The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-09
JOSEPHA.

VI man " dc lSCCiNtd- wac a.
month old letter from my yeung
nephew Reginald TraverS containing
sad news. My dear old friend Os-
wald Hamilton, was dead his fairs
left in a bad way. The arrangel nent
Ofhis papers, Strengthening of ac-
counts, and settling up of the state
were left in my hands. A sc cond
was to the effect that Joscpha (the
only and motherless daughter of my
old friend, now about twent yfOur
years of age, had refused him. That
he had secured chance in the 10th
which was soon to be ordered away
to fight Zulus, and closed by saying
that the best thing | could wish him
was bullet through the head in the
first engagement.
Ny poor Reg! 1t was his first
taste OF life's bitter, and it was
going down hard. | longed to grasp
MS hand in sympathy. | cursed
the stupidity of mail carrier, and
stermed and swore at the hr ndred
and one annoying delays that kept
me so long on my homeward jour
ney. However, in two days I was
well on my journey.
Soldiers are rough of speech. |
began 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 } osepha s
sympathy held a tone of pi ~ which
gave it a distasteful flavor.
A word of myself An old sold
ier nearing fifty, but hale and hearty,
| inherited at my brothers death
the pile of stone he called home and
lis large business interests. A mis-
anthrope, he had shown little taste
for the society of his kind My visits
to him were few and brief. | had
taken little notice of Josepha until
| came to Deerwood as its master.
Her name described her. Divinely
tall, she had none of the awkward
ness peculiar in women of her stat
ure, but her motion was at all times
free, suggesting the flight of a sea
bird. Better than beauty, her face
expressed dignity and character.
Her mouth was shapely and red, al
though 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 a childish
attachment. Merely q silken link.
| cared little for society, though,
thank God never unfeeling and cold
to my kind, like my brother. The
surrounding country families who
would have lionized me on account
of few scars and decorations met
with small encouragement, and but
for the flying visits of my young
lieutenant, and an evening cigar on
one of the wide verandas of Hamil
ton Place, my time was passed in
riding, walking and shooting.
Now ] will let you into a secret. |
was surprised when l found it out
myself. | had fallen IL love with
Josepha. Preposterous So | said.
At any rate, give me some credit. |
never dreamed of telling her, and |
went away immediately-travelingI
with a party of friends.
Nv old friend | mourned sincere
ly. Though ten years my senior, we
had been friends years and years
He knew | stood ready to lend a
helping hand whenever it was need
ed, but he was proud to fault, and
though | had begged him to allow
my assistance, for | knew he was in
sad straits, he would never take a
penny.
His reverses were quick and sud-
den. His indomitable will upheld
him in his struggle for 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" l muir
INJURED as / stood oyer his grave.
l had arrived at Deerwood late in
the afternoon, and had stopped in
the church yard on my way TO Jo-
sepha.
The grass waved to and fro. ! fam
cied the one below stirred uneasily.
Peace | whispered. Your name
shall be cleared your daughter
guarded we'll
Josepha let ne in. She staid to
fasten the door, and as she came up
with me in the corridor she slipped
her warm hand into mine, and /
held it strongly. Ny eyes fell on
Oswald's picture as we entered the
drawing room. Together We stood
looking at it. Then | looked at JO-