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

.son ~My uncles rsoicss n he sacw
her a. wtli 40 I 40 fe would see ~ het
only defects H. l.s endured where he maw
sees siFipesi7
.gss,s Henry crled Mrs nrpwn in.
dsxpahtiy sham. on sou feg speaking
inc that Ard she shook one of 9o-
nstsssnss arms vigorously
Il know. continued Josephine. with a
sncsr. that shs Is fsfofite 81 years.
bot thea yo9 DO not know her as wei ss
| Do Good afternoon.
Ten ninutes later. sitting In her reofn
with has rheeks ard cold hands. she
Would have given weeks al her life 20
gnsay those has,y. hiting words TAey
veula be- repeated. II they should rsach
her uncio- Josephine sci her teeth. f
they reached her mother The girf save
A ouick gasp That thought rtuns.
Iirt Gfst fear was reallxef Within few
aarx CHE had not dreamed that her
joyial uneio could look ai her With such
angry eyeR She had not imagined that
he could intrcneh himself behind 20 high
a h&rrisr that she could not scale e. ana
Josephine irembled before his ovcrwhelm-
inv food of rilent dtsplcasure and seorn
Things wsrr In this unexpected state
when Sho received letter from her moth
sr. bearing the pnweio0me news of her
home coming
When Josephine read this she went w
TO her room. lay down and turned her
| face 10 the wall.
Jana put her head in Mt the door, "El-
len Heck Il Downstairs. Miss Josephine
| Size wants TO see sca very particularly
send her np," replied Josephine. duly
wondering what Ellen Beck, OF all people,
should want nf her.
/ When her caller entered she found the
shades drawn and Josephine on tho couch
with handkerchief. wet In eamphor,
held 10 her head, Ellen hestated, y am
sorry your head aches" she said, with
| the uncertain cir OF one who does no,
| know quite what 10 do. Perhaps I'd bet
ter 80 away and come some other DAY
| only
There was something In her manner
4 which startled Josephine. "No, no" she
| exclaimed sharply. "why should you 80
/ awayg My headache is not severe. but
| am coaxlng It into good humor before
mamma comes tonight
els your mother coming tonghtr'
"yes"
| Ellen looked down moment, playing
| with her handkerchief. and Josephine felt
| her heart give leap which sent the blood
| crashing through her temples. for on the
third finger OF the others left hand shone
| a diamond held by slender circlet OF
| gold
| Suddenly Ellen looked up. She spoke In
hesita,ing. gentle tones. II have come on
n most deiisate mission. Josephine, but
have not come voluntarily. Mr.. Henry
requested II as favor to himself, ana
| cannot refuse his requests"
Josephine sat motionless, waiting. bu'
| her heart gave another suffocating leap
ole has asked me 10 come to you with
what people are talking about and
what you Ellen paused confused
Instantly Josephine's pride was In arms
| To be humilated. and by Ellen Beck, was
indeed new experience. Her tone was
bltlngly sarcastic as she said swiftly
my uncle could have chosen n more wei
| come messenger.
Ellen's face showed no resentment, In
stead an expression OF pity stole over u
as she glanced at her hostess. Hei
cheeks were flushed: Josephine's were
white.
IL told him the same thing" she con
timed. .but he persisted IN the request
and ! came
Suppose" said Josephine iclly, "tha
YOU leave my uncle out OF the question
and tell me the object Of your mission"
Ellen raised her head with dignit,
which became her fair, earnest face. =
WILL" she replied In spirited tone
'Your uncle wished TO be relieved OF tn
painful necessity of telling you that h
considered your attitude toward you
mother cruelty unjust and that your nc
cusations against her are arousing grea
Indignation In the town
"My accusations" interrupted Joseph
Inc She sat up. gasping Her whit
facs named. Are you srnanr, afr'
BeckY think my mother Is the mobiles
woman In the worldf
$50 do we" continued Ellen quietly.
"Who has been telling contemplate lie
about me7" demanded Josephine hotly.
mo one" said Ellen promptly. "Yo'
Yourself have said the most contemptibl
thing that has been uttered. and you sal'
II plainly to Mrs. Brown"
Josephine gave cry ana 1eii phci
among her pillows Anger and utter be
wilderment played over her face. Final.
she burst out. "The remarks which
made 10 Mrs. Brown were made concern
ing-youl"
There was pause, A light leaped int
EIlen's eyes. and her tone thrilled Wit
suppressed feeling as she said, "The re
marks were aimed at your uncle's hancee
who, as the whole town knows. Is you
mother"
"My mother" Tho room swan befor
Josephine's wide eyes. thousand Incl
dents which she had misinterpreted ad
tusted themselves now. Her uncle's re
sentiment when he had seen Jim Wit
Ellen had been for his niece then, not 10
! himself. Alldale's curiosity, Eilen's pity
her own cool rejection OF her uncles con
hdence-- Josephine groaned aloud an
covered her face with her hands.
} Ellen arose Words seemed TO strangl
80 ~ understand you Josephine Hen