The Van Buren press., 1869-06-08
MISCElLANY.
JANET'S EXPERIENCE.

OF the broad, low-rooled porch, with he
chin resting on the brown little hand
and misty depth of light in her clea
gray gray eyes--dreaming as girls o
eighteen will dream, of future far of
and radiant, that somehow never resolve.
itself into the present-a tomorrow tha
never becomes to-day!
The old clock on the kitchen shelf ha(
just struck four-thc afternoon sunshin,
was showering down, in a sort Of COLDER
spray, through the low boughs Of the
great old cherry tree, where the red OK
hearts hung like jeweled pendants, anG
the busy brown robins futtered in ane
out, and orange belted bees kept up ;
low, murmurous hum, like breakers fal
out on the sea Of the sunny air It
She was rosy little lass, this heroine
Of ours; round cheeks where the crimson
of perfect health glowed through a vel
of sunburn, and dimpled red mouth anC
fragrant as Glove Pink-a genuine coun
try girl, as unconsciously graceful in al
her movements as the silver green whea
now ripping i'll the summer breeze No
an orthodox beauty, but a very lovely
loveable little parsonage, as she sat there
in her brown gingham dress and ruflled
white apron, with her sun bonnet on the
porch floor beside her.
OF what WAS she musing? The old,
old subject Of every revery-the refrain
to every song-him! For Janet Roydou
was in love--or, at all events she fanced
she was, and it is wonderful how com
pletely fancy will sometimes assume the
throne of reality
AS she sat there smiling to herself,
with dropping lashes and 1cetng rose
shadows on her cheek. firm, quick foot
step sounded on the garden path, where
long sprays of spicy sweet brier traiied
and double rows Of currant bushes hung
full of ruby sparkling fringes in level
sunbeams-Thornc Millington's step.
"Janet," he said, pleadngly, "will
you walk up Craig Hill with me this af-
tcrnoonY The young people Of the vii
lage are all going, and you see how de
lightful the weather is. Come, Janet, it
is so long since you walked with me"
No-Janet wouldn't Thorne Milling
ton looked hurt.
"Why not? ..u
81 don't know that l am obliged to
render reason FOR every action Of my
life. 1t is too warm; besides am tired"
Thorne looked at her with a mournful,
incrcdalous gravity in his dark eyes.
"You would not have answered me so
once, Janet" l'u..I .r. .ut
smn ;Ianet mt :, tossed her pretty little satin.
among its braids. lsI IT. @
q suppose / am free to select my own
mode of speech, Thorne Millington."
/" Free? Yes, Janet, since you wish to
be free"
Janet was silent. Apparently she was
intentlv comparing the stripes on two
blades of ribbon grass that hung over the
wooden step at her side, but Mullington
was not so easily repulsed. We cling
with wondrous tenacity to life, and
to Thorne the love that had grown up in
his heart for pretty, wilful Janet Roydon
was something stronger and better than
life.
"Why don't you say at once that you
are expecting your fine city loverF He
questioned somewhat bitterly. Janet lift,
cd her head, blushing and indignant.
"Thorne, you are going too far You
have no right to catechise me So"
"Have / not, t,~Janet p he questioned
in tones where the sharp pain seemed to
pierce through the words. ...u 81
" Certainly yon have not"
"Well, l will intrude no longer. see
that your thoughts and mind are else
where" .... ......
He paused a moment, perhaps hoping
that Janet might speak word to detain
him. But she did not; and the next mo
mcnt she was alone in the yellow glow or
the afternoon sunshine.
1t might have been five minutes it
might have been ten-that she sat there
counting ribbon-grass blades, and listen
ing to the drowsy hum Of bees and in
sects and then there was another click
Of the little wicket gate-another foot
step ringing clearly on the graveled patti
All, il Thorne Millington could have
seen the up.hushing crimson Of her check
the Frightening sparkle Of her eyes nov,
he would have fallen more hopelessly into
the clutches oftho" grcen-eyed monster
than he already was-and that was, to
say the least of it, quite unnecessary.
"Janet! My little wild rose! All
alone ~
lie was handsome, with his black flash
ing eyes, and his white. shapely hands, rs
he came up to her with u caressing fa-
milarity Of voice and manner that be.
spoke no uncertainty as to his reception
"Oh, Sydney, I'm so glad that YOU
happened to come this afternoon! Uncle
and aunt are gone out"
Come that's luck" said Mr.. Sydney
Fairfax, establishing himself on the lower
step at her feet, and possessed himself of
one Of her hands with a sort Of easy gal
lantry that " told" fearfully against the
respectful reverence in which Thorne
Mllington was won't to hold the wayward
beauty.
"The old Vandals.' interjected Mr..
Fairfax.
Because you know went on Janet,
90 they like Thorne Millngton."'
"Spsaks very badly for their taste" {"
said Fairfax Janet laughed and colored.
"But Sydney, it makes it very bad for
me. | am very miserable, and when you
are gone"
don't fret, mia cara | shall come
back to clam you soon, and then they
may scold the end Of their tongues OF !