Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-03-31
THE INFLUENCE
BY MoLLIE MATHeR.

In the thought that his child's future
would be secure in sisters care. TIL.
da, the elder sister, had raised him
In his orphanage and Tilda would be
competent to raise his daughter, so
thought Alan; but he had NOT counted
upon the difficult temperament Of his
child Josephine.
Josephine's mother had grown up
In the vicinity. and when Tilda ap-
proved of their comradeship. and ap-
proved also, Of the first Josephine's
domestic ability and gentle manners,
Alan coincided heartily with her views,
and his early marriage followed. Jo-
sephine, the daughter, grown to early
young womanhOOd, possessed neither
her mothers domestic tastes nor amen
ability. Josephine was adventurous,
she had views, and she was apt to be
l~nterrogative. Alan, travelling afar up
on business interests which carried
him. grew vaguely troubled. Tilda's
complaint, upon his home coming, was
that of a new friendship in which her
charge persisted.
ut seems" Tilda told her brother,
shat the affair has been going on
longer than I suspected. Probably
this intimacy is responsible for many
of Josle's wild views. An in~fatuation
I call It,"
"A manT her brother impatIently
questioned.
my, moi" Tilda replied, II almost
wish 1t were a man, he would probably
knock some of the nonsense out of
the girls head Josie's divinity is a
woman, a mysterious sort of person
who has rented the Wells bungalow
for the summer. She looks like q
motion picture actress. and spends her
time playing the harp, selecting to
Why Josie, l have been unable to de-
terInine.
"Disagreeable?" again the father in
terrupted with a question.
mo" Tilda honestly replied, ION the
contrary lose appears unusually sweet
and reasonable. The trouble is, that
one wild notion persists. She will
study the harp. Alan. | wish you would
see that woman yourself and speak
to her concerning her mistaken iniu-
ence over Josephine. She would prob
ably listen to a man, but when /
called"
"You called" interposed the brother.
Tilda nodded.
IL thought it was my duty. Josie
positively refused to obey when l Or
dered her not to go to the woman's
house again. For let me assure you
that the people here think very little
of such O stranger. When / called
she was making a picture Of herself
draped before her harp In a greek
sort of a robe, and when l reproved
her regarding the notion she had put
In J~osephine's head. she was as sweet
" and stubbornly insistent as the
child"
Josephine really should be given
her opportunity, she said. So l came
away. There Is no use trying to for
bid your daughter this companiOnship
Alan. but perhaps the young woman
may respect your wishes"
Alan hesitated, then decided that II
would be wise to have som knowledge
of his daughters new found friend.
Josephine was making one Of her daily
visits at the bungalow, it would appear
quite the natural thing to call to see
her home, So Alan went. Josephine
greeted him in the garden, she was
proud of her handsome father and led
him forth jubilantly.
"Janet," she called, "Janet come
! here"
At sight of a white-clad figure in
the doorway, Alan's disappearing
frown vanished. while Josephine stared
in surprise from one to the other
For her fathers quick cry had been
%"Janey, my dear" while her friend
ran in a little rush toward him,
"You will not be displeased, will
you Alan" she was saying, because
l stole a march on you and hurried
on to meet Josie. l wanted to win
your daughters heart you see, before
she should know me under the unfor
tunate name of stepmother. You were
far away Alan, 1t really seemed the
most acceptable way of spending my
time. And / have discovered a secret
for yo3. n that will not keep another
moment. Your daughter has great
, musical ability. Alan. I am very GER
tain of this, and you must give hel
an opportunity"
"But," murmured Josephine, Is" dc
' not understand"
"Of course you don't" penltently
Janet's arms EMBODIED her.
! at means dear, that your father anC
I | met some time ago, quite acciden
\ tally, when he called concerning q
certain suit for damages. My little
brother, Laddle, had been almost Grip
pied by a recklessly driven automobile
. and the suit was brought In order Il
3 enable us to procure, the best pos
sible surgical skill.":
sand while the suit was pending
Alan added. "and the little brother
} lay in the hospital. this girl whom
: learned to love, took the harp which
had been her pastime and with 1t
gave rscitais here and there, SO tina
Laddie need lack mo help or comfort
: And she was becoming such a celebrit,
! In her line. that I thought ] had bet
ter put my question, before her heat
: should be turned BY admiration"
~And 30. Josephine finished hap
ply. everything has ended In JUS
. pertestly. heavenly way"