Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-09-26
WHAT MRS.
JOHNNIE DID

Whatever you do, don't take the
1910" Tom had said when at break
fast Mrs. Johnnie declared her inten-
ton of running up to town. "It's slow
and awfully dusty and there's general
ly rowdy crowd aboard. Wait for the
2:05 express"
But no sooner had Tom taken his de-
parture than Mrs. Johnnie decided to
do nothing Of the sort. She was bus
tling little body, forever on the go, and
when once an idea crept into that clev
er little head of hers she was inclined
to carry it through to a finish in her
own particular way.
Consequently Mrs. Johnnie did take
the 1910 local, and within five min
utes' time she was wishing devoutly
that she had followed Toms advice, for
it was hot and dusty, and they were
crawling along at a snaiPs pace, and
there were some rough looking custom
ers on board, and-well, oh, dear! After
all, Tom did know what he was talk
ing about occasionally.
At the far end CT the car young wo-
man was sitting. She looked so young
that one might almost have called her
q child in spite of the fact that her
pretty brown hair was twisted up on
the top of her head in a vain imitation
Of the latest fashion and the Ito Mrs.
Johnnie) most atrocious fact that her
cheeks were covered with rouge.
Mrs. Johnnie gathered her belongings
together and set out to take possession
of the seat just IN front of the young
girl and then, half turning, she scru-
tinized the young woman at her leisure.
She could do so without rudeness, for
the girl was gazing out of the window,
and her thoughts seemed to be far
away. "It's sweet little face" theEght
Mrs. Johnnie, "and | don't care if 1t IL
painted it's innocent and trustful. Her
dress fits her abomlnably, but she has
q glorious pair of eyes. She's posi-
tive anomaly. I'm going to introduce
myself"
The girl turned her head just at that
moment, and as their eyes met both Of
them smiled, and each perceived for
the first time that the other wore the
little silver Maltese cross Of the Kings
Daughters. They needed no introduc-
ton after that. Mrs. Johnnie moved
into the seat with her, and they were
soon the best of friends. 1t did not
take Mrs. Johnnie very long to gain
the particulars of her story. She had
never been to the city before, she said;
indeed, except for some little excur-
sion now and then, she had never left
her home, which was in a little village
on the coast of Long Island. She was
SO glad to have some enc to talk to, for
of course she was feeling a bit lonely.
Then she told Mrs. Johnnie that her
name was DaIsy-Daisy Hope-and
that she was an orphan with just one
sister. Her name was Sophie, and she
was married now. They had always
been the very best of friends-she and
Sophie-until Dan Hackett came along
Nowadays, she added with sigh.
Sophie had eyes for no one but Dan.
"But shan't mind it so much now,"
she added. suddenly frightening up
again, now that I'm going to be mar
ried too.'
Married" exclaimed Mrs. Johnnie
in astonishment "You don't mean to
tell me SOL When is it coming off. and
what's his name?"
Eyes. were going to be married right
away-Jack and me. This isn't very
much of trousscau, is it?'' she added,
with an expressive gesture toward her
old fashioned carpetbag and two paper
parcels. "But Jack said that wouldn't
matter. He could fix me up when
came to town. He told me In his letter
not to bring anything along; my coun-
try dresses would never do for New
York. he said. So I've left them all at
home there, hanging up In my closet
all except my new pink one got at
Easter. It's so pretty | couldn't bear
to leave that behind. guess it will do
for the mornings. now and then.
"But wasn't it awfully good Of Jack,
though? He sent me this dress to wear
ON the way up and this diamond"
pointing to huge brooch that sparkicd
at her throat, but which Mrs. Johnnies
eyes pronounced to be very bad paste.
"And there was box of complexion
falve he sent me too. Two put some of
1t on just to please him, bat can't say
that | like 1t very much. 1t itches so
and feels horrId. Do all ladies paint In
| New York;"
AT another time Mrs. Johnnie would
have burst out laughing, but just at
present matters were taking too serious
q turn. Mrs. Johnnie was beginning to
wonder very much.