Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-06

He smiled so winningiy that the wretched wo
man felt all her Old love for him stir In her
her arms around his neck.
She forgot her husband, and Janet, too, in he
joy of seeing him safe.
"I1l tell YOU everything" he said; "but arst.
Mrs; Limber could not check the anger that
famed In her eyes-
"Janet You don't suppose that Janet has
waited all these years for youP She would
nave been my daughter-in-law IL you had come
few days later. Never mind Janet, Stephen"
eyes. hut Stephen was too full of her words to
care for her feelings, although he remembered
her glance afterwards.
"What do you mean" he said, sternly.
"Where Is Janet? Let her tell me herself that
from her."
.'Janet is not here" said Mrs. Timber. A
minute ago she had shivered from her head to
foot with terror, lest all her schemes should be
defeated, for she had seen her husband crossing
the field on the farther side of the lane; bat
lieve me, you will believe my husband.
Richard." she called out shrilly. The farmer
came out into the lane, and stood looking at
stephen in silent wonder. "Before you speak
to Mr.. Brent you will be good enough to tell
him who your niece Janet is going to marry@'
"Why. Dick, of course" said the farmer;
then recovering himself, he held out his hand to
I'm heartily glad to see you back he said
at seems hard on you that Janet should have
changed her mind, but such things will happen,
you know, Mr.. Brent, and she did fret after you
good Bit but she's as happy now as the DAYS
long, and 1 do think" he added, with most
unusual energy, "that it would be mortal cruel
to trouble her happiness; they're to be married
in fortnight sure and certain"
Mr.. Timber stands watching Stephens face
there has been fierce struggle in it; and even
now she cannot guess what the end will be.
She feels desperate-capable of anything that
VIII bring about the issue on which she is re-
solved.
.swen. but Richard, she saws. gently. watch
ing stephen furtiyely while she spoke. 81 Per
haps, for old friendships sake, Janet might like
to see Mr.. Brent. You meet not think it would
trouble her happiness; only the other day she
said to me, If I could know poor Stephen was
safe should be so happy And l think Mr..
Brent could hardly expect so young and unn-
formed girl to Withstand her Cousins love
they are such a well-matched pair. "But yet"
she signs and whispers SO that her husband can
not hear. =" wished she had kept true to you
Ever since Mr.. Timber spoke Brent stood As
If stunned; only the working of his strongly
marked face tells his suffering He seems in
sensible to the wife's words, but he felt their
sting; and at this last thrust he turns abruptly
away.
81 True he says, scofingly; "there never
was true woman" And without any leave
taking, he strides sullenly back by the way he
came.
vi.
Janet had been pacing up and down the cliffs
edge1not thinking; her mind is too full OF
tumult for any one thought to rest there. IL
seems to her as If the whirl will not cease till
she sees her lover; but at last fatigue cOnquers,
and she sits down at the foot OF the old tower
wrapped in her cloak.
1t has grown quite dark, and the stars have
come out one after another, glowing with vet
more silvery brightness High above her head
Is the lovely star Stephen pointed out to her on
that last evening when they stood together
where she now stands-beside Neptune's tower:
and as she looks up at is the excitement fades
from her spirit, tears spring to her ewes AMI for
"A moment 60nh+S whn.har hn hos hsa
right in persisting in her belief that he has not
persisted. 1t Is mark Of her simple, childlike
nature that she never has doubted stephen
never feared that, though he might have es-
capped the perils of shipwreck. he mi ht be dead
to her love. She reproaches herself that on
this holy night her thoughts have all been
turned On self-she has forgotten the coming
festival.
Still as hour after hour passes her heart grows
heavier. Suddenly. in the midst OF the devout
thoughts she has evoked, there comes back 10
her her rash promise TO her cousin. She springs
up from the ground and goes to the extreme
edge of the cliff; the stars give 50 bright light
that there is no fear Of losing her footing III the
darkness.
81 must have been mad TO say it! Marry
Dick" she murmurs. 4" would rather tail on
those rocks and be carried out to sea, where per-
haps my Stephen lies! -
The plash. plash of the advancing water seems
to applaud her words-the plash grows louder
the wind rises and towers the waves into angry
foaming crests-the spray dashes higher ami
higher, and, as each wave breaks on the face of
the cliffs, there comes a sullen hoarse murmur
as II the screaming monsters long TO clasp the
Janet stands gazing down at them so SPELL
bound and intent that she does not hear adj
yancing footsteps.
A firm arm clasps her waist.
" Come. come, Janet.-it is late. Father is
worrying his life out to know what's come OF
YOU -
81 can't help til mean to stay here till the
Christmas bells ring out from Blackwateru
- That won't be for another hour. 1 guessed
what you were at, and put father off as long as
could; but he's in real fidget now. Come,
come, Janet!-you are almost my wife nOw.r
"Iour wife. Richard? Do you know what
was thinking just As you came ?'-she has
drawn herself away, and she speaks almost
haughtily. q" j would rather down on those
rocks, Dick, than be the wife OF any one but
Stephen Brent
Amen" Stephens deep voice seems to
come from the leaping, foaming waves-but it
scarcely startles Janet. There Is help and pro-
lection and love, all joined, in that one word.
His arms are round her, and she clasps hers
tightly round his neck, as if she fears he may
yet he taken from her.
What do you mean?r Rchaga Timber
yield Janet.
81 mean"-Stephen raises his head to look at
his rival, but he holds Janet clasped closer than
ever-"that you had better go back to Hillside.
You can tell Mrs. Timber that, though went
away like jealous old fool some hours ago, L
came to my senses in time. Just now learned
what L might have learned before if had seen
the maid instead of the mistress-I learned
where should find your cousin, and came to
know the truth from herself"
Richard sulked and staggered for some weeks
after his cousins marriage to Stephen Brent
but by next Christmas Eve he was quite con-
soled. Having taken to himself the "fond
idiot, Lucy Gray. he has discovered that she
is, after all, a prettier woman than Janet.
Mrs. Timber still lives with her husband at
Hillside. Her health has given way, folks say;
II Is certain that she is never well enough To
accompany the farmer when he visits Mr.. AMI
Mrs. Brent at Workman.