Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-07-06
Seleeteo MisteIlany.
JANEI'S FORTUNE.

land when [ die shall leave my fortune
to the one who will use it to the best ad-
vantage" said Grandma Leeds. smiling
from behind her spectacles to the young
girls around her.
s'Your fortune, grandma? what will it be?
That old basket, with its horrid yarn and
needles, and the never-ending knitting
work? If so, you need not leave it with me.
Janet will use it to far better advantage
than [ could.
eyes, Lettie, you are right; and I'm sure
I don't want it, either. HIM, what for
tune to be surep'
'.I'll accept it, grandma, and prize
you will only add your sweet, contented
disposition. 1t would be fortune which
none of us need despise."
Janet Leeds was the youngest of the fam
lily, and the plainest. She had sweet,
fresh face, and tender eyes; but these paled
into ugIiness before Lettie's black orbs and
shining curls, and the blonde loveiness 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 housework.
Once in a while she ventured out to a
party in the village, but so seldom that
people never observed her. That made it
unpleasant, and sic staid at home still
closer.
But that morning, while they sat chat
ting with grandma, she felt deal of real
discontentment, for the first time in
months.
Clara Bosworth, her bosom friend, was
to give 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 new winter
cloak that Lettie's green silk might be re-
trimmed for the occasion, and the best
dress she had in the world was plain gar
net-colored poplin with black velvet trim
mings.
She had family suggested that she might
wear that, but the dismay of her sisters ST.
fenced her.
$50 and wear that old poplinp' cried Let
tie, from the clouds of white billowy lace
that was to adorn the green silk. You
must be crazy!'
81 should think SO" chimed Margaret,
who was lifting lace berthe over the waist
of delicate lilac satin. 'sDo you want Aus
tin Bosworth to think us a family of pau
pers? 1t is to be grand affair, and Clara
expects all who honor it will try to pay her
respect enough to dress respectfully. 1t is
Austin's first appearance after his Europe
an 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 girIs-the one
in her dark beauty and wonderfully becom-
ing array; the other all delicacy, her fair,
pearl loneliness enhanced by the pale pur-
pie color of her splendid dress came
laughing into grandma's room, little
shadow darkened her face, and she found
it very hard to keep back the tears.
Fine feathers make fine birds, but fine
birds do not always sing the sweetest, Jan
lie, said grandma, after they were gone. L
~ who is the true one in this family. l
know my little singing bird, jamie, and she
is dearer than dozen fine ladies. Austin
and Clara will come tomorrow, and he will
tell US about his travels iD foreign lands,
and you will be far happier than you would
be up 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 rump-
led plunage, but in high spirits.
Austin Bosworth had returned, hand
some polished gentleman, and had hlrted
desperately with Lettie.
stWby. grandma, he almost proposed to
her!" laughed Margaret, who was eAgaged
to Judge Leonard's hopeful son, aud there
fore had no place for jealousy. More than
one to the company predicted that 1t would
be match"
Don't count your chickens before they
are Matched, called grandma from her phi
low. "Austin Bosworth is no fool, can
tell you'll"
''What an old croakerf'
They were entering their chamber across
the hail, but grandmother's ears were not
duled by old age, and she clearly heard
hem.
Don't mind them, grandma, whispered
janet, who had waited to help them lay
aside their inery.
Mind them! Do you think shall Janet
IIeeds2"
Next day Austin Bosworth came. He
was too familiar with the old house to stop