Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-05-31
3. MARYLAND. FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 81, 1907.
'OS0SOSNtSN<S SNt~N~
EMMY'S
REDEMPTIO


9 Copyright, 1908, by Homer lenlA91 y
OsOeoeosososooeoeoeQsc Geo
"You wish! If wishes wore iIpsseal
beggars might ride" Auuo Mag quot
ed spitefully to her partial tial1 hle.
Margaret Emmeline.
The EmmelIne had been 1std alne
grievance ever since the girl was rl5
tened. Aunt Mag, otherwise Hiss
Bronson. had an instinct OF jeal0e nu-
premacy toward whatever wa her
own. Being a just person, she lied
her only niece by the awkwaEd full
name, Notwithstanding In ali. thal
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 1t from tho
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, luckless,
Jack Bronson, the father, had died
soon after Emmy was born-died on
the ocean and boon 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 tho
great scandal Of tho village For onco
the slim faced woman, who was COM
monty as wax in stronger hands, had
withstood her world, saying only with
a 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 gettine
her own way In spite Of everything.
The village unanimously pronounced
her n handful-even for Miss Bronson,
whose hand was not light. Emmy was
fourteen when her mother died. II
was standing marvel to everybody
that sho had gone quietly away to
boarding school at Miss Bronson's or.
ders, albeit heretofore she had hated
and douted schools of every sort, II
was even greater surprise to have
her come back four years later, just
tho 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 It might
have understood had they heard poor
Lena Bronson's dying admonitioni
"Obey your Aunt Margaret Remember
what we owe her. Until-unless tho
debt is paid-lt 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, II
will"
Obedience had been hard and wear
ing often, but she had not 1inched I'M
til 1t came to tho question Of marriage.
Miss Bronson's precepts were all
against her example. II want you to
marry young-and marry we'll" ahe
had said to Emmy as soon as tho girl
came home. For a year ehe had said
nothing more save in general. way,
but Emmy had como to understand
what her elder meant by marrying
well. Clffe Gorton was tho only ona
among her half dozen beaus Miss Bron-
son approved. She had to approve
him indeed, seeing that she had at
his father, had been her man Of bust
ness ever since her own father died.
His wife, 1abby and an invalid. had
been pretty well under Miss Bronson's
thumb-so had her son, who was. after
sort her image made vigorous ana
vital. From his cradle Cllffe had been
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 frocks. Possibly 1t 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 polntedly. Lets have
this thing out, Margaret Emmeline. I
see no use In beating about tho bush.
You were well enough content here UNI
III Cliffe Gorton proposed to you and
that scatter Drained young Hyland
came to town. Even you must admit
that there IL no comparison possible
between the two men. Cllffe has every
thing In his favor; Hyland nothing.
In spite OF that, since you seem to fan
cy him
ooh, but | don'ti You are wrong
all wrong" Emmy Interrupted, with,
however, furious blush.
Miss Bronson went on as though she
had not spoken: II should let you have
your way but for one thing. Who.
ever marrles you must be told the
truth. CIiffe knows 1t already besides
no understands. l have Done and
borne much out Of love for my fathers
name. Your father disgraced it,
you must not say 80. 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 happenedf / thought
not" as Emmy shook her head.