The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1870-05-26
HoYT & CO., Proprietors
JANRY's FeaEyNE.

spectacles to the young girls around her.
aYour fortune, grandma7 What will it be ?
That old basket with its horrid yarn and nee
dies, and the never-ending knitting work. u
80, you need not leave it with me. Janet will
use it to a far better advantage than could. y
8 ayes, Lettie, you are right and I'm sure
don't Want it, either. HIM, what fortune, to
be surep
EATtl accept it, grandma, and prize it, if you
will only add your sweet eontented disposition.
It would be 8 fortune which none Of us need
despise."
Janet Leeds was the youngest of the family,
and the plainest. She had 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 in the chimney corner, and
waited on grandma, or assisted the maid In the
housework.
Once in while 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 on that morning, while they sat chatting
with grandma, she felt q deal OF real discontent
for the first time in months.
Clara Bosworth, her bosom friend, was to
give party that evening, and she could not
90. For week., 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 retrimmed for
the occasion, and the best dress she had in the
world was plain, garnet-colored poplin with
black velvet trimmings.
She had family suggested that she might
wear that, but the cry of dismay from her Sis
ters silenced her.
"Go and wear that oldPoplinP' p cried Lettie,
from the clouds of white billowy lace that was
&6o- IL VOrtr q
aI should think so,n chimed Margaret, who
was fitting Lace berthe over the waist of the
delicate lilac satin. sDo you want Austin
Bosworth to think us family of paupers7 It
is to be grand affair, and Clara expects all
who honor it with their presence to pay her re-
spect enough to dress respectfully. 1t is Aus
tins first appearance after his European tour,
and surely You do not want him to think mean
" of us?'
The tears csme up, but Janet was brave, and
no one saw them.
That night, when the two girls-the one in
her dark beauty and wonderfully becoming ar
ray, the other all delicacy, her fair pearl love
illness enhanced by the pale. purple color OF her
splendid dress-came laughing into grandma s
room, a little shadow darkened her face, and
she found it very hard to keep back the tears.
aFine feathers make fine Birds but fine birds
do not always sing the sweetest, Janet" said
grandma. ae they left. "I know who is the
true one in this family. know my little sing
ing bird Janet, and she is dearer than dozen
fine ladies. Austin and Clara will come to-
morrow, and he will tell US about his travels in
foreign lands, and you will be far happier than
YOU would be up at the house tonight, with
dancing and confusion"
81 suppose no, grandma" and Janet took her
seat by the fire and went on knitting, with
peaceful face
The elder sisters came home with crumpled
plumage, but in high spirits
Austin Bos worth had returned, handsome,
polished gentleman, and had firted desperately
with Iettie. 49,,
'Why, grandma, he almost proposed to her r
laughed Margaret, who was engaged to Judge
Lenards hopeful son, and, therefore, had no
place for jealousy 'More than one of the
company predicted that it would be q match" !"
eDont count your chickens before they are
hatched," called grandma from her pillow:
'Mr. Austin Bosworth is no fool, can tell
you
.What an cid croakerp
They were entering their chamber across the
hall, but grandmother's ears were not duled
by age and she clearly heard them.
stDon't mind them, grandma" whispered ia
net, who had waited to help them Lay aside
their fneEy.
SMind themi Do you think shall, Janet
Leedsw
Next day Austin Bosworth came. He was
too familiar with the old house to stop tor
bell-ringing, and.he entered, crossing the hall
directly past the parlor 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, her placid face
beaming beneath the white lace-bordered cap
a graceful, girlish figure half knelt beside
her, wreathing with deft fingers bunch OF ev-
ergreens into frame for q mantel ornament,
and her eyes were lifted smiling into the old
lady's face.
He entered and closed the door, before either
saw him.
"Grandmn Leedsp p'
seWhy, bless my heart, it is Austin! Come
here, my boyp
And the fine gentleman came and gave both
hands to her in his delight.
aJanie;' rny little playmate, too! What a
hanny meeting! Clara came down dressed for
a cali and declared she would come, but told
Lar mol I knew the amount of gallantry
shonid feel obliged to use, and preferred. that
INV 1rst visit should be like the old ones"
seYou are right. We are better Pieaseo 70
f,aye it So ars We not, JanetT -,
His call Heightened itself into two aouis,
and during tie time he told pleasant stones
and chatted like the boy of by-gone days, buS
not once did Margaret's or Letties name pass
S Wien % he went away he met them coming
with disappointed faces from the parlor, where
they had been waiting for him but ne only
lifted his hat and passed out. Ihen grano-
mother and Janet received sound scoldIng,
such as only these two knew how to give, and
the shadows of discomfort again fell on Janet's
'p Ah thai long, cherries winter What a
storT Janet could tell you of disappointments,
of Of happy parties of which she mad no share, of
,nooniight y, rides of joy and merriment! She
haS o1Iv that one comforter, kind, patient
.sndrna aau for now that Austin Bosworth had