Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-12-29
Janet's New-Year.

q suppose L shall have to CO. mother.
Il suppose SO, DEAR replied the in
valid, raising herself to a sitting pos
ture ''but they might have spared you
to me tonight.
"Yes, mother but Mrs. Draper
thought they would never get on with
the dresses for the tableaux without my
help
.'And my new frock, Janet" piped
curly-headed little thing from the cor
ner, "who will finish that ?"
"Never fear, Alice" replied the sis
ter, pleasantly. 81 shall be at home
bright and early tomorrow, and you
shall have it in good time.
ssBut what's the use" continued the
child, petulantly. Il might as we'll have
no new frock, I've no place to 60 to
and we shan't have even a doughnut for
New Year-shall we, mother %
The mother sighed, and fell back up
on her pillow, pressing her thin hands
to her face to hide the tears she could
not keep back.
Janet stood, for moment, with her
hand on the door-knob then she recross-
ed the room to her mothers bed.
Don't fret, mother" she said, tender
ly, kissing the wan and sunken cheeks.
"Keep brave heart, and the sun will
shine again some day, despite all this
darkness. think, she added, adjusting
her worn shawl, '.that I'll come home
tonight, if it isn't too late after the
party; and I'll ask Mrs. Draper for part
Of my monthly pay. You shall have a
New Years yet, Alice
She kissed them both, and left, clos
ing the door softly behind her. But in.
stead of going directly to the street. she
went into her bedroom. Taking a key
from her pocket, she unlocked a small,
rosewood case that stood upon the table
and drew forth a tiny, ebony casket.
Her hands trembled nervously as she
unclasped it, and lifted a string of emer-
aids it contained. Rare and brilliant
gems they were, most daintily set, and
looking strangely out Of place in that
| 10 oho boll ~ h.,
tenderly, pressing them caiessingly to
her lips, and letting them slip through
her fingers like stream of living light.
There was spray of heliotrope in the
bottom of the casket, and its sweet, SUBJ
tie odor filled the little chamber like the
breath of incense and with that strange
power which odors alone possess, carried
the heart of the sad faced governess
back to the dewy dawn Of her girlhood.
Only five years ago, and this self-same
Janet had been the daughter of a veal
thy and indulgent father, with every
comfort and luxury at her command, and
crowds of suitors at her feet. But only
one of all these met with any favor from
the shy, little beauty and he was in
every respect worthy of her. On the eve
of a voyage to Calcutta, he made his
declaration, and was accepted and the
string of emeralds had been his betroth-
al gift.
For months after his departure, Janet
lived In dream of bliss, and then the
great trouble of her life came. Her faith
er, who held high position in the mer-
camille world, failed utterly, and finding
himself beggar, died Of a broken heart.
Then their beautiful dwelling, and every
thing went, and his poor wife sank into
despairing helplessness and there was
no one left to breast the bitter, bitter
storm but pretty, little Janet.
Bravely enough she did it, for the
girl was hero, despite her slender form
and lily face. She removed her invalid
mother and little sister to city far dis
tant from the scene of their recent trou-
bles, procured humble lodgings, and then
cast about her for employment. With
/ much difficulty, she obtained situation
as governess, a position for which he,
fine education and natural abilities rem
! ! dered her eminently qualified. Thus The
; years wore on, Janet hearing nothing
; from her lover. He was, probably, dead
, she thought or he might have heard o.
: her fathers failure, and resolved to qui
city ignore her. She did not know, anc
she was too proud to inquire.
Now, standing there in the gathering
. gloom with the rush and roar of tn,
. great city in her ears, she asked herself
, 'Why not sell the emeralds q They
6 would bring a good price, enough t,
t make her poor mother and little Alic
comfortable through many long month
And yet she could hardly bring hersel
to part from them. They were the on
link that bound her to the happy past
3 The shadows thickened round her, ant
t. the dreamy odor of the heliotrope wrap
81 81 her, like trance, In memories of tn
n long-ago. She could see the green, sum
Il mer garden, hear the plash of the fount
/ ain, and catch the twitter of the canarie
re from their gilded cages. His face wa
/; bending over her, his kisses burned up
Ii on her brow, his very words SCENE
p sounding in her ear again. "a quain
!; 4 affair for betrothal-gift, darling"
at said, "but they are very precious. an