Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-07-09
JANE7's FORTUNE.
70 VI. .. Z.

fortune to the one who will use it to
the best advantage, said Grandma
Leeds, smiling behind her spectacles to
the young girls around her.
"Your fortune, grandma? What will
it be That old basket, with its horrid
| yarn and needles, and the never end
ing knitting work ? If SO; you need
not leave it with me. Janet will use
it to far better advantage than
could"
ayes, Lettie you are right; and I'm
sure don't want it either. Him! what
a fortune to be sure"
''Ill accept it, grandma, and prize
it, if you will only add your sweet,
contented disposition 1t would be
a fortune which none of us need des,
pise."
Janet Leeds was the yotingest of the
family, and the plainest. She had a
sweet fresh face, and tender eyes; but
these paled into uglinees before Lettie' 5
black orbs and shining curls, and the
blonde loneliness OF Belle Margaret. So
she settled back like modest violet in
the chimney corner, and waited on
grandma, or assisted the maid in house
work.
Once in while she ventured out to
party in the village, but SO seldom
tnat people never observed her. That
made it unpleasant, and she staid at
home still closer.
But on that morning, while they sat
chatting with grandma, she felt deal
of real discomfort, for the first time in
months.
Clara Bosworth, her bosom friend,
was to give party that evening, and
she could not go. For weeks prepara-
tions had been going on in their quiet
family. She had given up the money
saved for new winter cloak that Let
ties green silk might be retrimmed for
the occasion, and the best dress she
had in the world was a plain garnet
co.ored poplin with black velvet trim.
mings.
She had family suggested that she
might wear that but the cry of dismay
from her sisters silenccd her.
go and wear that old popln9" cried
] Lettie, from the clouds of white billowy
lace that was to at.oin the green silk. =
''You must be craay!'
''Should think SO" chimed Margaret,
who was fitting lace bertha over the
waist OF the delicate lilac satin. "Do
you want Austin Bosworth to think us
family of paupers? 1t is to be grand
affair, and Clara expects all who honor
1t with their presence to pay her re
spect enough to dress respectfully: II
is Austins first appearance after bis
European tour, and surely you don't
want him to think meanly of us"
The tears came UP, but Janet was
brave and no one saw them.
That night, when the two gifls-the
one in her dark beauty and wonderfully
becoming array, the other all delicacy,
her fair, pearl loveliness enhanced by
the pale purple color of her dress
came laughing into grandma's room, a
little shadow darkeped her face, and she
found it very hard to keep back the
tears.
Fine feathers make fine birds, but
fine birds do not always sing the sweet
est, jamie" said grandma, after they
were gone. 81 know who is the true
one in this family | know my little
singing bird, JAMIE, and she is dearer
than dozen fine ladies. Austin and
Clara will come to morrow, and he will
tell us about his travels in foreign
lands, and you will be up at the house
tonight, with dancing and confusion.
81 suppose, SO, grandma, and Janet
took her seat by the fire, and went on
knitting with a peaceful face.
The elder sister came home with
rumpled plumage, but in high spirits
Austin Bosworth had returned a
handsome, polished gentleman and had
hirted desperately with Lettie.
"Why, grandma, he almost proposed
to ber!" laughed Margaret, who was