River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-02-15
ALUGKY BLOW.

Inc Old manor house at w hlteDrO0k
stood out grim and dark against the
clear, cold wintry sky. Its long narrow
windows and closed oaken doors looked
stern and forbidding, as if the proud
spirit of the house would frown back all
outsiders. The leafess branches of the
elms on either side of the long avenue
tossed their bare arms in the chilly
breeze, and moaned over the fallen for.
tunes Of the owner of the manor, and
The very wind itself seemed to sigh
mOurnfully as it soughed round the cor
ners Of the house, and down the tall,
twisted chimney.
In tine picture gallery, old portraits
looked grimly at each other in the dim
light, md seemed to shake their heads
and murmnr, HAS it come to this?"
In the bare chambers, fiuttering
threads of tapestry and heavy velve
moth-eaten furniture was all that was
of the former grandeur of the house, and
the ghosts of the ancient owners seemed
TO linger in every dark corner.
In large, stability Furnished room,
before bright wood fire, sat a young
girl. The Pickering light fell upon her
small, oval face. with its surrounding
halo Of golden hair, and played loving
ly about the white hands and slender
figure. She sat in huge arm chair, 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 bear l.
ed cOurtiers looked down upon her from
out their heavy frames as if in wonder
at her dainty presence. The flames
hickered and danced, casting strange
shadows upon the walls, the wind sighed
mournfully in the wide chimney, but
Janet Warden was buried in her own
thoughts, and was not to be disturbed
from them. Surely they were pleasant
ones, for a smile played upon her lips,
and a blush rose to her cheek every
now and then, as she sat there gazing
into the leaping flames. At last. how
ever, she reused herself and rising
from her chair, stood for few minutes
irresClUteiy, her hands clasping each
other tightly. Then, with a light step
she left the room, and crossing the cold
dark hail, paused before door Open
ing it, she entered 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 arm-chaiu
before the fire sat man who see ned
be asleep, for his head leaned 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, .dear?" he said, looking fondly at
the blooming face bent over him.
San hour ago father-Mr. Wood
drove me home"
There was little hesitancy about the
lastspeech, and Janet drew a low seat to
her fathers side, and taking his left
hand caressed it softly.
$50 Mr.. Wood drove you home, ia
net? He's a fine fellow always liked
him.
Janet still caressed the hand she held
and Nh Warden spoke again:
Il hope, my dear, you were dressed
as you should be"
'Oh, yes, father, dear, You know,
if l do not dress like the Grey's, and
Norton's, l can always afford to look
like n lady,"
Mr. Warden nodded his head gravely,
and Janet pressed her lips to his hand.
Father, DEAR" she said in low
voice that trembied, 81 have some
thing to tell you"
''1o tell me Jane? Let me hear it,
dear. hope you are i'll no trouble of
any kind"
r I
sob, no father. Mr.. Woodland
Janet's face grew crimson in the flicker
ing firelight--"he asked-me-oh, faith
er-to be his wife"
Janet hid her face on the broad hand
clasped in hers, and there was silence
in the dark room.
At last Mr.. Warden laid his other
hand upon his daughters dropping
head, and said huskily, "And what
was your answer Janet"
ooh, father-I was so surprised-so
troubled, so that II said yes" and
Janet burst into tears.
Again Mr.. Warden stroked the droop-
ing head, and said quietly, "And do you
love him, Janet?''
Janet did not answer at Cnce-per-
haps her tears prevented her-then she
raised her arms and threw them round
her fathers neck.
.'Oh-so much, father-so very-very
muchl Is it wrong? Oh, no, Pm sure
you will not say So"
My DEAR" said Mr.. Warden, sit is
not wrong, for it must have come to this
at last; and | would rather it should be
Henry Wood than any other man 4
know. But, my child, he must know
that you are penniless. Have you told
him this"
''Oh, father, he knows-every one
knows that weare poor. and that have
nothing. But he says"-and Janets fea-
lures frightened through her tears
"that he does not care for my money
that he is glad | have not any, and-he's
coming to see YOU tomorrow, father"
Mr.. Warden smiled gravely and pat
ted Janet's white hand as she placed 1t
caressingly on his shoulder. Then he
said, slowly:
Coming to see me, is he? Well,
dear, l must talk about it to him. Now
YOU must 90 TO bed--lt must be late anu
/ want to think. Goodnight, my dear
goodnight"
Janet presse her lips to her fathers
wrinkled forehead with more tenderness
than usual. She, who was accustomed
to his quiet, studious manner, knew
that he had been shaken by what she
had told him, and that he wished to ue
alone, so she crept away to her chamber
fitted through the dark passages and
echoing galleries like some fair spirit,
and fell to sleep on her pillows, the inn
age of life, youth and hope, in the midst
ofdecaving age and forgotten grandeur.
1t was the week before Janet's mar
rage. and in the old picture-gallery,
standing where the sunlight fell upon
them. where Janet and her betrothed.
Hitler her father often came at night,
candle in hand, TO gazeon those who
had gone before him. drawing aside the
" mat covered face of his lll-star-
red brother George.
The portraits on the wall looked down
upon them as il scandalized at what they
saw, for Henry was standing with his
arm round Janet's waist, and the girl
had raised her fair face to the handsome
one above her.
One cid painting in particular OF Sir
George Warden, Janets great grandfath-
err, seemed to frown darby at the auda-
ciOus couple who dared to iutrude upon
the privacy of himself and his compan-
ions thus-while on the other side of the
gallery, fair young girl, in laced bodice
and powdered hair, seemed, by the
sweet smile upon her painted face TO
sympathize with the lovers.
''aIy dearest Janet" said Mr.. Wood,
81 really cannot permit you to talk like
N,-Fs1 Il