The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-12-14

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! cap.
a graceful girlish figure half knclt
beside der, wrcathing with dcft fingers
a bunch of cvergrccns into n frame for
! a mantcl ornament, and her eyes were
lif'ed smilingly to the cd lady's face.
lie entered ami closed the door be-
| fore either saw him.
'GrAud ma Leeds =
'Nhy, bless my heart, it is Austin
Come here, my boy.
And the fine gentleman crmo and
gave both hands to her in delight.
Jamie, my little playmate, too !!
What happy meeting Clara came
| DOM dressed for call, aud declared
she would come, but | told her no.
l knew the amount of gallantry |
should foel obliged to use, and pre-
f.rred that my first visit should be
like my old ones
you arc right. We arc better
pleased to have IL so--are we not,
anct I!
His call lcngthencd itself into
hours aud during the time he told
pleasant stories and chattcrcd like
the boy of by gone days, but not once
did Marglrct's or Lottie's name pass
his lips.
When he went away he met them
coming with disappointed faces from
the parlor, where they had been wait
ing for him but he only lifted his
hat and passed out. Then grandma
and jamie received severe scolding
such as only those two knew how
to give, and tho shadows Of discon.
tent again fell on Janct's spirit.
All that long, chccrlcss winter!
What story Janet could tell You Of
ai>appointmcnts, of happy plrties u
which she had no share, Of moonlight
rides, Of JOY and Of mcr'iment. She
had .nly that one comforter, kind
patient grandma for now that Austin
Bo>worth had come, the way was
harder than boforc.
lie had come and escorted Lcttic
to parties, and sometimes chattcd with
grandma, but nothing more she did
not catch the good natured smiles he
gave her from the sleigh rs he rode
away--and Lettie never told how
often he asked for her.
Alone with grandma, Janet wish ed
Cor better things, and wondered why
she was hurshly dealt with.
At last even the so:icty Of her
aged comforter was denied her, and
ia her bed tho old lady gradually
faded away. Day and night Janet
sat beside her, with the knowledge
that she was beyond all earthly help
waiting upon her, Yielding to the
childish whims, and. shutting out
everything youthful and beautiful
from her sight.
'pIaying household angel Marga-
ret said
Working for grandma's fortune of
old shoes and worsted stockiugs,'
I.ettie cruclly added.
Doing her duty by the faithful wo
man who had taken the three mother
less children into her heart, and filed
the lost ones place so far as God per-
mitted,' her own heart said, and steadi-
ly worked on.
The first of May brought invitations
to the last ball at the Bosworth house
and while the two elder sisters laid
out finery, Janet folded her tiny mis-
sivc, and laid it away next to her
heart, as sacred bit of paper, bear
ing Austin's firm, broad chirography
upon it.
That night grandma was very i'll,
and when Margaret and Lcttic hut-
tered in with their gay dresses, Janet
met them aud almost for,ibly put
them out of the room.
Il beg you girls to have little
respect for poor grandma-she is
very ill tonight
Nonsense Don't bo a fool, Janet
anybody would suppose she was
dying
Il believe she is.'
Their reply came in violent slam
of the door, and Janet was left alone
with her patient.
The hours dragged wearily, and
overcome by her long slccplcss watch
cS, Janet fell fast asleep.
Two hours later she awokc with a
start, and in an instant she slw that
dread change visible ip grandma's
face.
Like one in droam she walked to
hor fathers door and awakened him.
Father, grandma is worse-I be-
lieve her dJ ing. You most 60 to DR..
Bernc. You will find him at tho ball.
Go quickly
She went back, and sat there wca,i.
ly watching for something-for a sigh
sound from the dying woman; but
mono camo. Slowly but pcrceptibly
the lines settled over tho placid face
but no sound issued from tho pale
lips.
Janet bent her head. There was n
faint flutter-no more-and she
olasped hor hands. Would grandma