Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-09-26
WOODBURY., n J, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 30 1901

ssBut when are you to be married, MY
dear?" she asked hastily. ''You have
not answered my question yet And
what does Sophie say? For, of course,
you've told her all about it."
The girl hung her head, and Mrs.
Johnnie could see her bushes even in
spite of the rouge.
'sYou see, it's this way: Jack hates
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 good
by. But Jack knows best, l suppose.
Only l 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 staticn?"
"Well, no, not exactly. He's so busy
at this time of day, you know. That's
one reason why lie sent the dress and
things. He said in his letter that lie
had shown them to lady friend of his.
She's to meet me at the ferry and take
charge of ne till he comes"
"Oh! And how long did you say you
Lave known a-a-Jack?'
The girl hung her head again. II 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
%I,o irIfS An6 6O
you really think, my dear Daisy, that
you know him well enough to marry
him? Wouldn't it be wiser to wait a
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 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 q desperate measure. This car
half full Of men was certainly no place
for scene, and Mrs. Johnnie began to
realize that if she proceeded to do her
duty by this little girl scene was
bound to come. The train was just
slowing up for q moment at little
wayside station.
''Well, my dear, l hope sincerely that
you will find it is enough" she said.
Then, springlng up suddenly. she
grasped the carpetbag and her own be-
longings.
"Hurry up. my childp' she exclaimed,
giving the girl little push. Here's
where we change cars. you know. Come
along!'
"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 q
sigh of relief. and then she turned to
the bewildered girl and 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
q room there. for want to have little
talk with YOU"
In speaking of 1t afterward Mrs.
Johnnie 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 mag
nitude of the work she had to do dawn
ed upon her for the first time. Before
they two should be standing on that
platform again Jack, the young girls
idol, must be shattered and thrown
from its pedestal. To Mrs. Johnnie
fell the task of displaying him In his
true colors, and, though 1t was 4 task
which she shrank instinctiyely 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 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 pre-
| ty 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
suddenly.
Don't call her that. DEAR" she added
as she kissed him. Just thank God
| that took the 1910"