The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-03-30
..IANEgs FoRTUNRi

lWOuluClIoWnp pach III OutslueIst
leafess branches Of the eling
eithef side Of the long avenue Is
their bare arms in. the chilly bra
and moaned over the fallenT fort
Of the;owner Of the Manor, and
very wind itself seemed to
'mournfully as it soughed round
corners of the hepse,and down
tall twisted chimney.
In the picture gallery old poili
looked grimly at each other in
dim light and d;seemed TO shak6 s.
heads and murnuf: Has It como q
this?"
In the bare chambers huttering
threads Of tapestry and heavy velvet
moth,eaten furniture was all that
was left Of the former grandeur Of
the house, and the ghosts of the an
cient owners seemed to linger in
every dark corner.
In large, shabbily-furnished room
before q bright wood fire, sat a young
girl. The Pickering light fell upon
her small oval face, with its sur
rounding halo of golden hair, and
played lovingly about the white
hands and slender figure. She sat
in a huge old armchair, her cheek
resting upon one hand, and her
gray eyes fixed upon the bright
flames.
She seemed out of place in that
dark, somber room, from the walls Of
which armed knights and beruffed
white.bearded courtiers looked down
upon her from out their heavy
frames as if in wonder at her dainty
presence. The flames fickered and
danced, casting strange shadows up.
on the wallis the wind sighed mourn
fully in the wide chimney, but Janet
Warden was buried in her own
thoughts, and was not to be disturb
ed from them. Surely they were
pleasant ones, for smile played up
on her lips, and a blush rose to her
cheek every now and then, as she
sat there gazing into the leaping
flames. At last, however, she rous.
ed herself, and rising from, her chair,
stood for a few. minutes 'irresolutely,
her hands clasping each other tight.
ly. Then, with a:light step, she left
the room, and crossing the cold dark
hall paused before door. Opening
it she entered a room smaller than
that which she had left, and darker,
for the wood fire burnt low, and
there was no lamp on the table,
which was strewn with books and
papers. In an armchair before the
fire sat a man whoseemed to be asleep
for his head leant against the back
Of the chair and his eyes were closed!"
"Father!"
The eyes slowly opened, and Mr..
Warden raised his head.
"Ah, Janet! When did you come
home, dear2" he said, looking fondly
at the blooming face bent over him.
"An hour ago, father-Mr. Wood
drove me home"
There was q little hesitancy about
the last speech, and Janet drew a
low seat to her fathers side, and
taking his left hand, caressed it soft
ly.
$50 Mr.. Wood drove you home,
Janet9 Very kind of him-wasn't
ii? He's fine fellow-I always
liked him."
Janet still caressed the hand she
held, and Mr.. Warden spoke again:
81 hope, my dear, you went dress.
ed as you should be-"
ooh, yes, father, dear. You know,
if l do not dress like the Greys and
the Nortons, I can always afford to
look like lady"
Mr.. Warden nodded his head
gravcly, and Janet pressed her lips
to his hand.
"Father, dear, she said, in low
voice that trembled, ~ have some
thing to tell you"
"To tell me, Janet? Let me hear
it, dear. l hope you are in no trou-
BILE of any kind"
And Mr., Warden looked graver.
"0h, no, father. Mr.. Woodland
Janet's face grew crimson in the
aickering firelight-"he asked-me
oh, father--to be his wife"