The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-05-09
LESSON.
By EMMA GARRISON JoNHs.

BY EAAA GAkRiSUN JONAS.
~-uso ccalon nad arrived to take his
daughters to Long Branch for the season,
and ne invited Janet to accompany them.
Janet was beautiful girl, graceful and
Veli-bred, and the Seatons fancied her;
and the judge, being remote relative of
her mother, and having had the settlement
of certain money matters in his hands,
years before, which possibly he was not
oyer-conscentious about adjusting, felt it
kind Of duty to look after Janet little, and
to do what he reasonably could for her
Accordingly he gave her free access to
his house, and suffered her to take lessons
from his daughters teachers; and when
they were making ready for Long Branch,
he proposed to take her along.
Twill do the child good he explained
to his wife, 'and no one knows what a
pretty girl may accomplish in the run Of
Long Branch season-besides she II be of
infinite use to the girls, as skillful and
obliging as she isl think Wen take her
along
Mrs. Seaton elevated her delicate brows
in well surprise. She could not I'M
derstand why the judge should take such
unwonted interest in this farmers girl
but she was too amiab,e and ladylike to
raise any objection to her husbands will,
30 the matter was settled.
On the very afternoon before their de-
parture, while Janet was packing her crisp
muslins and her one silk, an old camphor-
wood box arrived. Captain Larrimer, of
the brig Nautilus, brought it down. He
had just got into port, and he bad SPOKEN
with the White Swan on his homeward
voyage. Jack billiard was first mate Cd
the Swan, and he sent the old sweet-scent-
cd chest as present to Janet.
They were not formally engaged, but they
had been lovers ever since childhood, and
Janet wore Jacks plain gold ring on her
engagement finger; and her little bedcham
Der at the old farm house was adorned with
many rare and curious trife brought
home from distant lands Jack never for
got her. and now he had sent the camphor-
box over seas as birthday present.
But Janet was too much excited, too full
OF her trip to Long Branch, to notice it.
She went on with her packing, and when
Tom Seaton, the judges handsome son,
drove down to take her over to the Cedars,
she hurried off, not even pausing to bestow
glance upon the queer old box, as it stood
under the rustic porch, with the afternoon
sunlight streaming down upon its batterec!
lid. When Janet had fairly gone, the old
farmer shouldered it, and carried it up to
her chamber
Ay, my girl, he muttercd, as he de-
posted 1t in an out-of the-wav corner,
yell be glad enough to come to Jack ;
box by -by-this sudden feyerll soon
burn itself out.
Janet found her sojourn at Long Branch
perfectly enhancing; the gay company, the
balls, the music, and more than all else.
Tom Seaton's constant and factoring de.
votion, bewildered her brain, and siencea
both conscience and common sense. She
grew TO think of her home life with distate
and ayersion-it WAS so dull and common
place. How could she ever 60 back 30 the
dairy, and the poultry yard, and the kitchen
or bring herself to tolerate with her moth
er's thrifty industry, and her old father
homely ignorance. As for Jack, the Young
mate Of the White Swan she never
thought of him. But she continued t,
wear his ring, it seemed 50 much a part Of
herself
From Long Branch the judges party
went 10 The mountains; and one hazy Sep.
aTone WIN on >eaton, IN one Of the moSt
romantic haunts of Catskills. He wove \
garland of autumn leaves and scarlet Der.
RES, and arranged it round her shining
bronze braids, and then he sat down mt her
feet, and took her hand in his. For a few
moments he talked pretty nonsense, anG
then all at once he asked:
What in the world makes YOU wear tb;.
oid-tashloned ring, Janet =? Is it a love
gift, or anything of the kind p
No. replied Janet, eolorinr with en-
barrassment.
Then let Inc take it off and nut some.
thing prettier in its place What exquisite
hands You have ? raising the dimpleI fin
gers to his lips
Janet was too weak, TOO fond of his fat.
terry to resist, but sharp pain pierced her
heart as he drew the plain gold band from
her finger and put costly diamond in its
place.
Now, that's something like he said
As the precious stones flashed in the sun.
hight. lon must wear it for nv sake. ia
net, and III keep this.
lie dropped Jacks ring in his pocket,
and Janet sat silent, vivid rem entrance
crowdlng through her mind of the night
Jack put it upon her finger, when his ship
lay at anchor in the bay, and be was bid
ding her last goodbye. P Or Jack |!
Her eyes gre ' dim with tears As ;, ,tbouebt
of him, but se made no effort e., move
the flashing nond