The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-02-23

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shrill wind. She knew both step and
voice, but she never turned.
"Janet," cried Ernest, "I thought 1
should find you here! 1 know what
heathenish hours you keep, and what
heathenish places yeu frequent"
She never answered; her eyes were
fixed on the far sea-line, her lips closed
in nameless pain. He threw himself on
the sands at her feet, and looked ND
with laughing blue eyes in her change
less face.
"My solemn Janet What has come
over you of late9 Where has your sun
shine, your sparkle, your youth, your
smiles, your color gone Tell me what
it is, Janet 2"
"Nothing you would care to know"
He shifted uneasily, his eyes left her
pale, still face and wandered seaward.
"You know I am Going tomorrow,
Jennie2 2"
eyes, I know" q
81 wanted to speak to you before [
went, Janet; that is the reason why I
got up at this unchristian hour and look
ed for you here. I don't see the neces-
sity of hurrying our marriage as Uncle
Etheridge wishes to hurry tive are
both young enough to wait. 1 should
like to spend this summer in Switzer-
land and Italy, if you have no objec-
tion."
"I have none."
"And when come back in the au-
tumn, Janet, will you be my little
wife ~
She rose up straight and looked in
his smiling, handsome face for the first
time.
"No," she said, steadily, "I will
never be that ! Here is your ring, Mr..
Etheridge, and here we part"
"Janet 1"
He sprang to his feet, and stood look
ing at her in surprise, in sort of terror
in nothing else.
Here is your ring-take it You
will nots Then let the waters take it,
less faithless than you ~
She drew the band of gold, studded
with brilliants, from her finger, and
flung it far into the sea.
Janet, listen to me Janet-good
Heaven, are you mad 2"
81 would DO if listened to you. Go,
marry Eva Ingestre tomorrow, if you
like What is it to me l''
She turned and walked steadfastly
away, leaving him n petrified gazer.
Straight up to her own room, there to
sink by the window, her arms dropping
on the table, her face lying on them.
Not in tears-not in womanly sobs, only
in mute, deadly pain, weary of life, Of
herself, of the sunshine, of all the world.
"False!" her tortured heart kept cry
ing "false! And loved him so dear
ly-so dearly !"
The breakfast bell rang. She rose up
and went down, a little paler, little
stiller than her wont-nothing more.
Old Mr.. Etheridge was there, bright
and lively. Miss Ingestre was there,
chattering like a magpie, her pretty
ringlets freshly perfumed and curled,
her roses at their brightest. Ernest
was there, silent and sulky, but glad, if
the truth must be known, that he was 80
well out of the scrape.
"She gives me up of her own accord"
he thought, with sense of injury; "no-
body can blame me. I'll speak to Eva
after breakfast"
But he was forestalled. After break
opinion about some ornamental gsrden-
ing to be done, aud his tender declara-
tion had to wait. Janet attended to her
household duties, and then, with her
work basket, went out and sat down by
the open window /; presently the aching
eyes closed in dull, dreamless sleep.
With voices in her ears she awoke-
voices that blended with her sleep, and
that confused her. They came from the
garden the voice or Ernest, tender,
pleading !; the voice of Eva, sweet and
clear.
Marry you, Ernest Good gracious
me! what an idea and you engaged to
that solamn JaDet 90
"She is engaged to me no longer; she
has broken off of her own free will-jeal-
GUS of you"
"And You want me to take what an
other lady rejects Flattering, really
A thousand thanks, Mr.. Earnest Ethe-
ridge; at the same time-noW
EVA Eva for Heavens sake listen
to me I love you with my whole -
"Heart Of course you do And
you will break it because l refuse9
shall be shocked and disappointed If you
do not. There don't COAX can't
marry you because I'm going to marry
your uncle ! Now the truths out -
Janet rose abruptly and left the win
dow, fully awake at last.
"I never thought of that" she said,
on her way to her own room. "I might
have seen, but I never thought of
that"
She kept her chamber until dinner
time, and then went down to preside at
table with that fixed and stone-ike face.
Only her uncle and Eva were there.
"To think the boy should go off five
hours earlier than he need" Uncle
Etheridge grumbled. Janet, how can
you allow such capers2"
Miss Ingestre looked at her, q mali
cious sparkle on her turquoise blue eyes,
malicious smile in her rosebud lips.
Miss Stuart met the look steadfastly.