The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-01-17
"
Josephine:
NJ. Dudley Dunn. in Chicago Tribune.

just as the train was teamln out OF
Euston about 4:30 p. m one day last De-
cember.
It was some time before I had smoothed
ruffled feelings and disposed of my
portmanteau satisfactorily. Haste al
ways upsets me. 1t Is so u~ndignified.
When I had drawn a kaross comfortably
over my knees and pulled out a cigarette
case l began to notice my
a little and found I had only one travel
Ing companions lady. She was reading,
and held a cigaret between two long,
white fingers. " F
So /. lost no time in proffering another
cigaret when hers had burned out.
1t was accepted pleasantly, and before
long we were chatting. That chat was
fatal. Not only had she a magnificent
figure, clearly outlined in a close-f1tting
tailor-made gown, but there was a rank
way with her that was irresistible, and
she had a trick of looking out levelly
from under her straight brows that made
you hastily gather up courage and look
back iercely, lest you should have the
humiliation of dropping your gaze before
hers. 1t was most fascinating.
Now I am no less a fool than most men,
so I followed up the acquaintance ardent
ly with the help of a formal ~ntroduction
which 1 accomplished after vast exertion,
through the Medium of a mutual friend
In town, whose name she had mentioned
in conversation. She edited a smart little
society paper, and had a charming fiat
where she held weekly "at homes" and
was admired and courted by not a few.
Behold me, then, six months afterward.
with eloquent hands held out in mute APP
peal, ten minute later the same hands
betting %Josephine's waist, while my lips
searched those of my affianced wife.
Charming girl, Josephine! She would
ride, row, cycle, shoot and write with the
best. She could always beat the women
at anything she took up, and sometimes
The men.
About a month later I strolled into
Christie's and saw Spencer, the expert
on antiques, an old acquaintance of mine
I thought he looked gloomy, and sug-
gested a drink. We went out to get one,
and, after t~houghtfully draining his glass,
he turned to me. "
1--WE been done, old chap"
Its a hard diamond that has cut this
one,"I laughed, in reply.
1T has cut, though! Look here, what do
you think of this?'
He handed me a letter, written In a very
shaky hand in the old-fashioned pointed
characters:
Der Sir: I shall be greatly obliged if
you will tell me to whom I should offer
the sale of some of my old furniture and
tapestry. 1t has been in the family for
generations, and may possibly have some
value. I am sorry to trouble you, but
your name is familiar to me as that of an
expert judge and connoisseur, and l
know so little of the outside world that
cannot tell to whom else I should apply.
Yours truly, Emily T~revelyan."
The paper was handmade. and bore a
crest and the lame of some hall forget
what-stamped on it. 1 handed it back.
..Well?' asked Spencer. ,
II suppose you answered it?'a 1 an
swered, cautiously. I couldn't see any
thing remarkable in the letter.
II took train to EXerter next day. he
replied, testify.
ooh, trust you! Never lose a chance of
business. Tell me the rest"
1T was late when I got to the hall.
was met by an ancient servant, and saw
the old lady who wrote to me. The house
was old, the furniture old-glirious; the
china. glass, tapestry. pictures-an old"
And dark?" 1 rueried, seeming trouble
+" "And dark" said Spencer, bitterly
very dark! I didn't stay long. I calcu.
lated that l could make a haul, wrote 6
check for e2,000 on the spot, came back te
town, and sent for the stuff next day"
.Brummagem?' l murmured, sympa.
thatically. 4
""Brum1nagem at its worst!'
lizard luck! And the old lady?"
Cleared OUTCOME! I've been done, ole
chap. Don't let it get about!'
Come and have a cup of tea with m,
fancee. She will cheer you up" / said
And, after all, G2,WO isn't much to {
Croesus like you"
Its not that; I don't like being had"
Josephine was unusually brilliant tha
evening"! When I introduced Spencer m.
future wife fixed on him one of her long
steady glances, flushed a little, and thel
thawed into her most charming manner
L felt very proud Of her. Later on, whe1
we were alone, I told her so. She Stool
III, by the m%antlepiece In her %favorite at
titude-ore firm white hand on the mar
BILE, the other holding the inevitabl
cigaret. She looked brightly down on m
in my easy chair.
.'My week in the country has done m
good, and I've had a w1ndfall.'
'.Gambling again?" I said, playful
cross, for she dearly loved little risks
your are in~corriglble, Josephine. HOY
much?"
1.-TWO thousand in mummies," sh
laughed, Ticking the ash off her cigaret
"Mummies p 1 was puzzled.
"Well, antiques. They're all the same.
Now. I am not a suspicious sort Of chal
but, really, how could I help it? I stare
her out of countenance for once, an
then pulled the frill of a cushion to piece:
(which did you impersonate-the Of
lady or the family retainer?'I asked q
last, slowly. .S
Josephine drew a long breath. She wa
n sport, that girl. 1t was the only sig
she gave of d~iscomposure.
II didn't know you and Mr.. Spence
were such close friends, or l wouldn
have said that. A man doesn't general
give himself away when he has bee
fooled. Did he tell your
1--WE seen Miss Trevelyan's' lette
and 1 know all there is to know" I sal
sick at the confirmation. (which wei
your: /.
.Oh L was the old lady, and a frier
a.--l- la-aan - ~ I.assal . ----------