Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-10-09
NO. 234.
OLD JANET.
BY MRS. NJ. w. CARPENTER.
lcoNTrNUED FROM YEsTERpAY.I

lcoNTINUED FROM YEsTERDAY.
''Janet! Janet!' My grandfather sud
denly raised his voice, calling loudly. l
stood stupetied with astonishment. In
another moment Janet was by my side,
hutteriDg with anxious solicitude. He
took her hand iu his. and, turning her to
the cruel light, studied intently the fair
young face which not even nights sleep
less watching could make less than fresh
" lovely. "Janet, my Janet, do you love
this man, this Theodore Burr ? Is your
true heart bound up in him, my girl ?
Alas. alas he added, as blushing and
sobbing 80, grandpa" she hid her pure
young face in his bosom. He held it there,
and kissed the bright brown curls in pas
sion of fierce tenderness. Then ne turned
to me:
II forgive you this once, for the sake Of
my girl, who, God pity her, loves you.
But, mind you, only this once; for not
even you shall play fast and loose with my
darling. When once her name is dropped
between US, master Ted, it is dropped for
ever. know the Harrisons: they are bad
clear through. Old and young are alike
treacherous and deceitfnl. Who plays
with them plays a losing game. Let me
warn you in time.''
He shook fearfully, as it with ague. l
offered to support him, fearing that he
might fall, but he repulsed me and led Ja-
net away. could hear him muttering to
her Poor girl, my Janet and of the
''bad Burr blood" that spoiled me- And
then he kissed her weeping. How he
loved that GIRL
When went back to the college town.
the Harrisons were already established
there. Burr and were classmates. He
took me to see Rosalind, and she straight
way cast the old fatal spell over me. I
loved her passionately when I was with
her; but when was away I longed for
Janet. l longed to hear Janet's voice, to
feel the touch OF her hand. thought of
Rosalind by day but dreamed of Old Janet
by night. l had been at school only few
weeks, when Il peremptory summons came
bidding me home. The message was Civ.
en- in such terms that feared serious ILL.,
ness was at the bottom of it, and fled
homeward like the wind. Janet was not
in sight. A servant led me up to my
grandfathers room. He was sitting alone.
a majestic gray figure, by the table. l
fastened forward to greet him, but he sud-
denly stretched out his hand, and repalsed
me with gesture so stern, look 30 pa
thetic and dignifed, that stood rs if root
ed to the floor
"Don't speak! don't touch me !" he said
"until you have read that, and explained
it,"
He pointed with long. lean finger to
an open letter on the table.
took it up it was the history of my
intercourse with Rosallnd Harrison from
to end-terribly precise, terri
bly, true! felt the blood surging hot and
dark into my face ander those piercing,
needle-like gray eyes that watched me as
l read the damned treachery.
"Is this true?" my grandfather asked;
but could not reply. ''Is it true. sir ?"
persisted the pitiless voice; and then
forced myself to look up.
ut is true, in part, am afraid. But,
0, grandfather for PHYS sake, listen to
me; let me speak one word for myself. l
am not so wholly base, or to blame, as
this says"
Stop my grandfather cried. II will
not hear another word. The one fact that
l wanted to be assured Of before con-
demned you, is true. You have confessed
it. You have been false to my Janet.
Janet! Janet faa854a
The pathetic old voice, breaking out in
to this strange, sad cry, rung through the
lonely passages, and reached her, where
ever she was. She flew into the room,
and, bending over him, without look at
me, kissed his white hair and withered
cheeks. soothing him tenderly.
"Janet my girl-my brave girl! it's all
true. You and | are left to love each 9TH
er alone, Janet" he said, clinging to her
hands.
"And we are quite happy, grandpapa,
answered her sweet, clear voice; .Quite
happy. you and l! Cheer up-cheer up,
Dada !"
stood apart, listening as if on the other
side of a great guilt. Neither Of them
looked at me.
"Forgive me p l pleaded, for once In
humbleness. "lf you are thus determined
to cast me out of your hearts, let me, at
least, hear you say that you forgive me
before l go.'
why should we bear enmity against
stranger Janet?n said my grandfather,
with cruel distinctness. "Let him 90 in
peace. Those whom he took in place OF
US to be his friends have already played
the part of Judas and betrayed him.
What could l say? For it was Burt
Ilarrison's hand that, unskilfully disguised
had penned that miserable epistle In the
hope of forever separating me from Janet
Fentonsleigh. Was he not Judas? So
left them. without another word.-And at
that last hour l knew the truth. My
grandfather had never cared for me ex-
cept for Janet's sake. and when he fancied
that l had ceased to love her, he hated
me.
felt like ruined man-stunned, reel
ing-as stepped out into the open air. A
great blank suddenly yawned in my life.
| had always depended on Janet's love.
Whether were apparently true to her or
false; whether laughed, or sneered. or
smiled at her. expected her to love me.
felt it impossible for her to be false. "A
mans courage, mans will, and a mans
sense of honor, added to a woman . ten
lerness;" how then could Janet east me
off, possessing these qualities Some
lines pished and jeered, and told myself