Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-12-16

task was done, and every braid was per-
feet. what ornaments shallyou wear?''
"Emeralds, o. course. Green and
gold are his fayOrite cOlors, you know,
mother" replied Agnes, smiling ana
blushing. "There is the jewel-case,
Miss Arouthnot."
Janet opened it, and clasped the gilt
tering gems on neck and wrists, and
hung the cleaning pendants from the
beauty's ears.
And what for your hair? ;" she asked.
"Who knows" replied the beauty.
disconteDtedly. Flowers, l suppose.
If only 1 had emeralds to match my
necklace. Pshawi" she continued, as
Janet held a wreath of rose-buds against
her ietty braids, "take them away.
They spoil everything else. Nothing
but emeralds Will do.n
Won't your pearls answer" sug
gested her mother.
pearls mixed with emeralGsi You
" ould make a fright Of ne, mamma.
oh, dearl L shall have to take off the
dress, and wear something else.
Janet hesitated q moment, and then
drew the little casket from her pocket.
~ beg your pardon, Miss Draper"
she said, timidly, flashing open the case;
'but If these would suit, should be so
pleased" +"
"Why, Janet, " cried the heiress, lift
ing the glittering string from the case,
"are you another Cinderella? But
where" she aided, in surprise, did you
get these costly gems?"
''They were the gift of a dear friend,
replied Janet, quietly. II meant to sell
them this evening, but my heart failed
me-"
"Why, III buy them, if they are for
SALE" kindly said the heiress. "Oh,
mother, 90 look herel Was ever any
thing SO magnificent? she cried, ex-
round her raven braids. MAY / wear
them tonight, Janet?"
"In welcome, nsaid Janet.
Well, well" Continued Agnes, with
a sigh of satisfaction, ''there never was
such godsend; nJysiress is perfect now.
1 shall not forget your kindness, Miss
Arbuthnot."
And she swept down to the parlors,
the emeralds encircling her brow like an
aureola of light. Janet looked after her
with an odd sensation of mingled pain
and pleasure, and half regretted the i'm
pulsive generosity, that had prompted
her to proffer her precious emeralds,
even for so short a time.
The tableauX were over. aud the
waltzing had begun. Mr.. Willoughby,
the lion of the season, who had just
come from Calcutta, millionaire, APP
preached to seek Miss Draper for his first
partner.
"You have surpassed yourself, to-
night, Miss Agnes" he said, bis eyes
full of admiration, as they rested on her
queenly face.
,,Io hal
music struck up, and he turned to lead
her off, but suddenly stopped, staring
like one petrified.
"Great heavens!n he exclaimed, at
last, "they are the sameI Miss Draper,
excuse me! But cannot be mistaken:
where did you get these emeralds?"
Agnes grew scarlet to her very finger
tips, and drew back hastily.
IA strange question, Mr.. Willough-
by" she said.
II know, Miss Draper; and beg par
don for my rudeness; but those gems
were my gift to the dearest friend | ever
had. You can understand my solicitude
to know how they came into your pos
session."
"They are not mine, Mr.. Willough-
by" was the surprised answer; they be-
long to my mothers governess."
"And her name?' he said breathleSsly.
"Janet Arbuthnot."
Mr.. Willoughby's travel-bronzed face
grew absolutely radiant.
Zone other favor, Miss Agnes" he
said. "Can I see your mothers COVER
nesS?n
For an instant Agnes struggled with
wounded vanity and self-leve, and then
said, frankly, her better nature tri-
umphing. e
II see, Mr.. Willoughby, that there is
grand denoument at hand, the finale.
for our tableaux. Come with me,
He followed her from the parlors, and
| into little ante-room, where the young
governess sat-. One glance at the quiet
| figure in its robe of brown; at the pal
lid, sorrow-worn face; and Eustace Will
loughby rushed forward with outstretch-
ed arms.
Janet! Janet!" he cried, shave 1
found you at last?'
Agnes disengaged the emeralds from
her hair, and dropping them softly into
Janet's lap, left the room, blinded by
really genuine tears.
at is quite as well as if 1 had won
him myself, nshe said.
"Why did you leave our dear old
city ?'' said Eustace Willoughby, when
he and Janet were alone together. 81
can understand something of your rea-
sons, of course: you shrank from old
associations; but it has led to this ap
parent desertion on my part. / had to
go up the country from Calcutta, on i'm
portant business, fell sick, and was de-
tanned for months. When | returned
to America, all trace Of GU was lost. l
have been in search of yol for months.
But now we will never part again.
So, after all, gladness and rejoicing
came to Janet, and to the friends she
loved, with the dawnng of that happy
NEW-YEAR.