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

though it seemed - If there had been scarcely
time TO traverse the farmhouse garden. Some
thing kept her standing beneath the tower, but
the path went on, on, over the edge Of the cliff,
far away to sea: Janet stood still. gazing in
breathlcss expectation. Towards her, along the
line Of ripping silver, came, first, . mist-it
darkened into q shadwow-and then, rs 1t
reached the edge Of the cliff 1t took the form of
to reach him, but he pointed to the rocks be-
meath the edge OF the steep cliff, and then he
signed her to listen.
Ind istinct at first, but swelling cheerily
through the frosty air, came the sound Of dis
tant church-bells ringing the joyous peal that
only sounds to herald peace on earth, goodwill
towards men-the peal that ushers IN the birth
The moon had sunk much lower, and the stars
were shining overhead, as if they too rang JOY
bells in the clear cold air.
not there; but, mingling with the Christmas
bells, 1t seemed to her she heard these words dis
tinctly:-' On Christmas Eve"
".
"What has come to Janet? She grows more
her trouble after ALL"
Mr.. Timber stood in the chicken-yard, talking
to his wife, about week before Christmas. He
said this by way of diverting Mrs. Limber's at
tention from the massacre he was ntemplat-
ing. Mr.. Timber was fond of sending Christmas
hampers to his London friends, and his wife was
not disposed to second his liberslity.
Never mind Janet. Then you only want two
turkeys, dear? Quite enough, too, I'm sure; and
farther on"
But Mrs. Timber had seen the change i'm Janet
before her husband saw it, and had been sorely
puzzled to account for it. The farmers words
set her thinking. "Can she have heard from
may have been saved after all-saved for her
Just as my poor Dick is feeling happy about her
No, she shall never marry Stephen Brent; if
there were no other reason, the money shant go
to a stranger"
1T Mrs. Timber had known the cause of Janet's
frightened eyes and complexion, she would not
have been disturbed. She abhorred what she
was pleased to call superstition, and the idea of
building expectations on dream would have
been to her a confirming proof that Janet's wits
had gone astray. But Janet believed that the
dreams had been sent in answer to her PRAYER
for resignation; it would have been to her simple
nature sin to doubt her lovers return; and as
each day brought Christmas nearer and nearer
her joy grew almost painful She was so rest
less she could not settle to any occupation; even
at her fsvorite haunts she paced up and down
along the cliffs so rapidly that Richard grew
frightened lest the treacherous crumbling edge
should yield beneath her feet.
Christmas Eve at last At breakfast Richard
could not take his eyes from his cousin A soft
rosy color was on her cheeks, there was the full
her sweet blue eyes. He noticed, too, that her
silken hair, which for months past she had
strained tightly from her face, waved now in the
graceful careless fashion in which she had worn
1t two years ago.
Love stirred strongly in Richards heart; to
other women he was coxcomb, but he really
loved his cousin Janet. What could this change
mean? His father and Mrs. Timber were right,
and his constant devotion had touched his
cousins heart at last. Janet meant to be his
wife.
His father seemed unusually long over his pa
per this morning. but at last his stepmother to
whom Richard managed to hint his wishes.
called her husband away, and the cousins were
left alone together.
oh rIx rartr TO 10, Of sch AL
table. There was a finish on his hand. ONE face,
and his hand trembled nervously.
"Jantt." He spoke very softly, but she start
ed and oked up ar him. The frank kind glance
took away his confidence; if she had blusRed or
seemed confused he would have felt happier
"Janet," he said, in an agitated voice. - won't
you try to love me-iust little?-more will
come after if you only try"
She smiled at him brightly.
''But L dc love you, Dick. always mean to
love you. Why, you are the only cousin have
''Ah, but don't want that sort of love, Janet.
iWant you to be my wife.
Look here, Dick, she took his hands i'm
hers and spoke so very earnestly that the young
man stood as il under spell-s'I will tell YOU
what l would not tell any one else. know
not by any letter or anything that you would
call real knOwledge-but | know surely that
Stephen will come back-he is coming back to-
night"
Richard looked quickly at her. Was his step
mother right in saving that Janet was crazy?
in bright, excited way, that puzzled her
listener; ''but am so very sure. Come, Dick.
it he does not come l will forfeit anything you
like
He grasped the hand that held his tightly.
''Wil you forfeit yourself, Janet? II Brent
doesn't come, will you marry me in fort
She grew pale for a moment, and then she
'auglied:
"Ah, you don't believe. Dick. Yes. will
marry you in fortnight if Stephen does not come
Tonight Will you believe uOw@'
''Well said. lass" Mr.. Timber had come in
from the chicken yard while she spoke. CHATS
the best news have heard this MANY a day."
Janet snatched her hand away from her cousin
and hurried upstairs to her bedroom. She could
not explain her words to her uncle; she felt
frightened. 1t seemed to her now that she had
better not have spoken them.
"But they meant nothing. Dick knew that
when said them; he knows I would rather die
than marry any one but Stephen"
She repeated the loved name softly in fOnlar,
more and more caressing tone, and then hid her
eyes in her hands, trembling at the tumuit of
passionate joy. 1t seemed to her that she was
quite different to the timid, shrinking Janet who
watched Stephen take his way along the cliff
last November two years Latterly she had felt
hardened against the world; but now her whole
nature kindled. She could incur anv risk
brave any danger, only to be safe in Stephens
arms once more, and see his dear face again.
The day wore on; to Janet the hours dragged
slowly. She strayed here and there-nOw in the
garden, now in her own room. She had resolved
not to go to Neptune's Tower till dark-at any
rate, till after the second post arrived and it
came late in the afternoon to Hillside.
She saw the pos'man coming fast up the road,
but he had no letter for Miss Neale. For a mo-
ment her heart sank.
L" But had no warning to expect a letter; my
warning showed me that he would come to Nep-
tunes Tower"
In reality she did not expect to see Stephen
till midnight tor she knew the Christmas bells
would not ring till then; but she was too impa-
tent to wait any longer; she turned back to the
house, got a large cloak to wrap herself in and
then went with throbbing heart and steps so
light and bounding that they seemed scarcely to
touch the grass to Neptune's Tower.
V.
M. Timber sat beside the kitchen fire. Events
were going the way she wished, and yet there
w lock of $50 ctio nm bar Il soba