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

tween each angry sentence. eff Dick were
not such slow-witted fool it would be easier;
and yet he Is obstinate, 50 If can only put him
on the right track there win be less fear Of her
infiuence-yes, 1 think 1t may be managed
nay Pit must be!
She stayed some minutes longer, and then she
went back to the kitchen.
Janet sat at the table, her elbows rested on
it, and her clasped hands hid her face between
them.
Mrs. Timber felt she hated her
"Why should Janet marry the man she
loves? She has no depth of feeling" This was
in answer to qualm of conscience. "She is
how contented she is Wiz this boorish life. She
knows no better"
Then she spoke to Janet in such tender, win
nng words, and put her arms 50 fonaly round
judgment she had till now passed on Mrs. Linn
ber-she had thought her hind and hospitable,
but thoroughly selfish.
had kept her confidence to herself and this
unexpected affection, coming when her heart
was SO full Of pent-uP 10y, dsarmed all prudent
reserve.
She turned round hid her face on Mrs Linz
ber's shoulder, and cried quietly.
"Poor, dear child am so glad-so very
glad. And does Uncle Edward approve of this
Janet looked up and wiped her eyes.
" should like TO trust you," she said, and the
coniding simple words made the worldly
wOman's heart vince with pain; "only can YOU
Edward so that L can't bear other people to
know before he does. He knows Stephen, but
he does not know that we care about each other.
l don't think" she blusEed, - quite knew it
till came here"
"Ah!" Mrs. Timber tried to suppress the deep
drawn breath that came with the discovery;
:" then all these letters your uncles hOusekeeper
has been forwarding to you were from Stephen :?
How will you manage when your uncle gets
back to Workman? Mrs. Carter may not ask
questions about your correspondent, but your
unclp VI Aft a
at Is chiefly about uncle that Stephen has
come now said Janet, eagerly; "we don't want
to do anything underhand-but uncle has such
prejudice against sailors; and Stephen is to sail
again almost directly-will be away a year and
half he expects-and after that he means to
give UP the sea and settle as a landsman And
till he came back, lest I might be vexed in his
absence; then he says, too, when he is a lands
man it will not be asking Uncle Edward to break
his word"
81 see, said Mrs. Timber, and her lips pinched
themselves together.
"But can't bear the deceit" said Janet
earnestly, "and shall try to persuade Stephen
to tell him when he comes back from Scotland -
g think you will be unwise them
Janet looked up surprised at the change in
Mrs. Iimbers petting voice; but her uncle's
wife was looking out of the window, and she
could not see her face.
why do You think so -
just then Molly, the dairy maid, came to
speak to her mistress, and before her aunt re-
his way there, and had asked Janet to go with
him along the cliffs.
She came home alone, sad enough, poor girl:
her lover had TO sail from Liverpool next day
goodbye.
g Keep up heart, my darling" he said, "a
year and half, and, please God, We'll never
part again"
II was just two years since stephen Brent had
sailed when We first saw Richard Timber and
his cousin Janet beside Neptunes Tower.
Two years full OF events for Janet. Her Uncle
Edward, instead of returning from Scotland,
had been persuaded to join some friends on a
visit to New York; he had gone thence to Mexico,
and, from various causes, his return had been
delayed six months. Janet fingered on at Hill
side; the Limbers were anxious to keep her there,
and the seacoast had now an attraction which
she made no effort 10 resist.
''But l will 90 back to Workman directly.
tDcie Edward is expected, and then ! will
tell him everything as soon as stephen gives Inc
leave"
Poor Janet. the next news She got of her
uncle was that he had been seized with apo
plexy soon after he had landed: before She
could reach Liverpool he was dead. 1t was a
sore trial. Janet had known her uncle better
than either of her parents, and She mOurned
him with deep quiet sorrow.
She was TO come i'll possession of all her
uncle's property at twenty-One years OF age.
Mr.. Timber was appointed her guardian, and
the will advised that, IN the event OF her uncle
EDWARDS death while she was a minor, she
would live at Hillside. Mrs. Timber smiled
when she heard OF this clause
AT first Janet made herself happy enough at
{ he farm. She got letters from stephen, and
she would stand on the cliff for hours, picturing
to herself the unknown seas her lovers ship was
traversing. Suddenly the letters ceased; then
came rumOr, and then terrible certainty, that
the merchant ship Atlanta had perished found
cred in a gale, 80 it was supposed, with every
hand on board. Wives and children and sweet
hearts accepted the fact. Janet only would not
accept it. She would not show any outward sOr-
row; she would not wear any mourning.
''Stephcn will come still" she said; but daily
she grew thinner and paler, and daily she STAYED
longer and longer on the verge Of the clIn by
Neptune's Tower.
But for this Irresistible attraction the sea had
over her, she would have gone back to Uncle
Edwards, as she called Wortham but she knew
if Stephen wrote he woald write to Hillside
fresh torment had come TO her in his misery of
suspense, a doubt of Mrs. Limber's good faith.
" She Is so anxious that should marry Dick,
that sometimes think she hopes the news is
true, the pale, heavy-eyed girl said to herself.
LaJterly MTs.-Limber had prosecuted her-in
kind way. certainly-but with perseverance
that was hard to bear. She felt sure Stephen
would never be heard OF, and she said to Rich
ard, that i'll Janets weak, ailing state, she might
be more easily worked on.
When the girl came down stairs from her
gloomy bedroom, she found Mrs. Timber and
Richard talking together. They started when
she came in, and then Richard sauntered slowly
away.
Poor fellow - his stepmother said. She had
gone to the door and was watching him as he
crossed the chicken-yard, muddy and damp
looking now. 81 never saw young fellow so
heartbrOken. You have much to
answer for, Janet Neale."
Janet looked up YEARLY. Little by little-by
such subtle gradations that it was hard to say
how the petting tone had turned to one of reproOf
Mrs Lumber had contrived to make herself
feared by her husbands niece. Janet would
often stand watching for more than an hour,
lest the pOstman should give up the letter she
still hoped for into Mrs. Limber's unfriendly
hands.
81 You have much to answer for" she said.
60 believe but for you Richard would be con-
tent to marry Lucy Gray. Why do you persist
in giving him false hopes about me 2"
81 gave him no false hopes.' Mrs. Timber
spoke more gently; it was no part OF her plan to
quarrel with Janet. 8" But have always con-
sidered you good, religious girl, and ask how
long you mean to persist in disbelieving what
going against Providence, Janet"
Such a wan smile came on the girls face!
" hope l am not wicked. do not mean to
60 on expecting all my life. five have 10 news
by the end of the year, then give up hope"
Mrs. Timber was reioiced. She bent over
Janet and kissed her, and called her by an in
fnitude of petting names; but the girl did not
listen Her heart felt dried up-emptied of all
power of human love.
Mrs. Timber said no more about Richard; but
when her stepson came in she advised him to
leave his cOusiu in Deace,