The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-12-06

auu ID sure you IL ENJOY IL, Janet.
"Ob, yes, | know shall. /" she an
swered, simply and frankly.
The young man looked down a
the sweet. girlish face, her eyes fal
of tender admiration.
"She is such q simple. unpretend
ing little thing be thought; Ia
sooner win her for nv wife than the
grandest lady in the world
| I'm sure you'll have a nice even
ing" be said aloud; 'and | shall
come for you early; so be ready 10
good time; and, Jenet." be added
his voice tritie unsteady, zone Of
these days | want you to go to the
Hall for good. i love you. dear, and
| want you to be nv wife. Will
you?n
The hand on bis arm ,rembled,
the bright head dropped.
Have you no answer for me, Jan.
e,?"
You must ask papa, Mr. Hard
wicke."
And if papa says yes, what then?
oh, Janet, do you care for me, at slI2
Look up, and let me read nv answer
10 your ewes"
The soft brown eyes looked up at
him in the autumn moonlight, he
read his answer, aud was content.
Janet went home with the first love
kiss Of her pure life, warm upon ber
lips
She was too happy to sleep She
sat on the steps watching the moon
sinking down toward the dim, west
ern bills, and stening to The mur-
mur Of the pine trees, long after her
father and Margery were in bed A
step on the gravel startled her. She
leaped to her feet with a suppressed
| crv
Hush Jane, hush, II is me -
Ralph"
"Oh, Ralph. youg"
The intruder was pale. haggard
and wildeyed, and bis garments
threadbare lie was Janet's broth
er, Mr. Arbuthuot's only sou: the
son who bad broken bis fathers heart,
and made himself an alien and an
outlaw. Yet. despite bis evil ways,
Janet's tender heart loved and pitied
him She put Der arms about his
neck and kissed bis haggard face.
Poor Ralph, bow i'll you look!
What is the trouble nowgn
He laughed bard sort of laugh
The old trouble. I've had awful
i'll luck, Janet The cards have gone
against ne of late too. I'm done for.
must get out OF the c0untry before
this week ends. +"
Oh. Ralph, aud You will not
give over cards? And YOU want mon
ey?"
That's it, Janet. I'm scoudrel
to come TO you in my trouble but |
couldn't see any other Way
You shall have all I've got,
Ralph
YOU'RE a good girl. Janet: you
always were. ] sban't forget YOU
But YOU won't tell the Governor that
I'm in another scrape?n
No. Il ',i it would break poor
pspa's heart. Wait here, and I'll
get the money"
He sat down under the rose vines:
q man whose feet bad tFod the down.
ward way for years: a son whose
name was forbidden word in his
fathers house. Janet brought the
contents Of the silver bowl, and put
it in his hands
This IS every cent | possess
Ralph"
1T won't Do; | want al least twen-
" dollars more "
She looked at him in dire distress.
Il can't ask papa, Ralph. without
telling MIN you were here"
NO, no; you mustn't go to him:
Can't sou get il somehow; Janet2
You were always clever.
Her troubled eyes frightened.
Can you come again. On Friday
! shall get the money for the altar
cloth | am embroidering"
Yes will come on FRIDAY night.
Yoa are q good ciild and am ras-
cal to take your earnings Good
night, Janet
She clung 10 him her taers falling
yery fast.
"0h, Ralph. look up yonder at
poor mamma's grave. Ralph, Ralph,
won't you do better3"
'l'lltry, danel. | will, 'pon honor"
be replied, with emotion. Good
uigbl"
Through the rest Of the week Jan
ct worked steadily at Der altar cloth,
silent aud thoughtful.
Il shan't get the pink cOrslS, or
20 TO the ball, papa Please don't
ask me why. was all she said
And, su>peeling her trouble, aud
perhaps suspecLing her secret. her,
father asked 20 questions.
The night Of the ball came. 4
glorious night, the sky like sapphire,
d full moon hanging over the Blue
Mountains. Janet had finished the
altar cloth, aud had The money 10 her
pocket. She thought Of the pretty
pink cClors, and though she was vii
ling TO give them up for Rslph's
sake, vet her girlish tears fen lie
rain
She ga; uadeT tee rose vines, IS
the twilight fell, aad watched the
preparations at HardSicke' Hall
Lights began TO fash out amidst the
sbrubbery Ike FIRE flies, and the roll
Of carriage heels and The murmur
Of voices grew iDcessant- Just es
the first sounds Of TIE rrsss baud
shoos the summer air, Mr. Hard I
wieke appeared, bunch of hot-house
flowers in MS hand. | told you
should come early; and Lillian says
you must wear some OF those howsrs
IN your hair" thea be stopped BE-
wlIdeTed, and stalue!ed; "BGt,
Jauei, yoa are not dressed" "
NO, Mr.. Hardwieke; am not GO /
ing"
Not going: Why noin
"Thsre are reasons which hare
caused me to change M mind. |
| am YerI sorry, but
She stopped short. unahle 10 keep
ter voice steady. The Young mans