Between her and my dear lad there
had been an understanding, based on a child
ISL attachment. Merely q silken link. 1
cared little for society though, thank God!
never unfriendly or cold to my kind, like my
brother. Tn surrounding country families
who would have Lonized me on account of a
few scars and decorations met with small en-
couragenleut. and but for the flying visits of
my young lieutenant and an evening cigar
On one OF the wide verandas of Hamilton
Place, my time was passed in riding and walk
ing and shooting.
Now l VIII let you into the secret. I vas
surprised when [ found it out myself. had
fallen in love with Josepha. Preposterous.
So l said. At any rate, give me some credit.
never dreamed Of telling her, and 1 went
away m-aediately-traveling with a party of
friends.
Ny old friend Imourned sincerely. Though
ten years my senior, we had been friends
years and years. He knew 1 stood ready to
lend u helping hand whenever it was needed ;
but he was proud TOT fault, and though | had
begged MIN to allow my assistance for l
knew he was in sad straits he would never
take penny.
His reverSes We're quick and sudden. His
lndomirable Will upheld him in his struggle
for a time. When that broke beneath the
burden of troubles, which grew heavier day
by day, he died.
Dear Old friend! "Here lies a man whom
pride brought low 1 murmured as 1 stood
over his grave.
l had arrived at Deerwood late in the after
noon, and had stopped in the churchyard on
my way to Josepha.
The grass waved to and fro. I fancied the
one below stirred Uneasily.
Peace, 1 whispered. "Your name shall
be cleared; your daughter guarded we'll
Josepha let me in. She staid to fasten the
door, and as she came up with me in the cor
ridor she slipped her warm hand into mine,
and I held il strongly. Ny eyes fell on
t)SU-glIfs TfrfTra % wa .a1,+a,,a1 tho J,,,-;,-
room. Together we stood looking at it. Then
Hooked 1t Josepha, in her long, black gown.
her neck rising like a lily stem from its SOM
breness, Us she stood by my side. Bereave-
ment ana Earassing cares had set their mark
on brow and lips, though she held her head
still proudly, and her eyes looked into mine
uumisted.
If had loved her in the midst of her hap
pines5 and lighe-heartedness, how MUCK mora
l loved Ler now, penuiless, with a faint
shadow Of dishonor on her name, forsaken by
the crowds Il summer-day friends!
She looked into my face, for my tongue
was tied, and then bent her head and kissed
my hand.
My dear" I said, my dear"
TIL only safe thing for me to do was to go
to the window, and I went. Presently she
followed ne, and, having myself as thor
oughiy IN hand as an Old fighter should by
this time, Isat down beside her and We had a,
long. serious talk.
The long rays ofsunlight paled from orange
to amber and gradually faded into the gray
of dusk, and Us Yet We had not spoken Of the
future. JosePla had her fathers own pride
and strength Of VIII, and my heart failed me
rs l mentally marshaled my forces and pre-
pared to advance. First, 1 meant that she
should come home with me.
'JoSarha, began. This is no place for
you and then I called myself an old bun
derer who deserved 70 be well kicked for his
unutteraole stupidity.
No, it is my home. my dear old home. no
longer. have looked over the papers which
are IN this box enough to see plainly that the
place viii not 5e sufficient to satisfy the de-
mands of the creditors. Let me know as
soon as you can the full amount of the deficit:
1 have thought it alI out. Nc, dear maio /
cannot be contenred to remain idly at Deer
wood, kindly Is you mean the offer. while
my fathers debts remain unpaid. Ah,Iam
afraid You are angry; but, indeed, l cam
not
She was rock TO arguments and persuasions.
She was her fathers own daughter. After
all, her spirit and determination demanded
admiration. Igaye it ~grudgingly enough.
feeling as if l should enjoy scolding her