Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-27


told her all about it"
The girl hung her head, and Mrs
Johnnie could see her bushes even in
spite of the rogue.
You see, it's this way. Jack hates a
fuss and all that. He said for us to get
married first and then let Sophie know
That was the hardest thing l had to do
leaving her without word of goodby.
But Jack knows best, suppose. Only
wish"-
Excuse me, Daisy, you mustn't think
me impertinent for asking all these
questions, my dear. Is Jack going to
meet you at the stationp
We'll, no-not exactly. He's SO busy
at this time of day, you know. That's
one reason why he sent the dress and
things. He said in his letter that he had
shown them to a lady friend of his.
Shes to meet me at the ferry and take
charge of me till he comes"
"Oh! And how long did you say you
have known a-a-Jack?
The girl hung her head again. 81 saw
him first about six weeks ago. He came
down on one Of the yachts. He came
down twice on Sunday after that, and
he's written ever so often"
Mrs. Johnnie laid her hand tenderly
upon the young girls arm. "And do
you really think, my dear Daisy, that
you know him. we'll enough to marry
him? Wouldn't it be wiser to wait bit
and take your sister into your conf
dence? Why not ask Jack to wait q
year for you and then see how matters
stand? He'll wait for you gladly enough
if he's really in earnest"
why should | keep him waiting?"
she answered. HE loves me. Isn't
that enough? love him and trust him
entirely, and he does the same by me-
Isn't that enough?"
Mrs. Johnnie did not answer for a
moment. Her lips were pressed tightly
together, for, to tell the truth, Mrs.
Johnnie was making up her mind to
adopt desperate measure. This car,
half full of men, was certainly no place
for a. scene. And Mrs. johnnie began to
realize that if she proceeded to do her
duty by this little girl a scene was bound
to come. The train was just slowing up
for moment at little wayside station.
"Well, my dear, hope sincerely that
you will find it is enough" she said.
Then, springing up suddenly, she grasped
the carpetbag and her own belongings.
Hurry up, my childr' she exclaimed,
giving the girl little push. Here's
where we change cars, you know. Come
alongv
"But l thought this train"-
Now, my dear, that's just what you
mustn't do. Don't think, but follow my
instructions"
Before the girl had realized what she
was doing Mrs. Johnnie had bundled
her out on to the station platform. The
train moved slowly out Mrs. Johnnie
watched it disappear with sigh of re-
lief, and then she turned to the bewil-
dered girl aud spoke to her very gently.
"Let us walk over to the little hotel,
Daisy. We shall have to wait there half
an hour Perhaps we can secure room
there, for want to have a little talk
with you"
In speaking of it afterward Mrs. John
ME always declared that to her the walk
from the station to the hotel was by far
the saddest part of all that days ordeal.
1t was then that the magnitude of the
work she had to do dawned upon her for
the first time Before they two should
be standing on that platform again,
Jack, the young girls idol, must be shat
tered and thrown from it's pedestal. To
Mrs. Johnnie fell the task of displaying
him in his true colors, and though it was
task which she shrank instinctively
from in perspective, when the time came
Mrs. Johnnie was not found wanting
She never told any one-not even Tom
the particulars of what occurred in that
little room, but when the train from
New York came rushing along half an
hour later the semaphore was hoisted as
a signal to stop, and the two women
stepped silently on board.
Both of them had tear stained faces,
but there was no rouge on the young
girls face now, her hair hung simply
down her back, and she wore her pretty
pink dress. That night, when Mrs.
Johnnie reached her own home, after
quite long combat with sister Sophie,
Tom was told just as many of the par
ticulars as Mrs. Johnnie thought fit.
When she had finished he was silent
for moment or two, while he exhaust
ed his stock of anathemas upon Jack
Then, turning his attention to the wom-
an in the case, he exclaimed, "Well, Of
all the little fools
But Mrs. Johnnie interrupted him sud
denly.
Don't call her that, DEAR she added,
as she kissed him. Just thank God
that took the 1910. Acton Davies in
New York Evening Sun.