Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-07-07
JOsepha.

J
ew, Reginald Travels, containing sad
news. My dear old friend Oswald
Hamilton was dead; his affairs left
in bad way. The arrangement of
his papers, Strengthening accounts
and settling up of the estate was left
in my hands. A second was to the
effect that Josepha (the only and
motherless daughter of my old friend,
now about twenty-four years of age)
had finally refused him. That he had
secured change into the Tenth,
which was soon to be ordered away
to fight Zulus, and closed by saying
that the best thing l could wish him
was bullet through the head in the
first engagement.
My poor Reg! 1t was his first taste
of life's bitter, and it was going down
hard. I longed to grasp his hand in
sympathy. l cursed the stupidity of
mail carriers, and stormed at the
hundred and one annoying delays
that kept me so long on my home
ward way. However, in two days l
was well ON my journey.
A word of myself here. An old
soldier, nearing fifty, but hale and
hearty, I inherited at my brothers
death the pile of stone he called home
and his large business interests. A
misanthrope, he had shown little taste
for the society of his kind. My vis-
its to him were few and brief. l had
taken little notice of Josepha until |
came to Deerwood as its master.
Her name describes her. Divinely
tall, she had none of the awkwardness
peculiar in women of her stature, but
her motion was at all times free, sug-
gesting the fight of sea-bird. Bet
ter than beauty, her face expressed
dignity and character. Her mouth
was shapely and red.
But her eyes-glorious :! Clearest
gray, with pupils of velvet, set under
a mans forehead. She had a frank,
bon-comrade way which played sad
havoc with mems hearts, whatever
their armor. Many of the wisest and
wealthiest knelt at her shrine, but
each and all vainly. Between her and
my dear lad there had been an under
standing based on q childish attach
ment. Merely silken link.
Now, / will let you into the secret.
l had fallen in love with Josepha.
Preposterous So / said. At any
rate give me some credit. / never
dreamed of telling her, and | went
away immediately-travelin with a
party of friends.
My old friend / mourned sincerely.
Though ten years my senior, we had
| been friends for years and years.
) He knew l stood ready to lend a help
ing hand whenever it was needed
but he was proud to fault, anG
though 1 had begged him to allow
my assistance (for | knew he was il
sad straits) he would never take /:
: penny.
: His reverses were quick and sud
: den. His indomitable will upheld
him in his struggle for time, whel
= that broke beneath the burden o
It troubles, which grew heavier day b,
n day.
Dear old friend! '.'Here lies ma
- whom pride brought low,'' l murmur
It ed, as l stood over his grave.
a had arrived at Deerwood late i
the afternoon, and had stopped in th
% churchyard on my way to Josepha.
lie The grass waved to and fro.
y fancied the one below stirred uneas
lily.
: "Peace,' 1 whispered. "Yor
= name shall be cleared; your daugl
re ter guarded WE'LL"
le Josepha let me in. She stayed
fasten the door, and as she came
with me in the corridor she slippe
D her warm hand into mine and held
Is strongly. My eyes fell on Oswald
3 picture as we entered the drawing
at room. Together we stood looking
in it. Then / looked at Josepha, in h,
long, black gown, her neck rising lii
Il lily stem from its somberness, {
- - she stood by my side. Bereavemel
- and harrassing cares had set the
Pa mark on brow and lips, though 81
d, held her head still proudly, and h
m eyes looked into mine unmisted.
If had loved her in the midst
~ her happiness and light-heartednes
y how much more 1 loved her no,
~ penniless, with faint shadow of di
r honor on her name, forsaken by tt
IS crowds of summer-day friends.
H. She looked into my face, for n
tongue was tied, and then bent h
=. head and kissed my hand.
,d 'sMy DEAR" said, s'my dear. =
if The only safe thing for me to {
to was to go to the window, and | wer
III Presently she followed me, and, ha
-. ~ ing myself as thoroughly in hand
an old fighter should by this time,
o. 4 sat down beside her and we had
n long serious talk.
a The long rays of sunlight pal
n from orange to amber and gradual
mnl m faded into the gray of dusk, and J
~ we had not spoken of the future. j
IT sepha had her fathers own pride a
OF strength of will, and my heart fail
) me as mentally marshaled my fol