The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-11-15

go down Farley street. They look well to-
gether, don't you think SOP About as dis
tinCuished locking couple as one generally
sees Bow much Mr.. st. Claire seems to
think of her.
"They say he just worships the ground
she walks on. Her name is Mildred Ather-
ton, and Mrs. Walker just told me she heard
they are to be married next June.
"Why, what's the matter, Josie? You re
pale as a ghost ! Are you sick? How
thoughtless OF me to come IN SO hke Will
WIND p
Il have had a bad headache all the mo morn 7,
ing" says the little fbber: All need is
rest and quiet, and l shall be myself again
"Lie down and try to sleep, dearie, and
you will feel better. will go now and let
you be quiet. Good-by.
As soon as the door closed behind her
Josie gave herself up to her grief.
"Oh, Arthur Arthur she moaned,
AZ did not know how l loved you until now
Why did Lutte come over this morning?
She might have let me be happy little
while longer. for thought you cared for
mildred Anterior! How happy she
must be! He loves her. Oh, Arthur,
why couldn't you have loved me! The
ideal You're only Josie Russell, and IT
ish't likely that anybody would like such
an acting girl as you are. Past Is and
thinks you are one"
And her checks Jingle as she remembers
how he found her sliding down Dill one
morning with a whole crew of little boys.
The day passed YEARLY enough. As 1t
nears night she can stay ind9srs no Ion
ger, and wrapping up warmly ID cloak
and fur, goes out for a walk, taking road
that leads away from the village.
On and on she walks, as though trying to
get away from her thoughts, until she is
aroused by Shrill whistle, and the western
train, with its lights flashing bright and
warm over the snow, flies past, bearing its
human freight onward to toll OF rest, SORROW
ing or rejoicing.
Josie is courageous and a good walker,
but finding ones self two miles from nome
on bleak country road, with night coming
down bitter cold. is not cheerful prospect
for any one However, she turned about
and started brIskly homeward. She had
gone but few steps when a rapidly driven
sleigh came up behind her, and, stopping,
Arthur ST. Claire assisted her in.
Before she realized what he was doing, he
had turned the horse and they were gliding
smoothly down Cedar Hill.
" I'm going away IN the morning, Josie,
he said, land l want TO tell you something
before go.'
:" He might have spared me this she
thought.
u have already heard, Mr.. st. Claire.
was the reply. Allow me 10 congratulate
and extend my best wishes to both yourself
and Miss Atherton."
=" Miss Athertonl But what mas Miss
Atherton to do with it, I'd like to know?"
why, sic is-isn't she? Lutte told me
that you were to be married SOON"
Mildred Anterior, my wifew and the
long, loud laugh that followed made the
horse jump.
"Why, she is my own cousin, and is to
teach French in the academy the next year.
Josie 0enderlyl, it is you | want, and only
you. VIII you come and make my life
happy? love you dearly and want you to
be my own little wife Can you love me a
littie?'
A soft little hand stole through his arm
aud the bright brown eyes shone with hap
piness, as she answered:
Yes, Arthur
Then she told him how she had suffered all
the long, long day, and how she hated her
sell for her rude, hoydenSh manners, and
how dark everything had seemed when Lutte
had told her of Miss Atherton.
But I'm glad it happened, Arthur, for if
it had not, | should not have known how
much | loved you. At least, not as soon"
Little darling! OF course | loved you,
and wanted to marry you, for didn't l ap-
pear to you in the mirror on All Hallow's
eye?'