The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-12-20

dear!' she asked hastily. You nave
not answered my question yet. And
what does Sophie say? Fer, of course.
you've told her all about it,
The girl hung her head, and Mrs.
Johnnie could see her blushes even In
spite of the rouge.
You see, it's this way: Jack hates a
fuss and all that. lie said for Us TO get
Ea-ricd first and then let Sophie know.
Tat was the hardest thing had to do
leaving her without q word of good
by. But Jack knows best, 1 suppose.
Only I wish
Excuse me, Daisy, you mustn't think
me impertinent for asking all these
questions. my Gear. Is Jack going to
meet you at the station"
"Weii, 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 lie
had shown them to q 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-JackT
The girl hung her head again. 81 saw
him first about six weeks ago. he
came down on one Of the yachts. lie
came down twice on Sunday after that,
and he's written ever so often"
Mrs. Johnnie laid her hand tenderly
upon the young girls crm. "And do
you really think. my dear Daisy, that
you know him wei enough to marry
him? Wouldn't 1t be wiser to wait n
bit and take your sister into your conf
dence? Why not ask Jack to wait a
year for you and then see how matters
stand? He'll wait for you gladly
enough If he's really in earnest"
"Why should l keep him waiting?"
she answered. "IIe loves me. Isn't
that enough? I love and trust him
entirely. and he. does the same by me?
Isn't that enough?"
Mrs. Johnnie did not answer for n
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 n 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 a moment at a little
wayside station.
"Well, my dear, I hope sincerely that
you will find it Is enough" she said.
Then, springing Up suddenly, she
grasped the carpetbag and her own be-
longings.
Hurry up, my childr' she exclaimed,
giving the girl little push. Heres
where we change cars, you know. Come
alongr'
"Eut 1 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 1t 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
1 <,<l h., ~ De
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 tasB
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 ir
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 6 mply
down her back, and she wore her pref
ty pink dress. That night, when Mrs
Johnnie reached her own home. afte
quite a 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 silen
for a moment or two, while he exhaust
ed his stock Of anathemas upon Jack
Then, turning his attention to the WON
an in the case. he exclaimed. well, o
all the little fools
But Mrs. Johnnie interrupted hin
suddenly.
Don't call her that. DEAR" she adde'
as she kissed him. Just thank Go
that took the 1910"
White Lies.
One would hardly dare to ask