Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-01-26
with laughing blue eyes in her change

less lhCe.
my solemn Janet What has come
over you of late? Where has your sun.
shine, your sparkle, your youth, your
smiles, your color gone? Tell me what
it IS, Janet?"
Nothing you would care to know"
He shifted uneasily; his eyes left hel
pale, still face, and wandered seaward.
"You know l am going tomorrow
Jennie?"
Yes. know"
81 wanted to speak to you before
went, Janet; that is why l got up al
this unchristian hour, and looked fol
YOU here. don't see the necessity OF
hurrying our marriage rs uncle Ether.
idge wishes to hurry tive are botlr
young enough to wait. / should like tc
spend this summer in Switzerland and
Italy, if you have no objection"
Il have none"
"And when l come back in the au-
tumn, Janet, you will be my little
wife?"
She rose up straight and looked III
his handsome face for the first time.
"No," she said, steadily, II will never
be that Here is your ring, Mr.. Ether
idge, and here we part.
Janet
"He spraug to his feet and stood
looking ut her in surprise, i'll u sort of
error-in nothing else.
"Here is your ring-take it. You
will not? Then let the waters take it,
less faithless than your
She drew the band of gold, studded
with brilliants, from her finger, and flung
1t far into the sea.
Janet, listen to me, Janet-good
heavenl-are you mad?"
81 would be if listened to you. Go,
marry Eva Ingestre to- morrow, if you
like! What is it to me?"
She turned and walked steadfastly
away. leaving him there, petritied
gazer. Straight up to her own room,
and then sank down by the window, her
arms dropping on the table. her face
lying on them. Not in tears, not in wo-
manly sobs; only in mute, deadly pain,
weary of life, of herself, of thesunshine,
of all the world.
"Falsew her tortured heart kept cry
ing false! AndI loved him SO dearly
so dearly"
The breakfast bell rang. Sherose up
and went down, little paler, a 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
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
fast his uncle carried Eva off, to get her
opinion about some ornamental garden
ing to be done, AMI his tender declara-
ton had to wait. Janet attended to her
household duties; and then, with her
work basket, went and sat down by the
open window; presently the aching eyes
closed in dull, dreamiess sleep.
With voices in her ears, she awoke-
voices that blended with her sleep, and
that confused her. They came from tue
garden-the voice of Earnest, tender,
pleading; the voice Of Eva, sweet and
clear.
marry you, Earnest! Good gracious
me! What an idea! And you engaged
to that solemn Janet?"
"She is engaged to me no longer; she
has broken off of her own free will
jealous of you"
"And you want me to take what an
other lady rejectsl Flattering, really!
Athousand thanks, Mr.. Etheridge; at the
same time-no.
EVA! Eval For Heavens sake, listen
to me! love you with my whole"
"Heart! Of course you dol Ard you
will break il because / refuse? / shall
be shocked and disappointed if you do
not There! Therel Don't coax. Ican't
marry you because am going to marry
your uncle! Now. the truths out"
Janet rose abruptly and closed the
window, fully awake at last.
II never thought of that" she said,
on her way to her own room. 81 might
have seen; but [ never thought of
that"
She kept her chamber until dinner.
time, and then went down to preside at
the table with that fixed and stone-like
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 capers?"
Miss Ingestre looked at her, mali
cious smile on her rosebud lips Miss
Stuart met the look steadfastly.
"Mr. Ernest Eldrldge's comings and
goings are nothing to me; he is free as
the wind that blows. But when am ]
to congratulate you, my good uncle?"
Mr. Etheridge stared - laughed
looked at Eva.
$50 you have told her, pussy?"
81 protest that L have done nothing
of the Sort" cried the amazed Miss In
gestre; "but then she is a witch, and
knows everything"
Precisely. And when Is it to come
Off"
"Well, since you have OWNED it, in
three weeks; and you lnust be first
bridesmaid, Jennie.
"With pleasure, Miss Ingestre."
"I'm afraid you'll find it rather dull
during our absence, janet" her uncle
said. "We're going on three months
bridal tour, and"