Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-07-08
JANETS FORTUNE.

tune 10 the one who VIII use IL 10 the best
advantage" said Grandma Leeds, smiling
from behind her spectacles to the young
girls around her
Your fortune, grandmaf what will it
be a.? That old basket, with its horrid yarn
and needles, and the never ending knit
ting work. If 80, you need not leave IL
with me. Janet will use 1t to far better
advantage than could"
q" Yes, Lettie, you are right; and Tn
sure don't want it either, HIN, what
fortune, to be sure -
"Ill accept 1t, grandma, and prize 1t, if
you will only add your sweet, contented
disposition. 1t would be q fortune which
none of US need desplse."
Janet Leeds was the youngest Of the
family, and the plainest. She had a
sweet, fresh face, and tender eyes; but
these paled into ugliness before Lettie's
black orbs and shining curls, and the
blonde loveliness of belle Margaret. So
she settled back like a modest violet in
the chimney corner, and waited on her
grandma, or assisted the maid in the house
work.
Once in awhile she ventured out to
party in the village, but so seldom that
people never observed her. That made
it unpleasant, and she staid at home still
closer.
But that morning, while they sat chat
ting with grandma, she felt a deal of real
discUntentment for the first time in
months.
Clara Bosworth, her bosom friend, was
to give q party that evening, and she
could not go. For weeks preparations
had been going on in their quiet family.
She had given up the money saved for a
new winters cloak that Lettie's green silk
might be retrimmed for the occasion, and
the best dress she had in the world was
plain garnet. colored popGn with black
velvet trimmings.
She had family suggested that she
might wear that, but the dismay of her
sisters silenced her.
go and wear that old poplin |" cried
Lettie, from the clouds of white billowy
lace that was to adorn the green silk 4.
"You must be crazyr
al should think So" chimed Margaret,
who was fitting lace berthe over the
waist of delicate lilac satin. "Do you
want Austin Bosworth to think us family
of paupersf 1t is to be a grand affair, and
Clara expects all who honor it will try to
pay her respect enough to dress respect
ably. 1t il, ,Austin's first appearance after
his European tour, and surely you do not
want him to think mean of us?"
The tears came up, but Janet was brave,
| and no one saw them.
That night, when the two girls-the one
in her dark beauty and wonderfully be-
coming array; the other all delicacy, her
fair, pearl loveliness enhanced by the pale
purple color of her splendid dress-came
laughing into grandma's room, q little
shadow darkened her face, and she found
it very hard to keep back the tears.
faaf an nd httff ffV,a
birds do not always sing the sweetest,
jamie" said grandma, after they were gone.
/ know who is the trueIone in this family.
know my little singing bird, jamie, and
she is dearer than q dozen fine ladies.
Austin and Clara will como tomorrow,
and he will tell us about his travels in
foreign lands, and you will be far happier
than you would be at the house tonight,
with dancing and confusion"
81 suppose so, grandma," and Janet took
her seat by the fire and went on knitting,
with peaceful face.
The elder sisters came home with
rumpled plumage, but in high spirits
Austin Bosworth had returned hand
some, polished gentleman, and had firted
desperately with Lettie.
"Why, grandma, he almost proposed to
her" |" laughed Margaret, who was en-.
gagged to Judge Leonard's hopeful son,
and therefore had no place for jealousy.
More than one of the company predicted
that it would be match"
"Don't count your chickens before they
are hatched," called grandma from her
pillow. Mr.. Austin Bosworth is no fool,
l can tell you"
"What an old croakerl"
They were entering their chamber
across the hall, but grandmother's ears
were not dulled by old age, and she clear.
ly heard them.
"Don't mind them, grandma" whis.
pered Janet, who had waited to help them
lay aside their fnery.
mind them! Do you think 1 shall,
Janet Leeds?"
Next day Austin Bosworth came. He
was too familiar with the old house to
stop for bell-ringing, and he entered
crossing the hall directly past the parloI
door, where Margaret and Lettie waited
in their tasteful afternoon costumes, and
walked straight on to Grandma Leeds
room.
She was there with her work, heI
placid face beaming beneath the white
lace bordered cap.
A graceful, girlish figure half knelt be
fore her, wreathing with deft fingers {
bunch of evergreens into a frame for
mantle ornament, and her eyes were
lifted smiling into the old lady's face.
He entered and closed the door befor,
either saw him.
Grandma Leedsl"
"Why bless my heart, 1t is Austin
Come here my boy
And the fine gentleman came and gave
both hands to her in his delight.
jamie, my little playmate, tool Wha
a happy meetingl Clara came down
dressed for call, and declared she woulC
come, but L told her mol / knew tn,
amount of gallantry should feel Obliged
to use, and preferred that my first visi
should be like the old ones"
You are right We are better pleased
TO have 1t 80, are We not, Janetp"
His call heightened itself into two hours
and during the time he told pleasan
stories and chatted like the boy of by
gone days, but not once did Margaret's O
Lettie's name pass his lips.
When he went away he met them com
ing, with disappointed faces, from tn,
parlor, where they had been waiting fol
him; but he only lifted his hat and passed
out. Then grandma and jamie received
sound scolding, such as only these two
knew how to give, and the shadows O
discomfort again fell on Janet's spirit.
Ah, that long, cherries winter Wha
a story Janet could tell you of disap
pointments, Of happy parties of which
she had no share, Of moonlight rides, o
joy and merriment She had only thai
one comforter, kind, patient grandma fo
now that Austin Bosworth had come, III,
way was harder than before.
He came and escorted Lettie 10 parties
and sometimes ohatted with grandma, bu
nothing more. She saw nothing more