Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1919-09-11
JOSEPHINE
By MILDRED WHITE.


not been for Josephine. Josie Is a
difficult child" he sighed. "her
mothers doting sister was obliged to
give her up in despair. How. then.
dare I impose this burden upon you
because Of your patient love for her
father? A stepmother's position is usu-
ally problematic and no one Is more
aware Of Josephine's faults than I. who
indulge her; for the child with all her
waywardness. influences me against
my will. I, myself. am often very
| trying: are you sure that you are will
ing to sacrifice your peace to our
great need?"
Millicent smiled.
II don't expect to sacrifice my
peace" she said; "but to bring peace
into both your lives, and manage you
beautifully"
David Craythorne smiled also. but
his eyes were troubled.
MANY have tried to manage Jo-
| sephine." he warned her.
Perhaps" Mllicent suggested.
"there were none who could find the
way to her heart"
II doubt II she has one," the father
whimsically replied, beyond her own
furbelows."
He sat looking at the dainty woman
before him, and the tired lines Of his
his face softened into tenderness.
IF you could know. DEAR" he said.
show long have loved you, and have
suffered in my determination to keep
my secret"
"While all the time," laughed MILL
cent, "your love was no secret at all.
but an open book to be read. Almost
In self-defense I decided to propose
myself"
DEAREST" begged the man his tone
was intensely eager; "when will you
come to be my wife"
"When I have found my way into
JOsephine's heart and confidence" she
answered him gently.
The hopeful light left David Cray
thorne's face.
you must change that decree, MILL
cent" he said seriously. 1T has been
In waiting for Josephine's unreasoning
jealousy Of you to subside. that have
grown sad and weary" =
Millicent stopped to pluck a rose.
"Never before then. David" she an
swered firmly. $50, as I must hasten
In finding my way to Josephines heart.
I am going to her now. We will have
a visit at least. and a-sort Of look
over the battlefield" She laughed
back at him as she passed through the
opening OF the hedge from her garden
into his.
Josephine possessed a weakness for
purchasing for herself any new and
unnecessary article which might take
her fancy. The punishment for this
further offense would be q term begin
ming the following fall Of boarding
school. Josephine detested the rou-
tine OF the boarding school. Her IA
ther, noting her silence, had been ap-
prehensive that she had again dis
obeyed, entailing upon himself the pain
OF carrying out his decree.
There would be a violent scene, he
knew. and Josephine would not suffer
alone In her punishment. As he
watched the figure Of the little woman
he loved pass through the hedge, he re-
fected upon the difference between
the two.
Josephine. stormy, self-willed, COM
handing Millicent. radiating sunshine,
confident always In prevailing good,
and. bearing out her own confidence.
Which. naturally. would triumph in
that lonely home of his! Which would
be conquered?
Would Millicent return. discourage
ment written upon her sweet face, and
must he wait again long. through the
succeeding years!
Just Mt sunset the gate opened, ana
the two wOmen-for Josephine was
entering woman's estate-came into
the garden together.
David Craythorne sat up suddenly
and gasped. The unreconcilable had be-
come so quickly reconciled, Josephine's
open revolt had merged miraculously
into friendly understanding Of the
other.
His daughters handsome black eyes
met his placatingly.
Daddy" she said. II did not know
Miss Millicent before: I never knew
that any woman could be 50 generous
and kind. And I've wanted to know It,
l think. all my life. We are going to
be happy. Daddy. we three together
you'll see!"
Millicent smiled into David Cray
thorne's happy, perplexed afce.
"Once upon q time" she explained.
Il was a young Josephine, with the
same prejudices. the same impulses
though not always expressed" And as
she walked on through the garden
with the girl at her side the step
mother-to-be threw an arm about 10
sephine's shoulders.
$50 you bought the forbidden hat
at Joslyn's?" she asked. 1T can be
easily transferred from your fathers
account there to mine. And because
it would grieve him to learn Of your
disobedience, Josephine. because you
will never err In that way again. l will