The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-02-13

80
We wsre at Cham when our delayed
naQ was received. There was month.
I'D letter from my nephew, Reginald
rravers, containing sad news. Ny deas
old friend Oswald Hamilton was dead;
mis- affairs left in bad way. The Of.
rsngement Of his papers, Strengthening
accounts and settling up Of the estate
were left in my hands. A second was
to the effect that Josepha Nhe only and
motherless daughter Of my old
friend. about "a years Of, ags) had fin.
ally refused him. That hshad secured
Q change into the Tenth, which x,s soon
to be ordered away to fight Znfus, and
closed by saying that the best thing
could wish him was bullet through the
head in the first enlargement.
Ny poor Regl It was his first taste Of
lifes bitter, and it was going down hard.
1longed to grasp his hand in sympathy.
cursed the stupidity ofmail-oaxriers and
stormed at the hundred and one annoy
ing delays that kept me 90 long on my
homeward way. However, In two day.
I was well 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 il. And
after all, to such self-reliant natures q.
Josepha's sympathy held q tone Of pity
which gave it distasteful flavor.
A word of myself here. An old SOL
dier, nearing 50. but hale and hearty,
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 ol
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 describes her. Divine.
ly 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 a seabird. Better
than beauty, her face expressed dignity
and character. Her mouth was shapely
and red, although asquare 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.
cared little for society (though, thank
God! never unfriendly or cold to nv
kind, like my brother). The surround
ing country families who would have
ionized me on account of few scars
and decorations met with small en-
encouragement, and but for the flying
visits of my young lieutenant and an
evening cigar on one of the wide YER
andas of Hamilton place, my time was
passed in riding and walking and shoot
ing:
Now I will let you into the secret.
I was surprised when Ifound il out my
self. had fallen in love with Josepha.
Preposterous! So I said. At any rate,
give me some credit. Inever dreamed
of telling her, and I went away i'm
misunderstanding with Q party of
friends.
My old friend mourned sincerely.
Though ten years my senior, we had
been friends years and years. He knew
! stood ready to lend q helping hand
whenever it needed but he was proud
to q fault, and though I had begged him
to allow my assistance (for I knew he
was in sad straits he would never take
. penny.
His reverses were quick and sudden.
His indomitable will upheld him in his
struggle for time, when that broke
beneath the burden of troubles, which
grew heavier day by day.
Dear old friend! "Here lies q man
whom pride brought low, }" murmured,
- I stood over his grave.
I had arrived at Deerwood late in the
afternoon, and had stopped in the
shurchyard on my way to Josepha.
The grass waved to and fro. I fam
cted the one below stirred uneasily.
Peace" I whispered. Your name
shall be cleared; your daughter guard
ed we'll"
Josephs, let me in. She stayed to
fasten the door, and Is she came up
with me in the corridor she slipped her
cold hand into mine and I held it
strongly. Ny eyes fell on Oswalds
picture as we entered the drawing
room. Together we stood looking at It.
Then I looked st 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
lips though she still held her head
proudly, and her eyes looked into mine
unmisted.
II uhu 4OVou uef IN the mlQ6g OF her
happiness and lightheartedness, how
much more loved her now, penniless,
with faint shadow of dishonor on her
name, forsaken by the crowd of sum-
friends.
She looks into my face, for my tongue
was tied, and then bent her head and
kissed my hand.
"My DEAR" I said, my dear"
The only safe thing for me to do was
TO 60 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, I sat down
beside her and we had long, serious
talk.
The long rays of sunlight psled 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 I men
tally marshalled my forces and prepared
70 advance. First, I meant that she
should come home with me.
"Josepha," I began, "this is no place