Wilmington journal., 1871-07-07

better things, and wondered why che was
so harshly dealt with.
at last even the society OF her aged
comforter was denied her. and in her bed
the Old lady gradually faded away. Day
and night Janet ta' beside her, with the
knowledge that she was beyond earthly
help-waiting upon her, yielding TO the
childish whims, and shutting out eyery-
thing youthful and beautiful from her
sight.
''PIaying household angel" Margaret
said.
| Working for grandmA's fortune of old
shoes and worsted stockings" Lettie cru
! ely added.
''Doing her duty by the faithful woman
who had taken the three motherless chill
dren into her heart, and 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 las. ball at Bosworlh house, and wtile
the two elder sisters laid out tie fnery,
Janet foldet her tiney missiye and laid il
away next to her heart as q sacred bit of
paper, bearing AustIn's firm, broad CHR
ograpOy upon it.
That night grandma was very Ill, and
when Margaret aud Lettie fluttered in with
their gay dresses, Janet met them, and al
most forcibly put them out of the room.
81 beg you, girls, to have q little re-
spect for poor grandma-she is very i'll
tonight"
"Nonsense Don't be q fool, Janet
anybody would think she was dying"
II believe she is"
Their reply came in n violent slam of
the door, and Janet was left alone with
her patient.
The hours dragged YEARLY, and over
come by her long, sleepless watches, Janet
fell fast asleep.
Two hours later she awoke with start,
and in an instant she saw that dread
change visible in graudmA's face.
Like one III dream she walked 20 her
fathers door, and awakened bin.
"Father grandma is worse. | believe
her dying. You must go to DIR. Brine.
You will fn1 him at the ball. Go
quickly /"
She went back, and sat there wearily
waiting for 81 mehing-for a found, ign
from the dying woman; but none came =
Slowly, but percsptlOly, the lines settled
around the pleasant N nth, AID the dark
shadows crept over tie Edacld zee, but no
sound issued from The pa:o tips.
Janet tent her head. ii ere was faint
hutter-no more, aud size cIasped her
hands. Would grau ma die II, r. before
her eyes. and never spe Il word ?
She Caught the cold hand Ill he ter own,
and cried aloud
'Gi sndn1a speak to me speak to your
little janet Don't you heed me grund-
MAJ"
But grandma heard nothing. The chill
ness of death had settled down, and even
as she knelC there, the breath fled and
jane Was alone. She understood it all
when she arose, and she sank back half
fain ing iu he arm chair near the bed.
81 inet. my poor darling -
She iiTted ber head. Austin BOswOrtk
was leaning over her.
"My little girl Why did you not send
word to me tonight, and let me share
your sorrow p
"You, Austin p
eyes. have not. All, forgive me
This Is no time or place. l missed d you as
have always mi: sed you, bat thought it
was your own pleasure to remain at home.
When your father came IN with d white,
frl9h!eDed face, aud Whispered to DR..
Berne knew you were la trouble
came at once, and JeuIe, L shall not
again leave you"
She knew his meaning and did not
put him away, when he held her close in
ais arms, and drew her into the parlor.
Margaret and Lettie, coming in with
heir faces horror stricken, saw him hold
ng her in his arms, her tired head rest
ng WEAKLY upon his shoulder, and the
proud LeItie said:
"Mr. Bosworth-I am surprised I"
"You need not be. This is my priviI-
'ge now and forever"
Three days after they gathered in that
anne parlor to hear grandma's last will
md testament read. Alter some little di-
it said:
"And TO my beloved grand daughter,
anet Leeds, beqnelth the Holmes es-
ate, together with my entire stock of
urniture and money, amounting to ten
housand dollars"
Janet's father smiled upon his astonish-
d aud crest fallen daughters.
"Lt was mothers whim She never de-
ired it to be known. Therefore you were
gnorant of the fact that she had a dollar
'eyond the annuity held for her"
When, six months later, Austin and
anet were married, her elder sisters dared
D say that be married her for her money.
te knew better, and so did l.