Show r t ya j r 1 the methods of josephine by ella middleton copyright by J B co I 1 think ican I can truthfully say that the first time josephine awakened any real interest in my heart was when I 1 discovered sho was in love one afternoon she returned with tho usual bunch of violets and a most un usual expression the instant I 1 saw her I 1 knew a crisis was at band and lose to the occasion as a cork rises to the surface of the water lightly buoyantly yet determinedly josephine went at once to her room and cload the door with decision I 1 hovered on the stairway palpitating tating with uncertainty and the affectionate solicitude which Is so far removed from mere vulgar curiosity finally mustering all my resolution I 1 turned the knob of the door and entered with quite a jaunty air carelessly hum ming a tune josephine lay face downward on the bed the violets crushed and broken and the heels of her patent leather shoes sticking pathetically outward A choking gasping sound revealed that she was crying into the counter pane gently murmuring an endear ing epithet I 1 laid my hand upon her head oh aunt gertrude sobbed josephine aunt gertrude poor child I 1 returned responsive ly I 1 understand I 1 understand 0 O no you dont she interrupted ungratefully you you can t josephine I 1 said kindly but firm ly you are engaged to be married and to a man it was evident she was astonished at my perspicuity tor she raised her head as though listening and nodded assent furthermore I 1 continued follow you go and explain things ng up my advantage and speaking with conviction you are unhappy down went her head again and the sniffling into the counterpane becom dear I 1 whispered with unalloyed sweetness is he worthy of these 0 o reply do you love him I 1 continued deeply truly everlastingly josephine sat upright and pushed the hair out of her eyes oh aunt gertrude she gasped it him its them them I 1 hazarded faintly yes eald my niece with the calm ness of despair the trouble im engaged all right but there s two of him tell me about it I 1 suggested chiefly because I 1 felt something was expected of me yea she agreed quickly T might just as well ive got to tell I 1 ignored the last clause and corn posed myself to listen her story wis briefly thus being unable to withstand the fas to two callow youths and finding it impossible to preserve the peace between them josephine had formulated the scheme of taking them on alternate days like two varieties of pills as it were she remarked casually that she had stopped their visits to the house as she disliked to see them glare at each other and moreover her evenings were thus left free for others she did not explain this however but insinuated parental pai opposition and dally persecution of herself borne with angelic sweetness gently but decidedly I 1 laid the facts of the case before my niece I 1 told her that as sho could marry but one man it was manifestly improper to be engaged to two you must now I 1 continued ig her remark because I 1 could not help comprehending that such a situation might be agreeable albeit sinful you must now dear child make your selection which of your suitors do you love the better yea said josephine miserably its up to me to choose and ive done it let your heart guide ou I 1 advised gently teats just what I 1 tried to do returned josephine confusedly but the old thing wouldn t work so I 1 tossed up a penny heads for aed and tails tor harry iti came down tails and she continued quietly im going to elope with him tonight tonight to night ejaculated aghast tes tonight to night and oh aunt gertrude I 1 don t vant to one bit it s not harry after all its ned just as soon as the penny came down talla un I 1 knew it was ned I 1 wanted but I 1 S W ait i was afraid to toss again because then if I 1 got ned I 1 might want harry don t you see I 1 did not bee in tact such alon was quite incomprehensible to my well balanced mind but I 1 was obliged to devote my energies to soothing josephine who again tuned tu ned her face to the counterpane and wept copiously and he a waiting on the corner by trinity church she sobbed he said bed watt till I 1 came and its iraln ing and he has a cold and I 1 alm ply can t go mary him and he s bought the ring and I 1 think harry s such a hideous name and be 11 wait till I 1 come and and f josephine suddenly sat upright and grasped my hand you go she saad you go and explain things it Is needless to recount the argument that followed enough to say that I 1 finally agreed to go and tell the man waiting to marry my niece that after all she preferred some one else josephine produced a long light cloak and wrapped me in it she also adorned me with a large hat loaded with plumes because she explained harry would be looking for just that costume oyer the hat and face she tied a thick veil remarking that no one could possibly tell who was in side it and perhaps harry would marry me in spite of myself as he was very impatient then she giggled hysterically secure in the consciousness 0 my rectitude I 1 compressed my lips and drew on my rubbers it was not a pleasant evening A fine sleety rain fell steadily turning the pavements into shining sheets of glass over which I 1 shuffled carefully trinity church Is situated on a side street entirely oft the main thorough fare where it Is and se eluded I 1 paused as I 1 reached the corner and laid my hand on my bosom a little to tho left of the breast bone as described in when locating the heart its throbbing wag very evident summoning all my fortitude I 1 looked in the direction of the church there beside the lamppost stood a manly form and drawn conveniently close to the curbing was a herdic cab suddenly an arm appeared about my waist a face was pressed close to mine and I 1 distinctly felt the pricking of a mustache I 1 blushed beneath the veil and was glad the street happened to be dark and quiet I 1 found myself gently but forcibly propelled towards the cab the door of which stood invitingly open twice I 1 strove to articulate but both times my voice failed me im going on the box with the cabby he continued cheerfully to make ane he gets the right place it won t do to have any mistake you isnow now then in you go and I 1 found myself picked up bodily and deposited in the cab the door slammed and we were off I 1 was eloping my first impulse was to scream but this I 1 resisted firmly my second to draw the latrobe closer about me and to this I 1 yielded and resigned myself to the inevitable the cab stopped abruptly and the cab door was flung eagerly open strange undulations traveled up and down my spine we were in the chapel by this time and the clergyman in his robes was waiting for us with two witnesses everything very proper and legal As I 1 could not trust my voice I 1 began to fumble with my veil at feast I 1 could uncover my face let ma help you ho said gently and untied tho knot 1 turned and faced him and for a moment we stared at each other aa though petrified the he exclaimed very rudely I 1 thought 1 made a gigantic effort to my dear young friend I 1 said in a i voice which sounded weak and au to my ov n ears 1 fear my presence aly be somewhat of a als appointment as well aa a sur prise but I 1 got no further for he turned helplessly to the clergyman as though terrified take her away he gasped there a some mistake let me out of thief but the minister lifted his hand solemnly there seems to be some strange misapprehension he said sternly let us get to the bottom of this mat I 1 ter at once did you expect to marry this gentleman madam pray ex plain and I 1 explained aa well as I 1 could when I 1 reached home a loag time after tor alie distance was great and the street cars slow I 1 found my and slippers laid out in my room and josephine hovering anxious alv about the window watching for me I 1 told her the whole atoo and she laughed in a way I 1 thought ungrateful and josephine I 1 eald solemnly 1 I shall never recover from this nights experience I 1 hope you will always remember all I 1 have done for you oh well returned josephine carelessly at course it was awfully good of you but do you know aunt ger trude I 1 think you bungled the most awfully 1 |