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

out amid the s%hrubbery like fire flies, and
the roll of carriage wheels, and the mur'
mur Of voices grew incessant. Just as the
first sounds of the brass band shook the
summer air, Nj. Hardwicke appeared, q
bunch of dollhouse flowers in his hand.
II told you 1 should come early; and Lii
lian says you must wear some of those
flowers in your hair;'' then he stopped, be
wildered and stammered "But, Janet
you are not dressed"
"No, Mr.. Hardwicke, I am not going.'
"Not going? Why not 2"
There are reasons which have caused
me to change my mind. I am very sorry
She stopped short, unable to keep hel
voice steady. The young mans color blaz.
ed up.
"But you gave me your word that you
would co." he cried, Indignantly; ''and
you know I had my heart set N IT,"
IL cannot help it," she faltered.
cat the last moment you change your
mind, and disappoint me-" he went on,
angry that she did not explain. 81 would
not have believed it. There is some mys.
terry here"
She made no answer. His anger increas.
ed.
eff you change so easily in one thing
you will in another" he continued, eXcit-
eddy. Il don't feel safe in trusting you"
"Withdraw your trust: then, Mr.. Hard
wicke."
The quiet answer cut him like a keen
blade. He threw the dollhouse blossoms
at her feet, and turning on his heel strobe
away.
81 was an idiot to act as I did. She
looked in trouble, poor little thing !! She
has some reason she cannot tell, perhaps.
I'll go back"
And back he started. On the edge of
the thicket, which interviewed between the
Hall and the Rectory, the sound of voices
arrested him. He turned in the direction
of the sound, and, clearly recognized in
the white moonlight, he saw Janet. She
was hanging foDdly on the arm of a tall
bearded man, and speaking with fearful
eagerness.
"Good~bye, Ralph, darling Don't for
get my last words"
II won't, Janet"
He clasped her close, kissed her again
and again, and was gone.
ALL the blood in Eugene Hardwicke's
body Was seething to his brain. He leap
ed for ward like a mailman.
"This is why you changed your mind, is
it" he cried, Selling the frightened girl by
the arm. "You wanted to meet another
lover. But I won't be trifed with. No
woman living can play fast and loose with
me. Our engagement had better end at
once"
A little flash lit up Janet's usually dove.
like eyes. She drew her figure up with
dignity.
"You have said quite enough, Mr.. Hard
wicke. Our engagement ends from this
minute. Here is your ring, and 1 bid you
good evening""
The folio wing morning dawned cherries
and stormy but despite the bad weather,
at an early hour Lillian Hardwicke drove
down to the Rectory.
"What is 1t, Janet ?" she asked, enter
ing the little room where Janet sat at her
embroidery. "What is the trouble be-
tween you and Eugene? He has gone off
this morning, we don't know where. To
India, he says, and forever. But it can't
be. What has happened, dear ?"
"Nothing that I can explain, Miss Lii
liam. Mr.. Hardwicke could not trust me,
that was ALL"
And Miss Hardwicke was forced to re-
urn as she came, wholly unsatisfed.
After that the slow years drifted by,
dull and u~neventful. What a fiat affair
life is, when some cruel blight has swept
away all the bloom, and dew sparkle, and
left only the dull bare fields. But Janet
did not repine. Like the little, brown
birds in the hedges, which chirp, and fut-
ter, and keep heart, in the midst of The
winter frosts, she was always cheerful, and
her willing hands never tired Of work
And work is the great panacea Of all hu-
man ills.
The summer roses bloomed and fell, and
winter SHOWS whitened the blue hills, and
nothing happened to break the quiet mon
otony Of life at the old Rectory.
One autumn night when it vas cold
enough to have a blaze in the chimney,
Janet sat sewing, while her father wrote
out his sermon for the coming Sabbath. A
sharp rap resounded through the quiet
house.
"Who can it be that raps so loud and so
late ?" said the Rector, laying down his
pen, and going to the door.
A tall figure pushed forward.
aFather Father!"
For an instant the old man hesitated,
and then he opened his arms, and sobbed
out:
"My son!"
Janet flew to join them.
sob, Ralph Have you Gomez"
"I've come, little one; and I've come all
right this time. I couldn't forget your
parting words. I've never touched a card
since. I've tried to do better, and Pm a
good bit on the right road, 1 hope. But
here's an old friend. Don't you know
him? Father, Mr.. Hardwicke."
Mr.. Hardwicke entered. Janet's heart
beat wildly, but she met him with a serene
face and cool brow. .
"He knows all" cried Ralph, im%petuous-
ly, s'and he's come for your pardon. Fate
threw us together. out there in India. He
caught the fever, and 1 nursed him; and
on one night, when he fancied he was dy-
ing, he told me the whole story Of his
trouble"
"Forgive me, Janet,' said Eugene,
taking her hand, his handsome eyes tell
ing her that his heat was loyal.
ttCb +boro7c nothipr IN fOrrivo MI.