Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-08-22

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Janet's face that bent over me, her
hands wiped the blood from my face,
her voice sounded In my ear.
Ted, my darling o, my darling
my own love He is not dead o,
thank God, he is not dead T.
She stood up and beckoned to one of
the men who were helping to draw out
from under the wrecked timbers the
crushed human beings about us. He
came with light, looked at me, and
then turned away.
"There's others that's hurt far worse
than him, Miss. Wemust look to them
first"
Janet caught hold of his arm, and
snatching her purse from her pocket,
thrust it into his hand. 90.
"For Gods sake help me !" she cried.
"Oh, you must help me get him away
from here. Take that-thefe is money
in it-and do as l bid YOU" ...-.
The man yielded. Janet took off her
large thick shawl and spread it on the
ground. They loosened me as tenderly
as possible from the wreck, and placed
me on the shawl. Next, Janet took off
some other portion of her dress and
covered mel felt her lips touch my
cheek as she did it then she took two
corners of the shawl in her small fair
hands, and the man took the other two,
and SO, step by step, tenderly, not to
jar my bruised body, slowly and labori-
ously, the delicate girl and the strong
man carried me up the rocky, ice
bound side of the ravine. Oh, my Old
Janet-my lost darling More than
the bleeding of my wounds was the
bleeding of my heart, and more than
the pain of my hurts was the pain of my
penitent love for you during that deso-
late journeyl
Through the days of unavoidable sick
ness which followed that nights wounds
and exposure, through my convalescence,
and as long as I needed nurse, Janet
stayed with me. Every morning she
received letter from our grandfather,
couched in affectionate terms, and ex-
pressing great anxiety for her, but not
once alludiDg to me. He never came
near me, never asked after my welfare
was dead to the old granite heart. I
felt bitterly indignant, but was too
proud to complain.
At length the time arrived when Janet
said that she must go :; and then came
battle of wills. begged her to stay
with me. 1 entreated, implored, using
all my noted powers of eloquence,
which were now the more effective that
was in deadly earnest. But all in vain.
Terrible power, used terribly in vain.
1t was novel experience to me to fail.
"Stop, Teddyp said Janet, crying.
"You must not speak of this again. I
promised grandpapa if he would let me
come to you, that no word of love
should be spoken between us. He
trusts in my honor. Let me go !"
l burst out in a fierce rage.
"Why should we wreck our lives in
humoring the whims of spiteful old
man? Oh, Janet my love, my dar-
ling do not leave me-"
But she would not listen.
81 promised him to come back" she
said, "and will keep my word"
"But you love me you love me,
Janet p cried.
81 love you, Teddy. have always
loved, and always will. Now let me CO."
[ held her hands in mine. I would
not release her.
"But if you love me, why do you
leave me, Janet? Why are you SO cold
and hard-why is it so impossible to
move you?"
Then for the first time she broke
down.
"Cold to you? All, Teddy, don't
you see how. am suffering? I love
you'll love you Oh, why cannot we
be as we were once, when we were chill
dren together? We were SO happy
then. Why did you slight me, and hurt
me-and make grandpapa angry? 1t is
all your fault-yours." oeF
She was crying and calling my name,
with her face hidden in her arms.
thought 1 had gained the victory 1
took her to my breast, and kissed and
soothed her with an exultant heart.
Let the. old man vent his spite now
where he would, Janet was mine
mine But all at once she stood up,
pale and calm, and held out her hands
Goodbye, Teddy I am going
now. We must not see each other
again. Forget me hope you will be
happy / hope you will find some one
to love, and to love you and-and-say
goodbye to me, Teddy" .4.
:" will not say it !" I burst out furi-
ously. II will marry you yet, in spite
of that old tyrant. will wait for you
till he is dead, and then I will come to
you, even if it be from the other side
of the world" thrust her hands from
me, and turned my face to the wall.
That was our parting, and for over
three long years that was the last I saw
or heard of Janet Fentonsleigh. CA
mans courage, mans will, and q
mans sense of honor, added to O
woman's tenderness"
1 was in the south of Italy when her
summons to me came "Come home,
Teddy p Only these three words, but
never did homesick wanderer cross the
seas with lighter heart than mine, in
answer to that sweet command.
Janet met me at the familiar doorway.
Janet in mourning, but always my
bright, my beautiful, my Old Janet.
Our meeting was silent, but full Of such
sweet joyl
She took ME, later, to our grand
fathers grave. "He forgave you at
the last" she said, softly. He spoke
of you tenderly, and he bade me send
for you"
"But if he had not ?" asked eager
ly. eff he had not forgiven me, Janet,
what then? Would you have sent for
me just the same?"
She hung her head, while her sweet
face flushed and paled by turns. But
the answer came, brave and true
" am afraid not" she said. "Oh,
Teddy, am 30 glad grandpa forgave