Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-05-13
try I should feel obliged to use. and | pre-
ferred that my first visit should be like the
old opes "

! try [ should feel Obliged to use. anu pre-
ferred that my first visit should be like the
old ones"
s.You are right We are better pleased
TO have it so, are we not, Janet =
| His call heightened itself into two hours,
and during the time he told pleasant stories
and chatted like the boy Of by gone days,
but not once did Margaret's or Lctties name
pass his lips.
When he went away he met them coming
with disappointed faces from the parlor,
where they had been waiting for him but
he only lifted his hat and passed out. Then
grandmother and jamie received sound
scolding, such as only these two knew how
to give, and the shadows of discomfort again
fell on Janet's spirit:
All, that long. cherries winter! What
story Janet could tell you of disappoint-
ments, of happy parties of which she had no
share, of moonlight rides of joy and merri-
nent! She had only that one comforter,
Kind, patient grandma; for now that Aus
tin Bosworth had come, the way was harder
than before. l,s.
He came and escorted Lettie to parties,
and sometimes chatted with grandma, but
nothing more. She saw nothing more-she
did not catch the good natured smiles he
gave her from the sleigh as he rode away
and Lettie never told her how often he ask
ed for her. Alone with grandma, Janet
wished for better things, and wondered why
she was SO harshly death with.
At last even the society of her aged COM
forter was denied her, and in her bed the
old lady gradually faded away. Day and
night Janet sat beside her, with the knowl-
EIDE that she was beyond earthly help-wait-
ing upon her, yielding the childish whims,
and shutting out everything youthful and
beautiful from her sight
"Playing household angel" Margaret
said
"Working for grandma's fortune Of old
shoes and worsted stockings" Lettie cruel
ly added
Doing her duty by the faithful woman
who had taken the three motherless children
into her heart, filed the lost ones place, SO
far as God permitted" her own heart said,
and steadily she worked on.
The first of May brought invitations to the
last ball at the Bosworth house, and while
the two elder sisters laid out the fnery,
Janet folded her tiny missiye, and hid it
away next to her heart as sacred bit Of
paper, bearing Austin's firm, broad chiro-
graphy upon it.
The night grandma was very i'll, and
when Margaret and Lettie futtcred with
their gay dresses, Janet met them, and al
most forcibly put them out of the room.
Il beg, you girls, to have little re-
spect for poor gran ama-she is very i'll to-
night"
Nonsense! Don't be fool, Janet any
body would think she was dying"
II believe she isl
Their reply came in violent slam of the
door, and Janet was left alone with her
patient.
The hours dragged YEARLY, and overcome
by her long, sleepless watches, Janet fell
fast asleep.
Two hours later she awokc with a start,
and in an instant she saw that dread change
visible in grandma's face.
Like one in dream, she walked to her
fathers door, and awakened him.
"Father, grandma is worse. believe
her dying. You must 60 to DR.. Berne.-
You will find him at the ball. Go quick
Typ
She went back and sat there YEARLY wall
ing for something sound, a sign from
the dying woman but none came. Slow
ly, but perceptibly, the lines settled around
the pleasan mouth, and the dark shadows
crept over the placid face, but no sound is
sued form the pale lips.
Janet bent her head. There was faint
Autter-no more, and she claspcd her hands
Would grandma die there before her eyes,
and never speak word?
She caught the cold hand in her own, and
cried aloud
"Grandma speak to me speak to your
little Janet! Don't you heed me, grandma
But grandma heard nothing. The chill
ness of death had settled down, and even as
she knelt there, the breath fed and Janet
was alone.
She understood it all when she arose, and
she sank back half fainting in the arm chair,
near the bed. .....
''Janet, my poor darling y
She lifted her head. Austin Bosworth
was leaning over her.
s.My little girl Why did yon not send
word to me to- night, and let me share your
sorrow? ?"
"You, Austin 2"
Eyes, have I not. All. forgive me !
This is no time Or place. l missed you as
have always missed you, but thought it
was your own pleasure to remain at home.
When your father came in with a white,
frightened face, and whispered to DR..
Berne, I knew you we're in trouble. came
at once, and jamie, I shall not leave you
She knew his meaning, and did not put
him away, when he held her close in his
arms and drew her into the parlor.
Margaret and Lettie coming in with their
faces horror stricken, saw him holding her
in his arms, her tired head resting YEARLY
upon his shoulder, and the proud Lettie
said :
"Mr. Bosworth-I am surprised p
"You need not be. This is my privilege,
now and forever"
Three days after they gathered in that
same parlor to hear grandma's last will and
testament read. After some little direc-
tions, it said
"And to my beloved granddaughter,
Janet Leeds, bequeath the Holmes estate,
together with my entire stock of furniture
and money, amounting to ten thousand
dollars"
Janet's father smiled upon his astonishcd
| o,d ore st. fallen dauphters
at was mothers whim She never de-
sired it to be known Therefore you were
ignorant of the fact that she had dollar be-
yond the annuity | held for her"
"When, six months later, Austin and
Janet were married, her elder sisters dared
| l.. .<. 4La4 L .aurr;od hor Cor monau lie