The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-04-12

headstrong girl who has had her own
way.
In pursuance of aplan to head her off
I sent telegram to Reg. The idea Of
her not loving such fine, manly true
hearted fellow. the best man ever inside
q ieutenant's uniform. He had only to
ask to wed anywhere. He came as soon
as he could get leave. They were off in
q fortnight.
told him of Josepha's resolves.
'"There is one power that will stop
her."
"And that, uncle9"
''Love." Profound sigh from Reg,
but no disposition to open his mouth.
"Do you try your luck again Re-
member the old rule about two neg
atives. T have observed the young
woman pretty closely, and think you
will succeed. Tell her that in case she
consents to make us the happiest of men
you are to give up your commission and
come into my firm at once. Pshaw,
boy! Don't look so dazzled, I have in
tended it all along; only take time by
the forelock, you know. There, you
young bear! Would you hug me to death ?
Go along with you! Tell Josepha when
you find her that an eccentric old duf-
fer who has taken fancy to the place
offered e25 900 to-day for it. and that
being by all odds more than she can ex.
pect to have offered again, Itook him up"
"Au right, uncle; anything more?"
He was already half out of the library.
s"NolD har-n0
Reg was by this time beyond hearing.
For an hour I walked up and down
my lonely, luxurious drawing-room.
Free from restraint of Reginald's
company, the fever rose again in my
blood, my pulse beat fast, my step
quickened. Then I formed q hundred
plans which would aid in crushing down
my heart. I would travel; I would
trust to time; with seas and years be-
tween I would grow calmer in my feel
ings.. I would come back and find my
happiness in Reginald's and hers. I
would give them Hamilton place for
their wedding gift; and I agined N.Y.
self in after years fr6licking on those
green terraces with Reggie's oldest or
youngest, as tho case might be. But
the fever rose again, the longing was as
strong as it was vain. I was not in tho
frame OF mind to meet my nephew, and
as soon as nv roam was saddled I sprang
to her back and was ofr-away-l cared
not where, so I could ride this mad
ness down.
I came home late. The hardest bat
tie I had ever fought I had won. Ihad
such grip on myself that after seeing
Bess comfortably stabbed and rubbed
down, went to Reggie's room without
the least fear Of self-betrayal.
But the lad was not there. A note
sticking in the mirror frame attracted
my attention. It was addressed to me.
It ran with many blot and erasure.
DEAR OLD UNcLE-It was a mistake.
Josepha never really cared two pins for
me. That boy and girl affair wasn't
love at all. She told me so before, and I
ought to have known better than to 20
to her twice, but you-there, I don't
blame you, uncle. How should you
know? She was very kind-if you can
call that sort of thing kind, and I
dare say shall get over it, But I'm
awfully cut up, and I don't feel as if I
could face even you yet; SO I'm off, with
out waiting for you. @
A line or two more so badly blurred
as to be illegible, and great scrawl
which bore but faint resemblance to
".Reg." -
Poor lad! Poor lad! He tried hard
to be CHEEKY in the farewell letter he
sent before he left the shores of old
England, but I saw the heartache be-
tween the lines.
In few days was called suddenly
to London on business, being detained
there some little time. When I re-
turned to Deerwood it was to find my
cratic young neighbor flown. Mrs.
HARDWOOD, my estimable housekeepef,
had message for me from Miss Hamil-
ton-"she would write regularly, but 7
was not to seek her out"
Having delivered the message with Z
dignity, slightly damaged by the curl
GUS, speculative glance with which she
regarded me the; while, Mrs. HARDWOOD
rustled maicstically away, giving vi
cious little jerk. to the door-knob, as
much as to say, 'tWell, there! He
might q said moro than %, indeed
Just as if I didn't know she'd gone of
a-governessin'! But men is 80 clus-
mouthed.nn,
AS I went into the garden for . quiet
smoke, Iheard the housekeeper address
ing she housemaid: Mary, do you
run with all your might nov: and tell
cook tho majors back again. Yes, I
gave him the message. Surprised
Well, you never know whether % is or
q isn't, But, lawd, Mary! think o'tel-'
lin i'm, the major, not to seek out Ter,
which as gone to be ! governessv"
can after'cr pacin' of Mr.. Reginald,
the stuck-up piece" said Mary, who
had asweetheart Of her own she thought
the world of. ~
The weeks slipped into months, and
the months numbered eighteen before
saw Josepha again. ,es54... e.s.,. %.
She was i'll, and wrote for me to come
to. her. No. 6 Beverly square was the
address, and the neighborhood was most
aristocratic: No. g was IN imposing
stone house of the mausoleum type.
In answer. to my ring there appeared an
undersized footman, whose gravity Of
demeanor> carried out the. funereal idea
suggested by the house ITSELF. Untold
millions could not have tempted him to
smile. H.. -
He went off=with my card, and BY and
by Josepha-or her ghost -trailed down
the stairs. To give you IN idea Of how
weak she was, let me tell you that
there were, two tears in her eyes when ]
took her hands. Josepha, and Josepha
reduced to womanly tears. It was diff
fcult to reconcile the two. IS.
saw my chance and took advantage
Of it. Now, while she was unfit for
work, homesick and needing change,
she must make Durand q visit. Mrs.
Marwood knew how to make my guests
comfortable, and nothing would suit
me better. s
i listened to no "Reminiscences, and
when che had consented ! put an epd