Middletown transcript., 1874-04-18
his travels 10 foreign lands, and you will
be far happier than you would be up at
the house with dancing and confusion"

be far happier than you would be up at
the house with dancing aud confusion. y
Il suppose so, grandma and Janet
ting with peaceful face.
The elder sisters came home with rum
pied plumage and high spirits.
Austin Bosworth had returned hand
some polished gentleman, and had firtcd
desperately with Lestie.
why. grautma, he almost proposed
to her z laughed Margaret, who was en-
gagged to Judge Leonards hopeful son,
and therefore had no place fur jealousy
more than one the company predicted
that it would be match ("
Don't you count your chickens before
they are hatched," called out grandma
| from her pillow. "Mr. Austin Bosworth
is no fool, can tell you!"
"What an old croakerw
They we're entering the chamber across
the hall. but grandma's ears we're not
duled by age, and she clearly heard
them
"Don't mind thom. grandma" whis-
pered Janet. who had waited to help them
lay aside their fnery
mind them! Do you think | shall.
Janet Leeds p
The next day Austin Bosworth came.-
He was too familiar with the old house to
stop for bell ringing aud he entered
crossing the hall directly past the parlor
door. where Margaret and Lettie waited
in their tasteful afternoon costumes, and
walked straight on to grandma Leeds
| room
She was there with her placid face be-
meath the white lace bordered cap
A graceful. girlish figure half knelt be-
side her, wreathing bunch Of evergreens
into frame for mantle ornament. and
her eye, were lifted smilagly to the old
lady's face.
He entered and closed the door before
either saw him
"Grandma Leeds ~
"Why, bless my heart, i, is Austin
Come here, my boy y
And the fine gentleman came and gave
both hands to her in his delight.
jamie, my little playfellow, too =
What happy meeting! Clara came
down dressed Ger a call, and declared she
would come, but told her no! knew
the amount of galantry l should feel
obliged to use, aud | preferred that my
first visit should be like the old ones"
"You are right. We are better pleas
ed to have it so, are We not. Janct?'
His call heightened itself into two
hours, aud during the time he told pleas
ant stories and chatted like the boy Of by
gone days, but not once did Margaret OF
Lettie's name pass his lips.
When he went away he met them com.
ing from the parlor with disappointed
faces, where they had been waiting foi
hiln but he only lifted his hat and then
passed out Then grandma and Janet
received a seoldinG. such as only these
two knew how to give, and the shadow o
discomfort again fell on Janet's spirit.
Ah, that long cheerless winter What
story janet could tell you of disappoint
menis. Of happy parties in which she had
no share, If moonlight rides. of JOY and
merriment She had only that one com
forter. kind. patient grandma for nov
that Austin Bi9~or'h had come, the way
was harder lh1H ever He came and es
corted Lettla 80 parties, and sometimes
chatted with grandma. but nothing more
She saw noihug innrc-she did not catcl
the good -na'ured smiles he gave her from
the sleigh as he rode away-and Letti
never told how often he asked for her
Alone with grandma Janet asked 70
better things and wondered why she wa
so harshly dcal' with.
At last even the society of her age,
the old lady gradually faded away. Da
and night Janet sat beside her with tn
knowledge that she was beyond earthl
: help-waiting upon her. yielding tn he
childish whims. and shutting out every
thing youthful aud beautiful from he
sight
"Playing household angel said Mar
garet. scornfully
, Working for grandma's fortune of ol,
, shoes and stockings" Lettie cruelty ad
drd
'Dong her duty by the faithful woma
! who had taken three mothcrless children
into her heart. and filled the lost one
place. SO far as God permitted" her owl
. heart said, and steadily she worked on
p The first Of May brought invitations t
. the last bal at the Bosworth house. an
while the two elder sisters laid out tn
I. inery. Janet folded her tiny missive. an
h bid it away next to her heart MS a sacre
b bit of paper. bearing Austin's firm, broa
I chirography upon it
i The next night grandma was very il
: and when Margaret and Lettie huttere
in with their gray dresses. Janet met tbel
e and almost forcibly put them out of th
room
e II beg yoa. girls. to have little re
= aspect for grandma-she is very i'll t
I night"
d .Nonsensel Don't be fool. Janet
: anybody would think she was dying"
: Il believe she is"
e Their reply came in violent slam
. tha donr opd lanai wae a1aua with hi