The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-09-18
AisreIlaneOns SsI&6tiuns.
OLD JANET.
THE CRUCIAL TEST OF LOVE.
BY MRS. NJ. W. CARPENTER.

ITHE CRUCIAL TEST OF LOVE.
BY MRS. N. W. CARPENTER.
! Old Janet! 1t was an old nick
name that / had given her, though
we were children together, and she
six weeks my junior. She was crea-
lture of moods and swift impulses.
lShe was tender, proud, humble, all
lat once, and, more than all, she was
rightly just. Not even her inordi-
mate affection for Teddy Burr could
Ihoodwink her sence of justice, or
blind her eyes to perception of my
lfollies when the cost entailed by
them vas likely to fall on our com.
mon guardian,
"Mind now, Teddy, l will tell
Igrandpa!" she said one day, when
coming unexpectedly to the stables,
she surprised me, leading our Bess,
1.-THE bay mare, preparatory to a ride
Into town. Bess was our grandfath-
Ier's pet mare, and nobody was al
lowed to mount her except by per-
mission as a gracious favor.
81 will tell grandpa!" she repeat
led, planting herself firmly before me,
Iher clumpy little feet set wide apart,
and all her rougbened, bright, brown
hair tumbling, cataract fashion, from
under her gypsy hat
My onl y answer was a tightening
iof the girths with defiant air.
"You have no right" she flushed
out angrily. You know dada does
mot like it, and | will surely tell
him.
BY this time l was mounted and
riding out of the gate. But as l
swept past her I looked back, and
Ipursing up my lips, sung out insult
ing '4fell tale! tell tale! Tell tales,
Iif you dare!" and so cantered off.
She did tell. Not one of the people
employed on the place would have
betrayed me, though every one of
them knew that l had wilfully done
wrong, and I was proportionately
indulgent with Old Janet for carry
ing out her threat. / think that
when was punished, she suffered
more than l did. For two DAYS L
would not speak to her. and she
moped about the house with red
eyes and unkempt head. On the ev-
ening of the third day, I was sitting
at the dining room window waiting
for tea, when Janet stole up to me
with shy hesitating air.
won't you forgive me, Teddy,
dear?" she whispered. l made no
answer, but sat resolutely gazing out
of the window at the red and bronz-
ed foliage tossed by the autumn
winds.
81 am SO sorry" A pair of quiv-
ering, wet lips were laid on my hand,
a slender brown arm stole about my
neck. "Please forgive me, Ted!"
"What are you sorry about?" l
asked, shortly. I was quite as ready
as she to make up our difference, for
| missed her great deal in my
daily sports; but 1 meant to make
the reconciliation as humiliating as
possible. 1t might serve as warn
ing to her in future not to meddle.
20, Ted! am so sorry because
because you are so angry; and 1
was so sorry to see you punished and
grandpa so angry. l would a thous.
and times rather have been punished
in your stead. Please-please for
give me, Teddy-do!"
Tears were flowing plentifully and
she was whipping them with her ruff
fed muslin apron all in mess.
'Well, then," l answered, molli-
fed, 'if you are really sorry, you
best 60 without your supper tonight
as did that night, and Pll make it
all up with you"
90! will you, truly? Dear Ted,
how good you are! am so glad!
don't mind going without my sup
per-that's nothing! 1 wish you had
asked something harder of me. But
won't you kiss me, Teddy-just
once?"
Tomorrow" answered, turning
shortly away. "After it's over I'll
kiss you, if You want But not to-
night"
"Very well; tomorrow, then!"
She took her little wistful, tear
stained face to the other side of the
room, and sat patiently down by the
fire. She sat there quietly while the
bell rung and my grandfather and l
took our places at the table. l had
pictured her, in my mind, with a dis
graced air going early, supperless to {
bed, and was notprepared for this.
missed her. She always {
sat at his right hand, feeding out of
his cup, or plate as the willful fancy {
moved her, and he now peremptorily II
her to her usual seat by his
side. &
"Not tonight, please, dear dadaw t
she pleaded without stirring, and t
when he asked her what was the =,
matter, went hurriedlY on. II am {
not to have any tea tonight. Idon't {
really mind it. It's nothing-and {
going to forgive me-and- Il
he will kiss me.in the morning-and
we are always going to be good '
friends Observation-Disclosures" &
Then her voice broke, and, with
rush of tears, she was away from {
the room, up stairs,to hide them out {
of sight. Il
80, so! Master Theodore, that's t
it, is it?" Ny grandfather's sharp,
gray, needle gun eyes seemed to &
pierce me through and through. i
''Little Janet is to be punished be- t
cause she was honest enough to
show you up in your faithlessness to
me?p |.
/ muttered something in reply not
quite Ineligible. Il
swell, it wont hurt janet this