Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-08

cllutI "a vs. uuouSut ulucu auoue ae'
net was my slave, and accepted her de.
votion as fancied man should-grand.
ly. My grandfather, watching his idol
Janet closely. was satisfied. because he
saw that she was happy. But sometimes
when my domiueering temper overtopped
even in its ordinary exacting demands on
Janet's sweet humility, he would shake
his head and mutter foreboding of the
"wild nature-the Burr blood" which /
had inherited from my ancestors.
1passed my first vacation abroad. One
excuse after another / made. until two
years were gone before came home
again. The welcome then was warm. My
grandfather, whose hair had whitened
wonderfully. leaned heavily on my arm as
he walked up and down the room.
"You see am changed, Ted-changed
for the worse--in these two years. But
Janet-you think Janet's changed for the
better; don't you, Ell ?'' He looked anx-
iously in my face.
Ny only reply was to bend and kiss the
exquisite dimples that lay like crumpled
rose leaves in her rounded cheek and chm
She flushed up splendidly. and drew
slightly away. II was the first time had
known Janet was shy, and it added II
keener relish to my appreciation. some
what supercillious. of her frank and gen
erous country beauty. Grandfather smiled
proudly.
There's no girl like our Janei!' he
said u me. ''She was brought up lv men
women don't train such girls-and she's
got mans courage, a mans wall, and IL
mans sense of honor. added to Il wpnlAn's
tenderness. You are happy man, Tea, 10
possess her"
acquiesced. with inward suprrci!iol,-
ness, thinking my grandfather was getting
childish in his old age. But | re,ntln-
bered it all afterward, ami recognized his
wisdom.
V One day. late in the afternoon. | got my
horse out, and, promising Janet that |
would be gone but an hour. rode briskly
away over the white. hard, winter ground.
The cold air set my pulses bounding; The
blood mounted to my head, and. singing
furiously. / rode on and on. In the out
skirts Of the town CHANGED to meet some
acquaintance; among them Bret Harrison,
college chum, with his sister. They
urged me to join them, and we rode into
town. with the promise Of a gay night be-
fore US. We had supper, music, wines
song followed song. toast followed toast ;
and, while Rosalind Harrison's splendidly
beautiful Southern eyes smilingly invited
love into mine, forgot honor, forgot my
promise to Janet, forgot everything that
q wise man should remember. The first
red streaks Of early dawn were visible
over the eastern hills when l rode home
ward. The touch of the cool, pine-scented
air on my forehead. was grateful; the
fever in my blood was cooled as | swept
on but there was sickening fall of the
pulse within, which was new to me.
The first sight that greeted my eyes. as
l. swung the gate, was Janet flying
towards me. Evidently she had not slept.
Her face was pale, her yesterdays even
ing dress was not laid off, and dark shad-
ows underlined her heavy eyes.
"What up SO soonP' cried, with af-
fected gayety. as l flung myself to the
ground-'and waiting for a rideP Jump
before put Bess in the stable. She's
dead tired out with her nights work"
But Janet's only answer was to throw
her arms about my neck with burst Of
tears.
20, Ted! what fright you have given
us; what night have spent. l feared
an accident. We have had men securing
the hills, but they could find no trace OF
you. Thank God you are safe home"
II led her into the house, soothing her
a. well rs could. After few moments
Of convulsive weeping, she grew calmer.
and l wiped her eyes with penitent kisses.
She left me. smiling, and was congratu-
lating myself on having escaped so easily,
when o door opened, and grandfather
stood before me on the landing. One
glance at bis shaking white and stern face
assured me that the worst was yet to come
suppose must have looked like guilty
culprit, with my wine. flushed face. my
wind-tossed hair. and disordered clothes.
"Well.. sir! He spoke briefly, and then
stood silent. waiting an explanation.
q II am sorry 10 have caused you any un
easiness," began, trying to curb the IT.
ritated temper, which was born of my ex-
hsusted nerves. IL met some village
friends. and joined them at supper in
town. quite forgot the highl OF time
it must have flown on silken wings"
Indeed" Ny grandlather's tome WAS
hard as steel. ana quite as cold aud cut
ting,
caused you any uneasiness," ! went ON.
struggling hard with my iuriou,ly rising
hlood; ''Dut. pardon me, think it wound
have been quite as well. il You had slept
the night away as usual. This anxiety
regarding me. which you and Janet dis
play. seems to be wholly uncalled for"
1--WE will leave Janet's name out OF this
discussion, If you please" The old man
spoke with quiet dignity but my temper
flashed like lightning.
1--WE will leave it out now. and forever
after, ii you ike!" flung back, my pru-
dence all cast to the four winds.
The words must have struck him hard
and heavy, but he made no sgn--not
then.
q '.Will you tell me who were your COM
paniOns in last nights orgies P-some sus-
picion which had not wit enough to guess
at prompting his inquiry.
II should be glad to tell you," Ireplied
with an impertinent affection of coxcom-
bry, "but, unfortunately, one woman who
was present filed my mind to the exclu-
sion OF all the others. / can describe her,
If you wish, for she was more beautiful
than an houri seen in a dream of Para
disc" .r
"a wOman-a woman ~ he controlled
his shaking limbs, and raised his head,