The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-12-26


of by gone days, but not once did Mar
garet's or Lettie's name pass his lips.
coming nsn With VII " disappointed ao faces. from
the parlor, where they had been waiting
but he only lifted his hat and passed out.
Then Grandma and jamie received
sound scolding, such as only those two
knew how to give, and then the shad-
ows of discomfort again fell upon Janet's
spirit.
All! that long, cherries winter! What
| story Janet could tell of disappoint
ments. of happy parties of which she
had no share, of moonlight rides, of joy
and merriment! She had only one com
| forter, kind. patient grandma for now
that Mr. Bosworth had arrived, the way
| was harder than before.
| He came and escorted Lettie to par
| ties, and sometimes chatted with grand
ma, but nothing more She saw moth
| ing more She did not, as usual, catch
| the good natured smiles he gave her
| from the sleigh as he rode away-and
| Lettie never told her how often he asked
| for her.
Alone with grandma. Janet wished for
/ better things. and wondered why she was
so harshly dealt with.
At last even the society of her good
aged comforter was denied her, and In
her bed the old lady gradually faded
away. Day and night Janet sat beside
her with the knowledge that she was be-
yond earthly help-waiting upon her.
yielding to her childish whims and shut
ting out everything youthful and beauti-
rul from her sight.
"Playing household angel" Margaret
said.
Working for her grand.nas fortune
of old shoes and worsted stockings
Lettie cruelty added
Doing her duty By the faithful wo-
man who has taken three motherless
children into her heart. and filled the
lost ones place. go far as God permit
tsd," her own heart said. and steadily
she worked on.
The first of May brought invitations
to the last Bosworth House, and while
the two elder sisters laid out the hnery,
Janet folded her tiny missive and hid 1t
away next to her heart, as q sacred bit
of paper, bearing Austin's firm, broad
chirography upon it.
That night Grandma was very i'll, and
when Margaret and Lettie futtered in
with their gay dresses, Janet Leeds met
| them and almost forcibly put them out
of the room.
II beg you, girls, to have a little re-
spect for poor grandma-she is very i'll
| tonight"
Nonsense Don't be a fool, Janet
anybody would think she was dying. :,
II believe she is
| Their reply came in 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 asleep
Two hours later she awoke with a
start, and in an instant she saw that
dread change in her grandma's face
| Like one in dream she walked to her
fathers door and awakened him.
Father, grandma is worse. ] be-
lieye she is dying. You must 60 to DIR.
Berne. You will find him at the ball
Go quickly ~
Sha went back and sat there. YEARLY
waiting for something sound, a
| sigh from the dying woman; but none
came. Slowly, but perceptibly, the lines
| settled around the pleasant mouth, and
the dark shadows crept over the placid
face, but no sound issued from the pale
! lips.
Janet bent her head. There was a
faint tiutter-no more. and Janet clasp
ed her hands Would grandma die be-
fore her eyes and never speak a word Fl |
She caught the cold hand 10 her own
and cried aloud:
Grandma, speak to mel Speak to
your little Janet! Don't you hear me.
Grandma p
But grandma heard nothing. The
chillness of death had settled down, and
even as she knelt there the breath fed,
and Janet was left 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 !"
She lifted her head. Austin Bos-
worth was leaning over her.
MY little girl Why did you not
send word to me tonight, and let me
share your sorrow2"
'You, Austin ?''
Eyes, haye not-Ah forgive me
This is no time or place. 1 missed you
as have always missed you, but thought
1t was your own pleasure to remain at
home. When your father came in with
white. frightened face, and whispered
to DR.. Berne, L knew you were in trouble
L came at once, and, Janet, I shall not
again leave you"
She knew his meaning, aud did not
put him away, when he held her close
in his arms, and drew her into the par
Tor.
Margaret and Lettie coming in with
their faces horror-stricken, saw him
holding her in his arms, her tired head
resting YEARLY on his shoulder, and the
proud Lettie said:
MIR. Bosworth, | am surprised %
"You need not be. This is my privil-
edge now and forever"
Three days after they gathered in that
same parlor to hear grandma last will
and testament read. After some little
directions, it said
And to my beloved grand daughter,
Janet Leeds, beaqeath the Holmes
estate, together with my entire stock of
furniture and money amounting to ten
thousand dollars"
Janet's father smiled upon his aston
lshed and crest fallen daughters.
1T was mothers whim! She never
desired it to be known. Therefore YOU
were ignorant of the tact that she had
dollar beyond the annuity held for her."
said the father.
When six months later, Austin AID
Janet were married, her elder sisters
dared to say he married her for her
money. He knew better, and so do l.