Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-01-06
.Janei,s New Year.

Janecs New Year.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "MIss DERwENT's
DIAMONDS" ETC.
Janet Arbuthnot put by the little frock
she had been striving 80 hard to finish.
at is almost dark, she said, glancing
toward the window with little shudder-
ing sigh. 81 suppose I shall have to go,
mother"
81 suppose SO, DEAR" replied the invalid,
raising herself to sitting posture (; "but
they might have spared you to me TO-
night"
ayes mother but Mrs. Draper thought
they never would get on with the dresses
for the tableaux without my help"
Sand my new frock, Janet" piped a
curly headed little thing from the cor
ner, "who will finish that ?"
"Never fear, Alice" replied the sister,
pleasantly. 81 shall be at home bright
and early tomorrow, and you shall have
it in good time"
.'But what's the USE" continued the
child, petulantly. 81 might as well have
no new frock, I've no place to go to; and
we shant have even doughnut for New
Year-shall we mother ?"
The mother sighed, and fell back upon
her pillow, pressing her thin hands to her
face to hide the tears she could not keep
back.
Janet stood for moment with her hand
on the door-knob; then she recrossed the
room to her mothers bed.
Don't fret, mother" she said, tenderly
kissing the wan and sunken cheeks
keep brave heart, and the sun will
shine again some day, despite all this
darkness. | think" she added, adj listing
her worn shawl, chat I'll come tonight
if it isn't too late, after the party and
I'll ask Mrs. Draper for part OF mylmonth'
ly pay. You shall have a New Years
yet Alice"
She kissed them both, and left, closing
the door softly behind her. But instead
of going directly to the street, she went
into her bedroom Taking key from
her pocket she unlocked aIsmall rosewood
case that stood upon the table, and drew
forth tiny ebony casket. Her hand:
trembled nervously as she unclasped it.
and lifted a string of emeralds it con
tanned Rare and brilliant gems they
were, most daintily set, and looking
strangely out of place in that humble lit
tie chamber. Janet held them tenderly
pressing them caressingly to her lips, and
letting them slip through her fingers like
stream of living light. There was 8
spray of heliotrope in the bottom of the
caskot, and its sweet, subtle odor filled
the little chamber like the breath of in
cense and with that strange power which
odors alone possess, carried the heart o.
the governess away back to the dewy
dawn of her girlhood.
Only five years ago, and this sef-samt
Janet had been the daughter of wealthy
and indulgent father, with every comfor
and luxury at her command, and crowds
of suitors at her feet. But only one o.
all these met any favor from the shy, lit
tie beauty; and he was in every respec
worthy of her. On the eve of a voyage
to Calcutta, lac had made his declaration
and been accepted; and the string o
emeralds had been his betrothal-gift-
For months after his departure, Jane
lived in a dream of bliss, and then tbs
great trouble of her life came. He
father, who held high position in the
mercantile world, failed utterly, and find
ing himself a beggar, died of a broker
heart. Then their beautiful dwelling
and every thing went, and his poor wife
sank into despairing helplessness; snt
there was no one left to breast the bitter
bitter storm but pretty little Janet.
Bravely enough she did it, for the CIR
was hero, despite her slender form ant
lily face. She removed her invalid raotha,
and little sister to city far distant from
the scene of their recent troubles, pro
cured humble lodgings, and then cas-
| about her for employment. With mucl
difficulty, she obtained a situation as gov
erness, a position for which her fine edu
cation and natural abilities rendered he
eminently qualified. Thus the year
wore on, Janet hearing nothing from he
lover.
He was, probably, dead, she thought
or he might have heard OF her father
failure, and resolve to quietly ignore her
She did not know, and she was too proud
to inquire.
Now, standing there in the gathering
gloom, with the rush aud roar of thu
great city IN her ears, she asked herself
"Why not sell the emeralds ~ They
would bring good price, enough to make
her poor mother and little Alice comfor
table through many dreary month. Aut
yet she could hardly bring herself to par
from them. They were the only link tina
bound her to the happy past. The shad
ows thickened round her, and the dreamy
odor Of the heliotrope wrapt her, like ;
trance, in memories of the long-ago. Sht
could see the green, summer-garden, heal
| the pla sh of the fountain, and catch tn,
twitter of the canaries from their gildet
cages. His face was bending over her
his kisses burned upon her brow, his yer,
words seemed sounding in her ear again
"a quaint affair for a betrothal gift, dar
ling" he said, "but they are very precious
and they were my mothers jewels.
hold them dearer than anything else
possess, hence L give them to you"
Could she part from them Sell then
for few paltry shillipgs Her bosom
rose and fell with great throbs of agony
She was coiling them into the case again
when her mothers hollow cough brok
on her ear.
"For her sake" she murmured, her fac,
whitening in the gloom. eyes, God hell
me, for her sake must"
She closed the casket resolutely, ant
slipping it into her pocket, hurried GU
into the darkening streets. Only blocl
or two from Mrs. Diapers was fashion
able jewelry establishment, every windov
a blaze of light. With her heart in he
I mouth Janet entered, and glanced dow,
the long line of gayly dressed customers
1t would be half an hour, at least, sh
saw, before she could be waited on, ant
that would be too late. And after all
perhaps, Mrs. Draper might let her hav
part of her monthly pay, and she woul,
not be forced to sell the emeralds just vet
Glad of any pretext or excuse for keeping
her precious gems, she hurried from tn
shop; but thoughts of her mother an,
poor, disappointed little Alice brought tn
binding tears to her eyes. Life was yer,
desolate, Alas what would the New
Year bring to her ? She ran along briskly
with dreadful aching at her heart, til
she reached the stylish residence of he
employer.
"Oh, Miss Arbuthnot here you are.
cried Mrs. Draper, as Janet tapped at til
door of the dressing-room. "Come in
we've dreadful need of help. Agne j