The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-05-09
The season was over at last, and the

After the first greetings were over Janet
ran up to her own chamber, with its sweet
and simple appointments. She sat down
on the snowy couch and looked about her.
Not an article had changed, and there III
one corner stood the old camphor- box, just
as it had stood through all the summer
long, filling the little chamber with sweet
and subtle fragrance.
A vague curiosity stirred the girls heart
as her eyes fell upon it. What had Jack
sent her she wondered. Good thoughtful
Jack, and she glanced down a her snowy
diamond with a sudden pang.
Presently she stole down to her fathers
chest and obtained a hammer and chisel,
and then she set to work at the battered
lid. She WAS perseEering, and after
while it yielded.
The box was lined with silk, and emitted
strange odor, and there were beds of
silver tissue paper carefully folded. Janet
raised the futtering sheets one by one,
with shaking hands. Down in the very
bottom she came to marvel of lovelines..
A snow-white shawl, with long, trailing
fringes and a webb of folded silk that
cleaned like the bosom of swan, and
deeper still littlo carved "a skot, and in it
a lace vail that looked like film of moon
light, and a string of great, milky pearl, as
I'm ~trOuS : paStnrn
There was a strip of paper in the casket,
too, and scrawled on it. in Jack careless
hand, were these words:
"My darling: When 1 come home, l
shall ask you to become my wife and if
you say Yes these may help for your
wedding things"
Janet let the battered lid fall, and drop
ped her head upon it. Then she broke
into storm of passionate tears. Poor,
good Jack ! aud she had forgotten him,
and given away his ring. She tore the
costly diamond from her finger, and sent it
flashing and tinking across the room.
Then she went on with her sobbing, till
the sound of shrll voice below interrupt
ed her-Miss Tabitha Turner's voice
raised TO an excited pitch.
Eyes, it's so, an no mistake !" she was
saying; cake Miller got here this morn
in, an he wac pilot o the White Swan,
We know. He says she tux fire in mid
ocean, an every soul was lost 'cept the
second mate, Joe Jaryin an him. Jake
says that poor Jack worked liEe hero,
but he saw him 90 down wi his own eyes
Poor bliss billiards like one crazy sence
she's got the news"
The girl rose to her feet and crcpt down
to the sitting room with a face like death
Tell me the truth size gasped, tell me
mother, what is it about Jack
He's lost" put in Miss Tabitha, eager
to tell the news; :" the ship burnt at sea ;
the pilot got here this wornin''
Janet crossed the room, and sat down on
the doorstep. The October sun was 60
ing down behind the purple hills, and the
birds were twittering their evening song
amid the golden branches of the chestnuts :;
she could hear the sheep bells tinkle in the
meadows, and hear her father voice driv-
ing home the cattle. The same familiar
| sights and sounds, the same old life, and
Jack gone.
A dull, aching pam filled her heart, a
pain that nothing in all the after years of
her life could ever alleviate. In that hour
Of agony she knew for the first time how
deeply she loved him, how closely her life
was bound up in his. And he was gone
Miss Pamela came out Oh her wav
home.
Goodbye, child" she said kindly;
don't take it to heart no more'n We can
helH-but It's awful suddin, know. How
pity poor Jacks mother. I'd 90 down
and try to comfort her, but they've sent
for me to Judge Seaton's. They're all in
furry up there. The Davenports got in
from Europe this mornin', an Tom Sea
tons engaged to Lizzie Daveport-the
| weddln' to come off this winter, they say.
Well, well, | must run. Goodbye -
Janet heard the words like one in a
| dream. Tom Seaton to be married and
| for this meaningless tlatterv she had been
! false to poor Jack And now it was too
| late to atone for it a.!
Autumn faded, and winter set in-the
! dull, prosy winter of farm-lfe. But how
Janet, IN her misery and remorse, loved
the homcly tasks and laho-s She once de-
| >pised; how inexpressiJiy dear the busy
mother, and kindly old father had grown to
her aching yearning heart.
Christmas day came, and according to an
! established custom, Farmer Gresham and
his wife went to dine with an old uncle
| but Janet begged TO remain at home She
spent the afternoon ii airing and refoldiug
the treasures of the old camphor- wood box
great fireplace to think upon her sorrow
The hours went YEARLY by. Her heart
acnsd with sharp pain, and she though
OF the foolish pleasures of the past summe,
with aversion. She fancied that Jack
death was Judgment sent upon her fol
! her lnt!elity. If she had remained true r.
! HIM, Heaven would have sent him back 10
| her.
The great logs nodded into beds of glow
ing Goals; she could hear the sleet tinklinc
against the window panes, and she won
dered If her father ami mother would come
home that night. Presently the old watch
dog began to bay in his kennel, and a foot
step erunehed the sleet upon the porch.
She took the candle in her hand and opened
| the door
4 tall figure confronted her, a man
dressed in sailors garb and all bronzed