The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-01-05

lie Sdlu alOuU ana snail come LOT you
early; he ready in good time, and, Janet"
he added, his voice trifle unsteady, "one
of these days want you to go to the Hall
for good. / love you, dear, and want you
to be my wife. Will you 2"
The hand on his arm trembled the
bright head dropped.
Have you no answer for me, Janet r.
You must ask papa, Mr.. Hardwicke.'
"And if papa says yes, what then 2 Oh,
Janet, do you care for me at all2 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 an
swer, and was content
Janet went home, with the first love kiss
of her pure life warm upon her lips.
She was too happy to sleep. She sat
on the steps, watching the moon sinking
dawn toward the dim western hills, and
listening to the murmur 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 suppressed
cry.
Hush Janet, hush it's me-Ralph."
sob, Ralph you2"
wild-eyed, and his garments threadbare.
He was Janet's brother. Mr.. ArDuthnot's
only son; the son who had broken his
fathers heart. and made himself an alien
and an outlaw. Yet, despite his evil way 8
Janet's tender heart loved and pitied him.
She put her arms about his neck and kiss
ed his haggard face.
"Poor Ralph how i'll you look What
is the trouble nowf'
He laughed hard sort of laugh.
1.-THE old trouble. I've bad awful ill
luck, Janet. The cards have gone against
me of of late. I'm done for. l must get
out of the country before the week ends"
"Oh Ralph and you will not give up
cards And you want money 2"
THAT'S it. Janet. I'm q --oundrel to
come to you in my trouble; but l couldn't
see any other way"
You shall have all I've got, Ralph"
you're good girl, Janet; you always
were. l shan't forget you. But you won't
tell the governor that I'm in another
scrape r.
mo, Ralph; it would break poor papa's
heart. Wait here. and I'll get the money!
He sat down under the rose vines; a man
for years a son whose name was a forbid
den 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
at won't do; want at least twenty
dollars more"
She looked at him in dire distress.
Il can't ask papa, Ralph, without tell
ing him you were here"
mo, no; you mustn't 90 to him. Can't
you get it somehow, Janet9 You were
always so clever"
Her troubled eyes frightened.
"Can you come again On Friday I
shall get the money for the altar-c cloth l
am embroidering"
Yes, | will come on Friday night. You
are good child. Janet, and I'm rascal
to takeyour earnings. Good night, Janet"
She clung TO him, her tears falling fast.
"Oh, Ralph look up yonder at poor
mammals grave. Ralph, Ralph, won't you
do better2"
"pll try, Janet; l will pom honor" he
replied, with emotion. Good night"
Through the rest of the week Janet
worked steadily at her altar. cloth, silent
and thoughtful.
Il shan't get the pink corals or go to
he ball, papa. Please don't ask me why
was all she said.
And respecting her trouble, and perhaps
suspecting her secret, her father asked no
more questions.
The night of the ball came. A glorious
night, the sky like sapphire, full moon
hanging over the Blue mountains. Janet
had finished the ar-cloth, and had the
money in her pocket. She thought of the
pretty pink corals, and though she was
willing TO give them up for Ralph's sake
yet her girlish tears fell like rain.
She sat under the rose vines as the twi-
light fell, and watched the preparations at
Hardwicke Hall. Lights began to flash
out amid the shrubbery like fire flies, and
the roll of carriage wheels and the murmur
of voices grew incessant. just as the first
sounds Of the brass band shook the sum-
mer air, Mr.. Hardwicke appeared, Il bunch
of hot house flowers in his hand.
81 told you should come early; and
Lillian says you must wear some of these
flowers in your hair" then be stopped,
bewildered and stammered, "But, Janet
you are not dressed"
mo, Mr.. Hardwicke; am not going"
"Not going Why not ?"
"There are reasons which have caused
me to change my mind. lam sorry, but ="
She stopped short, unable to keep her
voice steady. The young mans color
blaZed up.
But you gave me your word that you
would CO." he cried, Indignantly land
you know had set my heart on it,"
~ cannot help it," she faltered.
AT the last moment you change your
mind. and disappoint me-" he went on,
angry that she did not explain. would
not have believed it, There is some mys-
terry here"
She made no answer. His anger increas-
ed.
IF you change 80 easily in one thing
you will in another" he continued exct-
eddy. II don't feel safe in trusting you"
Withdraw your trust, then, Mr.. Hard
wicke."
The quiet answer cut him like keen
blade. He threw the hot-house blossoms
at her feet, and turning on his heel strobe
away.
But he could not rest. He tried to
dance, to Danish her face from his memory,
but in vain. Toward ten O'Clock he left
the drawing rooms and made his way out
in the open air.
II was an idiot to act us did. She
looked in trouble, poor little thingl She
has some reason she cannot tell, perhaps
pll 60 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 recognizable in the
white moonlight, he saw Janet. She was
hanging fnndly ON the arm of a tall, beard
ed man, and speaking with fearful eager
ness.
"Good-by, Ralph, darlipgl Don't for