The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-08-02

K s.s.s.ss..ss-ss s..:ss-.. i;'sss.stss.s.s
yEyFn was there sn ulele
waifa4ca over with mere soilci
NJ iaa. care thaa was Bennett
/ Henry. and when certain dis
quiesing ihpngi vague report reached
his iiisrv s.se I.Fompily laid aside her
palette wrote u Jane 10 mir The front
roos4s and started for AlldaIe mouth
before the close Of the New York Art
school
When her uncle met her at the station
his appearance confirmed her worst
fears Tie was smoothly shaven. his
iron gray hair was closely cropped. bis
suit new and jannty. while-crowning
shork--ls bead was surmoun'cd by
tall sllk hat. Josephine Henry scarcely
recognized him.
How dye do, JoslcTF this new look
Ing uncle Inquired In the old. big
hearty voice
Josephine stopped short and stared
Uncle Benr' Where is your beardf
rncla Ben looked embarrassed.
Gone. Josie; gone in a tight shave
, Cost q quarter"
Il hardly know you.' continued Jo-
sephIne. looking him over with uncer.
( tain eyes.
/ 'STeil you what" Bennett Henry re
tortcd in his jerky. good nhtured fash
/ Ion, Il thought twas time kept up
I with you. Gadl You're a sumner,
/ Jo!''
And 50 she was She was taller than
the average woman and dressed to en-
pliaslze her height Her large black
Z hat sent ~ broad brim out over face
which was capable OF many expires.
sions, but the prslominating one was
pride. She carried herself proudly. her
bead well back, her figure erect, her
sfep light. All her life she had culti-
vateI the pose which best expressed
her style-and expectations, for she
was Bennett IIenry's only heir ana
would continue such. provided he did
not marry
They came In sight OF two white
houses fncing each other on opposite
sides OF the street. Josephine gave
one glanee at her uncle's house and
bit her lips. Her uncle, exceedingly
uncomfortable, picked at the fingers
of his gloves and ratified on at random.
lawfully sorry, 10. you've come back
10 such lonesome house. II you'd
waited awhile longer your mother q
be back. Guess her sister Is some bet
ter now. Mighty hard lines TO be shut
up In alckroom this hot weather
Well. hope Jane will feed you well
II she doesn't you know where there's
boss cook and always welcome
Josephine turned ia at her gate, say
ing coldly and tremendously. Thanks
uncle; | am sure Jane and ! will get
along nicely"
Jane admitted her On the threshold
Josephine turned and glanced at the
carpenters ut work beautifying th'
house opposite. "Uncle IL making quite
change. Is he not. JaneT' she re
marked carclessly, and the girl grnnet
knowingly MS she replied. Folks d.
say, Miss Josephine, MS he's gettin
ready for 0 bigger change
Josephine smiled calmly, but II wal
with a heavy and angry heart that sh'
went upstairs TO her own room. Sh'
sat down In front OF the window with
out stopping to remove her hat.
Her uncle, being an easy going AM
: jolly man. had shown alarming matrl
monal symptoms before but Josephine
had always been enabled to checl
them by use OF prompt and skillfu
measures.
She reviewed her maneuvers as sh
sat staring AT the improvements acros
The street. There was evident need o
prompt action on her part, but she wa
handicapped by lack OF knowledge
She had yet to learn for whose benef
these changes were being made Sh
began to pass In review all the eligibl
women IN Allbale, with o possible oil
s,ruction plan In each case. until tn
rattle Of wheels and the rapid thud O
horses hoofs aroused her.
| 1t was her uncle in his high hat an
gloves, driving smart new trap. Th
vehicle rolled down the long street an
disappeared. II reappeared, crawlln
slowly up the side Of mountain whic
rose sharply from the town, and then
| paralyzIng fear seized Josephine. Sii
dashed into her mothers room, seize
| a tieldglass which lay on the table an
was back at her post In momen
| raising the glass with unsteady hand
| Halfway up the mountain side wa
| percbed n small brown house, stnn'
| Ing out bare and unsbeltered again
| the green. In front OF that house VI
Gle Ben secured his horses and, saul
terlng up the steps with the air OF OF
| familiar with the place. sat down
The piazza. In moment woma
came out OF the house and Joined him
Josephine lowered the glass. II
cheeks were flaming, her hands we
cold. That brown house was the la
house ln Alldale where she would ba'
her uncle call, Ellen Beck was the Ia
woman In Alldale that she would ha'
| had her uncle choose She sat dow
and stared at the house across the wa
Was she too latei Her anger rose h'
| " against her uncle. who knew th
she and Ellen Beck had been rivs
from the time that they contended !
the spelling prize in the fifth grade .
III the previous year. when Jim Al
down. Josephine gave sudden exc
nation.
An idea had shot above her mem
} hor.xou, carrying In ~ wake Z pls
an obstruction plan.
When shr arose there was q tis
unpleasant expression about her "
THE expression dcepened ss she
tacsei lcr ,runss, see carefully sho
out the felds ct a handsome srru 81
one ~ Bennrti Hsnry's latest sif
z Josephine looked exceedingly wen
erru, and hes plan- repaired hat
4. Ks.aoli look and art exceedingly W.
beginning wsrh church sccisblr 20
held thst yerf evening.
AnAale had never before seen
: sa.blne a, g church social she b
a,...n,ora scorrei theGn. bni her ca