The Press., 1907-04-17
EMMY'S
REDEMPTION
~ BY Martha ~
McCUlIOch- Williams.

q
Observation-Disclosures
"You wish! III, wishes were horses,
beggars might ride" Aunt Mag quot
ed spitefully to her partial namesake,
Margaret Emmeline.
The Emmeline had been a standing
grievance ever since the girl was chris
tened. Aunt Mag, otherwise Miss
Bronson, had an instinct of jealous su-
premacy toward whatever was her
own. Being a just person, she called
her only niece by the awkward full
name. Notwithstanding in all other
mouths she was simply Emmy. That
was the worst Of 1t. Miss Bronson in
her own mind accused Emmy's meek
mother Of having plotted it from the
first. Naturally she had not shed many
tears when the offender slipped apollo
getically out Of life, leaving Emmy to
the untender mercies of her masterful
sister In law. Handsome, McklesS,
Jack Bronson, the father, had died
soon after Emmy was born-died on
the ocean and been buried at sea-at
least that was what his sister had
given out The widow had said moth
ing. Neither had she worn black-to
the anger of Miss Bronson and the
great scandal of the village For once
the slim faced woman, who was COM
monty as wax In stronger hands, had
withstood her world, saying only with
dreamy, wistful look, "Jack under
stands"
Emmy was her father over again
dark eyed, olive skinned, with red lips
delicately curved and cheeks like dam
ask roses. She had his gay temper
also, his high head, his habit Of getting
her own way in spite Of everything.
The village unanimously pronounced
her a handful-even for Miss Bronson,
whose band was not light Emmy was
fourteen when her mother died It
was a standing marvel to everybody
that she had gone quietly away to
boarding school at Miss Bronson's or
ders, albeit heretofore she had hated
and houted schools of every sort It
was even a greater surprise to have
her come back four years later, just
the same Emmy for all her wonderful
accomplishments.
1t was plain she did not love Aunt
Mag, but the two kept truce with each
other. Those who wondered at 1t might
have understood had they heard poor
Lena Bronson's dying admonition:
"Obey your Aunt Margaret. Remember
what we owe her, Uptil-unless the
debt is paid-it rests with you to make
her the only possible return" There
had been NO need to be more explicit
Emmy understood. Through passion
of tears she had sobbed in answer. IT
will"
Obedience had been hard and wear
ing often, but she had not dinched un-
til 1t came to the question Of marriage.
Miss Bronson's precepts were all
against her example. II want you to
marry young and marry WELL" she
had said to Emmy as soon as the girl
came home For a year she had said
nothing more save In general way,
but Emmy had come to understand
what her elder meant by marrying
/ well. Cliffe Gorton was the only one
among her half dozen beaus Miss Bron-
son approved. She had to approve
him indeed, seeing that she had at
least half raised him. Judge GoFton,
his father, had been her man OF bust
ness ever since her own father died.
His wife, habby and an invalid, had
been pretty well under Miss Bronson's
thumb-so had her son, who was, after
sort, her image made vigorous and
vital. From his cradle CIiffe had been
a prize pretty boy-as fair and blue
eyed as Emmy was peach tinted. AL
though he was three years older, she
had thrashed him roundly in the era OF
short froeks. Possibly it was some
reflex memory of the thrashing which
made him as lover appear to her RI
diculously impossible.
''If my wishes were horses I'd surely
ride away from Granby-and every
thing" she said, signing family as she
glanced at Miss Bronson.
Miss Bronson frowned heavily. II
dare say you'd take the road to Owen
ton," she said pointedly. Lets have
this thing out, Margaret Emmeline. ]
see no use3in beating about the bush.
You were well enough content here I'M
til 'Cline Gorton proposed to you and
that scatter Drained young Hyland
came to town. Even you must admit
that there is no comparison possible
between the two men. Cliffe has every
thing in Ms favor; Hyland nothing.
In spite Of that, since you seem to fam
cy him
"Oh, but l don't! You are wrong
all wrong" Emmy interrupted, with.
however, a furious blush.
Miss Bronson went on as though she
had not spoken: 81 should let you have
your way but for one thing. Who
ever marries you must be told the
truth. Clifee knows 1t carbohydrates
he understands. l have done and
borne much out of love for my fathers
name. Your father disgraced it,
you must not say so. Nobody was
ever quite sure" Emmy painted. her
cheeks very white. Miss Bronson
glanced at her dry eyed, then looked
away. Her own lips were ashen, but
they laughed bitterly as she said: "You
mean everybody was sure-except your
poor, foolish mother. She believed her
husband = against right and reason =
against the whole world. Do you know
exactly what happened? thought,
not" as Emmy shook her head.
EFT was this: My brother, in desper-
ate straits for money, went into Judge
Cities Office to beg him for loan.
It was late afternoon. He knew the
judge had just be. . -. overall thou