The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1874-09-18

was my slave, and / accepted her
devotion as I thought a man should
l-grandly. Ny grandfather, watch
ing his idol Janet closely, was salts
fed, because he saw that she was
happy. But sometimes when my
Idomineering temper overtopped ev-
en- its ordinary demands on Janet's
sweet humility, he would shake his
head and mutter foreboding of the
"wild nature-the Burr blood"
which 1 had inherited from my an
cestors.
l passed my first vacation abroad.
One excuse after another / made,
until two years were gone before 1
came home again. The welcome
then was warm. My grandfather,
whose hair had whitened wonderful
ly, 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,
eh?" He looked anxiously in my
face.
My only reply was to bend and
kiss the delicate dimples that lay
like crumpled rose leaves in her
rounded cheek and chin. She flush
ed up splendidly, and drew slightly
away. 1t was the first time l had
known Janet was shy, and it added
a keener relish to my appreciation,
somewhat supercilious, of her frank
and generous country beauty.
Grandfather then smiled proudly.
"There's no girl like our Janet!"
said he to me. "She was brought up
by men-women don't train such
girls-and she's got a mans cour-
age, mans viii, and a mans sense
of honor, added to a Woman's ten
derness. You are a happy man,
Ted, to possess her"
acquiesced, with inward super
eiliousness, thinking my grandfath-
er was getting childish in mis- old
age. But / remembered it all after
ward, and recognized his wisdom.
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, 1 rode on and on.
In the outskirts Of the town I
CHANGED to meet some acquaintan-
ces among them Bert Harrison al
college chum, with his sister. They |
urged me to join them, and we rode
into town with the promise of a gay
night before US. We had supper, |
music, wine; song followed soug, |
toast followed toast; and, while Ros-
alind Harrison's splendidIy beauti-
full Southern eyes smilingly invited |
love into mine, forgot honor, for
got my promise to Janet, forgot ev-
erything wise man should remem-
Der. The first red streaks of early I
dawn were visible over the eastern
hills when I rode homeward. The
touch of the cold. pine-scented air
on my forehead was grateful; the
fever in my blood was cooled as
swept on, but there was a sickening
fall of the pulse within, which was
new to me. The first sight that
greeted my eyes as ] swung the gate
was Janet, flying toward me. Bki-
IDENTIFY she had not slept. Her face
was pale, her yesterdays evening
dress was not laid of, and dark
shadows underlined her heavy eyes.
''What! up so soon?" 1 cried
with affected gayety, as l flung my
self to the ground-"and waiting tor
a rider Jump up now, and you shall
have one canter before 1 put Bess in
the stable. She's dead tired out
with the nights work"
But Janet's only answer was to
throw her arms about my neck with
a burstof tears.
80, Ted! what fright you have
given us; what a night l have spent.
feared an accident. We have had
men securing the hill, but they could
find no trace of you. Thank GodI
you are safe home"
l led her into the house, soothing
her as well as l could. After few
moments of convulsive weeping, she
grew calmer, and l wiped her eyes
with penitent kisses. She left me
and 1 was congratulating
myself on having escaped so easily,
when a door opened, and my grand
father stood before me on the land
ng- One glance at his shaking
white head and stern face assured
ne that the worst was yet to come.
suppose 1 must have looked like t
guilty culprit, with my wine flushed {
ACE, my wind tossed hair, and dis
ordered clothes.
"Well, sir!" He spoke briefly, {
md then stood silent, waiting an ex- |
olanation.
81 am sorry to have caused you
my uneasiness,' I began, trying at {
,he same time to be respectful, and {
% curb the irritated temper which :
vas born of my exhausted nerves. /
4 met some village friends and join f
ID them at a supper in town. 1 {
Iuite forgot the flight of time; It
must have flown on siKen wings" ]
'Indeed!" My grandiather's tone +
vas hard as steel, and quite as cool I
md cutting. c
81 repeat that am sorry to have t
,aused you any uneasiness," 1 went s
IN, struggling hard with my furious /
y rising blood; shut, pardon me, 1 t
.hink it would have been quite as c
veil if you had slept the night away s
ls usual. This anxiety regarding c
ne which you and Jane display, seems
% be wholly uncalIed for" r
: "Will you leave Janet's name out {
If this discussion, if you please" J
The old man spoke with quiet dig {
nity; but my temper flashed like
lightning.
1--WE win leave it out now and