The morning call., 1891-10-22

"Oh, / wonder II you'll like him, Joel"
said Henrietta Colby, as she finished put
ting the last rebellous lock of Josephine
Gnldmark's fluffy hair in order, and stood
before her as if well pleased with the tout
ensemble Of the delicious toilet
"Well, for goodness sake, Henry, don't
say that again." replied her friend, with an
imperious little nod Of her head. Il declare
you're as bad as raven with your ever
lasting croak about the virtues and lmper-
ectiOns IF Mr.. Sinclair, considering, too,
that we've neither Of US set eyes upon the
nan"
"Oh, but we've heard all about him, you
know, joe" put in Henrietta.
Yes. And, for my part, I've had alto
gether too much. l confess I'm heartily
sick Of the subject. and l know I shall be of
tie man upon five minutes acquaintance"
"Oh. joe" demonstrated her friend.
"Well, it's the TRUTH" replied the spoiled
beauty, with an impatient stamp of her
fnut. Ever since | can remember ! have
had Mr. Henry Sinclair served IN to me
upon every conceivable occasion as the in
earnate perfection OF the masculine side Of
existence. Not content with binding me to
hi.a by a heathenish engagement before l
was fairly out OF my cradle, my esteemed
papa and mamma Lave lost no CppOrtunity of
making NE feel that | was an article
labeled taken in the marrageabe market
And when they left oil my IrOther WIN
took it up"
Dear VIII! How glad I shall be to see
him again - said Henrietta.
"Wrn. so should l be-" re lied Joe, ''if
/ didn't owe him such a grudge for the part
he's played in this drtes ablA sinclair affair.
When they were chumS together at Har-
ward, and We were in Smith, he did nothing
but sing that mans praises, and now. dur
ing this African trip, the same thing had to
be gone over agaln!'
But he saved WilPs life" demonstrated
Henrietta.
Yes. Of course he did. That's the trouble.
What hasn't he done? He was the best oar
and finest shortstup at Harvard. He has an
exquisite voice and speaks five languages.
10 a word. he is perfection itself! But hate
perfection! A man must We little OF the
Old Adam in him TO please me-"
well, If you don't fancy MI Sinclair you
can fall back on your cousin, said Henri
eta, with a half sigh.
Yes" replied Joe, her bright eyes spark
ling with pleasant Snticlpatlons, "and l
know l shall like Cousin Tom, even If l
never have seen him. He has lived in
Africa ever since | was old enough to re-
member aad although | have never seen
him, I've always heard so much Of him. He
will be very interesting; something much
more TO my taste than inspired Prince
Charming" with a contemptuous toss of
her proud little head
''Jop. dear. let me introduce Won to nv
best friend in the world, DIR, Henry Sin
clair."
Ii was half an hour later. and the family |
had assembled in the drawing-room 10 vel |
come home the three men fresh from years |
s0jOurn in the wiids of Africa.
As Joe turned in obedience to her BROTH !
er's words she found herself facs 10 face !
with a tall, slim man, who was regarding |
her wiki sort of quizzical expression from |
a pair Of limid blue eyes.
Il am very happy to meet you," she said, |
reluctantly holding out one hand toward !
MIN, which he held for a single instant in |
his long colorleSs fingers and then relin-
quished.
what on earth can people find to rave
about in him?" she thought, as she turned |
eagerly to welcome the broad shOuldered. |
weather-beaten man her father was leading |
toward her,
Cousin TomP' she said impetuously.
without waiting for the introduction, and |
this time the little hand was imprisoned in |
the brown and muscular one, and remained |
there without any inclination to withdraw |
itself.
For Cousin Tom was indeed the very beau
ideal of a young girls romantic visions
What do you think of Sinc!air?" he |
asked later in the evening, as they strolled |
up and down the broad veranda together
II dent like hin" she answered, with |
that abrupt fTankness tnat was Character
istc of the girPs. nature You know he's |
engaged to me-" she added, simply, as if |
that sufficiently explained the whole matter |
Il gather from the tone of your voice
that you are not overjoyed at this arrange
ment," lie said, looking keenly at her.
"OVerj0yed" she exclaimed: 'the very
Idea is hateful to mel Think Of being tied |
for life to mau l have never seen before
Tonight"
But do you know anything to his dis
credLt?" he asked.
No" she answered. 81 wish 1 did. |
That's part Of the trouble. The man is a |
perfect paragon! He seems to be a little |
god born into the word expressly for the |
members OF my family to fall down and |
worship before. I've heard it all my life, |
and Pm heartily tired of it. They say he is |
great oarsman. but confess be isn't ex-
aetly my idea Of what a famous athlete |
should BE-"
well, as to that" he answered, appear
ances are often deceitful. Men are not |
what they always seem, my little cousin" |
and Joe fancied there was latent signf- |
cance in the tone, which she failed to un-
derstand at the time.
''JOe. darling, 1 love you. Will you be
my wife?"
She had known for some days that the
words must come, sooner or later, from the |
man who now stood before her in the cool |
summer-house, but as she looked into the |
eager, passionate eyes and noted the tremor |
in the deep voice, all her self-possession and |
the neat little speeches she had rehearsed so
often in her Imagination went from her,
and she was forced to lean against the side |
OF the building for support.
Look up, darlingl All my happiness de- |
pends upon your answer"
Somehow or other his arm had stolen |
about her waist by this time and she made |
no effort to repulse him, as she answered. |
softly:
You know that love you, Cousin Tom. |
But Is this honorable in you, when you also |
know that | am bound to another?'
If It were possible to arrange all that"
he said, quickly, "if it were possible to |
make It honorable, would you, Joe-would |
you"
But there was no need for him to finish !
the sentence The sweet face that she
turned up to him in the moonlight told its |
own story too plainly; and as he casped |
the slight form in his strong arms aud
kissed her pretty lips he knew that Joe had
given unreservedly to him the full depths
of a young girls first and only love.
81 will see your father at once" he said, |
as he bade her goodnight, "and tell him ali. |
know he will never hold you to an engage
ment that is against your inclinations."
Still, as Joe fell asleep late that night, |
after hours of feverish wakefulness, the |
thoughts of the morrow were far from
compiacent ones.
morning before breakfast, 'last night had |
a long talk with Cousin Tom and be has |
told ne how matters stand between you. ] |
Rm, OF course, very much surprised, but as |
you know, my dear daughter, ! should never |
think0f forcing your wishes in a matter of |
this nature. | have just seen Mr.. Sinclair.
| must say for him be takes Il very well in |
deed, but very naturally he wishes TO speak |
TO You himself He is in the library VIII |
YOU go to him therep"
1t was with beating heart and White lace