The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-02-21
Pink COraIS.

tember sunset, and watched the hand
some carriage as it rolled away, hel
brown eyes like stars, flush In heI
cheeks as vivid as the hearts of the
summer roses that grew along the
hedge.
Down the little winding foot-path,
leading from the bold spur ON which
the parish church stood, came her
father, the rector of st. Ives. The girl
saw him, and the pretty carnation in
her cheeks deepened. Tossing aside
the dainty bit of embroidery she had
in her hands, she opened the wicket,
and ran to meet him.
"Oh, papa, papal" she cried, catch
Ing him by both hands, 81 am so glad
you have come"
Mr.. Arbuthnot bent down and kissed
the excited, young face. She was his
only daughter-the daughter of the
fair, young wife who had died in the
bloom of her sweet womanhood, and
lay buried up there in the little church
yard on the green slope that looked
westward to the Blue Ridge; for our
story is story of the Old Dominion.
"Well, my little one, what has hap
pened ?" he asked, reading the inno-
cent face at glance. "There's sOme-
thing wonderful to tell me, see; what
Is it?"
Blushing and dimpling, Janet pointed
toward the carriage which was just en-
tering the park gates at Hardwicke
Hall, the great place of the neighbor-
hood.
"They've gone only few minutes
since, papa" she said, her voice tremu-
lous with happy excitement, eugene
Hardwicke and Lillian. They made
me long visit, and brought me some
lovely hot house flowers. And, oh,
papa, Mrs. Hardwicke gives ball on
the 10th, and Lillian came to invite me.
May go?"
The old rector sighed, as he caressed
the bright, young head. If only he
could see his way clearly! Eugene
Hardwicke was fine, handsome young
fellow, and for some time had been
quite devoted to Janet. Every other
night found him at the quiet old rectory,
and Janet was growing interested in
him and learning to watch eagerly for
his coming. If the young man was
sincere in his attentions, he would be
fine match for Janet, but young men,
as a rule, were tickle; and the match
was really too great one to hope for,
even for Janet.
"Papa, may goH"
"My little girl, I'm at a loss what to
say. Hardwicke Hall's.a hard place
and there'll be a great many grand
folks at the ball. Hadn't my little
brown-eyed wren better stay at home
In her secure nest?"
"Oh, papa, only for once! never
was at ball in my life. But l can
dance quite well, for Mrs. Hardwicke
said SO herself when / danced at her
May party, And, papa, I've saved ever
so much money from my embroidery.
Why Margery's got the silver punch
bowl almost full and I've earned every
penny. May l get nice white muslin
and trim it with mammals wonderful
old laceP And, oh papa, may | get
that set of pink corals we saw at Doffra-
fields the other day?"
Mr.. Arbuthnot had never denied his
daughter pleasure in his life and he
could not deny her now.
eyes, my Janet, you may get the
pink corals, and you may go to the
ball" he said, "you are good, indus
trious child, and can't find it in my
heart to spoil your pleasure"
Janet kissed him in rapturous de-
light and flew back to the house to tell
Margery the good news and count over
her precious earnings.
"There's just enough, Miss janet"
said the woman.-wbo was faithful
servant and tender foster mother in
one--when the contents of the silver
bowl had been counted, Just enough to
buy nice muslin, and some rose rib
bons and the pink corals. Wen go
down on Wednesday and get them;
and I'll get Miss Pettigrew to come and
help us with the founcc. And won't
my bairnie look sweet! There'll not
be a grand lady at the Hall one half so
pretty"
Janet could almost have cried in her
innocent delight. When the sun was
down and the twilight fell over the
quaint old house, she went up the hill
to the church yard, as was her custom.
Midway the ascent atall figure joined
her.
"Is 1t you, JanetP'
ayes, Mr.. Hardwicke, 1t Is l."
He took her hand and drew 1t under
his arm.
III came down to know what your