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

A little flash lit up Janel'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 bid you
good evening"
The following morning dawned cherries
and stormy; but despite the bad weather,
ut an early hour Lillian Hardwicke drove
down to the rectory.
"What is it, Janet2 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, VIC don't know where. To
India, he says: But it can't be. What
has happened, dear p
Nothing that / can explain, Miss
Lillian. Mr.. Hardwicke could not trust
me, that was alp
And Miss Hardwicke was forced to re-
turn as she came, wholly III satisfied.
After that the slow years drifted by, dull
and uneventful. What a flat affair lille is
when some cruel blight has swept away all
the bloom and the 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 flutter, and
keep heart, in the midst of winter frusts
she was always cheerful and her willing
hands never tired of work. And work is
| the great panacea for human ills.
The summer roses bloomed and fell, and
winter SHOWS whitened the Blue hills, and
nothing happend to break the quiet mon
otony OF life at the old rectory.
One autumn night, when it was cool
enough to have 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 Z" said the rector laying down his
pen, and going to the door.
A tall figure pushed forward.
Father Father! "
For an instant the old man hestated,
and then he opened his arms, and sobbed
out:
My son y
Janet flew to join them.
Oh, Ralph Have you come e.
I've come, little one; and I've come
all right this time. couldn't forget your
parting words. I've never touched card
since. I've tried hard to do better, hope
But here's an old friend. Don't you know
him 2 Father, Mr. Hardwicke."
Mr.. Hardwicke entered. Janel's heart
beat wildly, but she met him with serene
face and cool bow.
"He knows all, cried Ralph, "and he's
come for your pardon. Fate threw us to-
gether, out there in India; he caught the
fever, and nursed him; and one night
when he f>ncied he was dying he told me
the stor< of his trouble"
Forgive me, Janet" said Eugene, tax
ing her hand, his handsome eyes telling
her that his heart was loyal.
"Oh, there's nothing to forgive, Mr..
Hardwicke," she faltered, and in another
moment she was sobbing on his bosom.
Later there were explanations.
"Yuu can't tell how it grieved me to
give up the ball." she said, all the pent up
pain flowing out of her words but had
nothing to wear. intended to buy a nice
dress, and the loveliest set of pink corals
Oh Mr. Hardwicke, it grieves me to think
of them yet, they were so log ESut you
see l had to let poor RdspSna lave the
money z"
"You are an angel, Janet was the re-
ply, II deserve every bit of the pain Eve
endured l should never have doubted
you" Never doubt me again, DEAR she
said softly.
On the morrow when Eugene came
again, bringing his sister with him, he put
pretty jewel case into Janet's hand. She
opened it, and saw a set pink corals.
1.-THE silly boy travelled all last night
to obtain them, JANET laughed Lillian.
Janet said nothing, but her eyes brim-
med over; and month later, when the
happy wedding day came, although Mrs.
Hurdwick insisted that pearls were the
proper ornaments for bride, Janet insist
ed upon wearing the pink corais.