The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1884-03-06
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JOSEPHA.

ITaVerS, containing Sau noWS. NY GEAR
old friend Oswald Hamilton was dead !;
his affairs left in bad way. The ar
rangement of his papers, Strengthening
accounts and settling up of the estate
were left in my hands. A second was
to the effect that Josepha (the only and
motherless daughter of my old
friend. about "a years of age) had fin
ally 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 I
could wish him was bullet through the
head in the first enlargement.
My poor Reg! It was his first taste Of
life's bitter, and it was going down hard:
Ilonged to grasp his hand in sympathy. I
cursed the stupidity of mail carriers and
stormed at the hundred and one annoy
ing delays that kept me so long on my
homeward way. However, in two days
I was we'll on my Journey.
Soldiers are rough of speech. Ibe-
gan to fashion some soft phrases of
sympathy for my old friends daughter,
but gave up in despair, trusting that,
as in battle, when the opportunity comes,
. should be ready to equal it. And,
after all, to such self-reliant natures as
.Josepha's sympathy held tone of pity
which gave it a distasteful flavor.
- A word of myself here. An old SOL
t1icr, nearing So 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
lis kind. My visits to him were few
and brief. I had taken little notice of
Gosepha until I came to Deerwood as it's
master. Her name describes her. Divine
~ tall, she had none of the awkwardness
peculiar in women of her stature, but
her motion was at all times free, sug-
costing the flight of q seabird. Better
than beauty, her face expressed dignity
and character Her mouth was shapely
and red, although square jaw and long
chin proved somewhat detractive to it.
But her eyes-glorious. Clearest
gray with pupils of velvet, set under a
mans forehead. She had frank, bon
comarade way which played sad havoc
with mems hearts, whatever their armor.
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 child
ish attachment Merely silken link.
I cared little for society Though, thank
God never unfriendly or cold to my
kind, like my brother). The surround
ing country families who would have
lionized mo on account of q few scars
and decorations met with small en-
Encouragement and but for tho flying
visits of my young lieutenant and an
evening cigar on one of the wide ver-
andas Of Hamilton place, my time was
passed in riding and walking and shoot
ling.
Now I will let you into the secret.
q was surprised when I found it out my
self. had fallen in love with Josepha.
Preposterous! So said. At any rate,
give me some credit never dreamed
of telling her, and I went away i'm
misunderstanding with party of
friends
My old friend I mourned sincerely.
Though ten years my senior, we had
been friends years and years. He knew
4 stood ready to lend q helping hand
whenever it needed; but he was proud
to fault, and though 1 had begged him
to allow my assistance (for I knew he
was in sad straits) he would never take
q penny.
His reverses were quick and sudden.
His indomitable will upheld him in his
struggle for time, when that broke
grew heavier day BY day.
Dear old friend! Here lies man
whom pride brought loH," 1 murmured,
as I stood over his grave.
had arrived at Deerwood late in the
afternoon, and had stopped in the
ehurchyard on my way to Josepha.
The grass waved to and fro. I fan
cied the one below stirred uneasily.
"Peace," whispered. Your name
shall be cleared; your daughter guard
+ ed we'll"
y Josepha, let me in. She stayed to
fasten the door, and as she came up
with me in the corridor she slipped her
cold hand into mine and I held it
strongly. My eyes fell OH Oswalds
picture as we entered the drawing
room. Together we stood looking at it.
EThen looked at Joseha in her long
black gown, ner neck rising like lily
stem from its sombreness, as stood by
her side. Bereavement and harassi ng
cares had set their mark on brow and
Hips though she still held her head
proudly, and her eyes looked into mine
unmisted.
If had loved her in the midst of her
happiness and ightheartedness, how
much moro I loved her now, penniless,
with faint shadow of dishonor on her
name, forsaken by the crowd of sum-
mer-day friends.
She looks into my face, for my tongue
was tied, and then bent her head and
kissed my hand.
MY DEAR" said "my dear"
The only safe thing for me to do was
to go to the window, and I went.
Presently she followed me, and, having
myself as thoroughly in hand as an old
fighter should by this time, sat down
O0S1Ao 4lCA I1u No Aau d lOuEo, Sol4OuS
talk.
The long rays of sunlight paled from
orange to amber and gradually faded in
to the gray of dusk, and as yet we had
not spoken of the future. Josepha had
her fathers own pride and strength of
will, and my heart failed me as men
tally marshalled my forces and prepared
to advance. First, I meant that she
should come home with me.
"Josepha," began, ''this is no place
for you," and then called myself an
old blunderer, who deserved to be well
kicked for his unutterable stupidity.
''No; it is my home, my dear old
home, no longer I have looked over
the papers which are in this box enough
to see plainly that the place will not be
sufficient to satisfy the demands of the
creditors. Let me know as soon as you
can the full amount of the deficit; I
have thought it all out. No, dear major,
I cannot be contented to remain idly at
Deerwood, kindly as you mean the offer,
while my fathers debts remain unpaid.
All! I am afraid you are angry; but,
indeed, I cannot"
She was rock to arguments and per-
suasions. She was her fathers own
daughter After all, her spirit and de-
termination demanded admiration. I