Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-12-08
VOL 81.

eS, janet, you may get the pink cor
ais, and you may go to the ball." he said
"You are a good, industrious child, and
can't find it in my heart to spoil you1
pleasure"
Janet kissed him in rapturous delight
and flew back to the house, to tell Margerl
the good news, and to count over her pre-
cious earnings.
"There's just enough, Miss JANET" said
the old woman-who was a faithful ser.
want and tender foster.mother in one
when the contents of the silver bowl had
been counted; ''just enough to buy a nice
muslin, and some rose ribbons, and the
pink corals. Well go down on Wednes-
day and get them; and I'll get Miss Petit
grew to come and help us with the founces.
And won't my bairnie look sweet
Therell not be a grand lady at the Hall
one-half SO pretty"
Janet could almost have cried in her in
nocent delight. When the SUI was down,
and twilight fell overthe quaint, old house
she went up the hill to the church-yard,
as was her custom. Midway the ascent, a
tall figure joined her.
sit is you. Janet?"
"Yes, Mr.. Hardwicke, it is l."
He took her hand and drew it under his
arm.
81 came down to know what your faith
er said, Janet. Are you to come to the
ball?"
eyes, Mr.. Hardwicke, papa says 1
may"
sAh, that's delightful! Lillian wants
you, and so does my mother and Pm sure
you'll enjoy it, Janet"
"Oh, yes, l know l SHALL" she answered
simply and frankly.
The young man looked down at the
sweet, girlish face, his eyes full Of tender
admiration.
"She is such a simple, u~npretending lit
tie thing he thought I'd sooner win her
for my wife than the grandest lady in the
world.
"I'm sure you'll have a nice evening""
he said aloud s'and I shall come for you
early; so be ready in good time and Ja-
net,' he added, his voice unsteady, zone
of these days [ want you to go to the Hall
for good, [ love you, dear, and 1 Want you
to be my wife. viii you ?"
The hand on his arm trembled, the
bright head dropped.
"Haye you no answer for me, Janet?"
"You must ask papa, Mr.. Hardwicke."
"And if papa says yes, what then? Oh,
Janet, do you care for me at all? Look
up, and let me read my answer in your
eyes,"
The soft brown eyes looked up at him in
the autumn moonlight; he read his answer,
and was content.
Janet went home, with the first lovekiss
of her pure life warm upon her lips.
She was too happy to sleep. She sat on
the steps, watching the moon sinking down
toward the dim western hills, and listening
to the murmur of the pine trees, long aftef
her father and Margery were in bed. A
step on the gravel startled her. She leap
ed to her feet with a suppressed cry.
Hush! Janet, hush it's me-Ralph.
ooh, Ralph, you ?"
The intruder was pale. haggard and wild
eyed, and his garments t~hreadbare. He
Was Janet's brother, Mr.. Arbuthnot's only
son the son who had broken his fathers
heart, and made himself an alien and an
outlaw. Yet, despite his evil ways, Janet's
tender heart loved and pitied him. She
put her arms around his neck, and kissed
his haggard face.
"Poor Ralph, how ill you look What is
the trouble now 7"
He laughed a hard sort Of laugh.
"The old trouble. I've had awful ill
luck, Janet. The cards have gone against
me of late, too. I'm done for. I must 20
out of the country before the week ends.''
''Oh, Ralph! and you will not give up
cards? And you want money ?"
"That's it, Janet. Pm a scoundrel to
come to you in my trouble, but I couldn't
see any other way"
"You shall have all I've got. Ralph"
YOU'RE a good girl, Janet; you always
were. [ shan't forget you. But you won't
tell the Governor that Pm in another
scrape."
"No. Ralph it would break poor papa's
heart. Wait here. and Ill get the
money"
He sat down under the rose vines; a
man whose feet had trod the downward
way for years; a son whose name was q
forbidden word III his fathers house.
Janet brought the contents of the silver
bowl, and put it in his hands.
This is every cent [ possess, Ralph"
cit won't do; [ want at least twenty
dollars more"
She looked at him in dire distress.
II can't ask papa, Ralph, without tell
ing him you were here"
"No, 10 you mustn't go to him. Can't
you get it somehow, Janet ? You were al
ways so clever"
Her troubled eyes frightened.
Cant you come again On Friday I
shall get the money for the altar cloth I
am e~mbroidering."
Eyes, 1 viii come on Friday night. You
are a good child, and I'm a rascal to take
your earnings. Good night, Janet"
She chung to him, her tears falling very
fast.
"Oh, Ralph! look up yonder at poor
mammals grave. Ralph, 2Ralph, won't you
be better ?"
"Ill try. Janet; 1 will, 'pon honor" he
replied, with emotion. "Good night"
Through the rest Of the week Janet
worked steadily at her altar cloth, silent
and thoughtful.
81 shan't get the pink corals, or go to
the ball, papa. Please don't ask me why -
was all she said.
And, suspecting her trouble, and per-
haps suspecting her secret, her father ask
ed no questions.