Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-10-26
A MISTAKE.

Janet ElwOod stood in the low, vine
wreathed doorway of Der home, a comfor
| tabls Maine farm house, at the close of q
sultry July day. Her glance was directed
toward manly, sunburned young fellow
tall md broad shouldered, who was max.
ing his way toward her through the wide
J sweet clover meadow.
Nearer he came, until smile broke the
| naturally grave expression of his handsome
| mouth, and he stretched out his arms to
draw her to his breast.
Janet, instead of Nesting close against
the manly heart which she knew beat
always warmly and truly with love for
| her, drew petulantly away.
A deep red flush mounted suddenly to
the young mans forehead. He looked at
her averted face, her Indifferent attitude,
with amazement. Was this the girl who
had put her hands in his over six months
ago, and pledged herself to be his Town
little wife,"
Janet he said. "what is it ?''
what do you mean, John ?" Janet
kept her eyes fastened on the toe of her
little shoe, that, Notwithstanding her APP
pearance of GOODNESS, beat lively tattoo
nervously against the painted boards. -
CHANGING up. she saw an expression on that
face bending sternly above her, that forced
her to add, 81 am tired. have been help
ing mother get ready Tor the boarder who
has engaged the front chamber for the
summer"
II did not know you expected to take
boarders. Janet"
HE is the only one. He came last week
when mother was at the sewing circle, and
| showed him the room and he engaged 1t
for two months, and-and that's how it
ISL
Janet's cheeks grew pink as she thought
of the dashing strangers look of admlra-
ton, as, ia her pink print dress, she had
stood at the gate when he went to the city
for his baggage. Her tongue seemed uu-
description of the new boarder, informing
John that he was an artist, frem Boston,
wealthy and of a good family; his name
was Raycliffs-Eugene Raycliffs. she
pronounced it lingeringly twice over.
John was far from elated at the prospect.
He could not SEE the delights of the Bos-
ton artists heightened society as plainly
as Janet. He said so in SO many words, a
tri1e more theoretically than the occasion
warranted, perhaps, but Janet was very
pretty. and the honest young farmer was
deeply in love.
Anybody would think he was an OGRE"
pouted that young woman, seeing with her
quick, bright eyes, Instantly the state of
mind her lover was in.
"Tnere he comes now,' she cried.
Mr.. Eugene RaycIiffe smiled under his
dropping, jetty moustache as he noted
Janet's lover.
''Some country pumpkin, boring her half
to death, I've no doubt. I'll soon settle
him.
These remarks (made mentality were ac-
companied by such an air of self-satls6ed
complacency, as he threw his satchel down
on the steps, and sat down beside it at
Janet's feet, that John Wentworth scarce
ly bowed in answer to the languid "Glad
to know you," which followed Janet's In
PRODUCTION.
John suddenly seemed overgrown and
awkward. Mr.. Eugene Raycliffe's hands
were so exquisitely white and delicate that
his own seemed by contrast redder and of
more gigantic proportions than ever.
His attire seemed rough and ill-ftting
compared with the natty ''store clothing"
of the artist from Bvston, and altogether
John felt awkward and uncomfortable
standing with his broad back against the
lattice of the porch and observing with
scant approval the upward glances from
Mr.. kaycliffe's black eyes to Janet's
brown ones.
..Your friend seems slightly displeased
at something" said he, as John, with
brief farewell, and never second glance
at Janet, walked away, with firm step
and his head we'll up.
John had no fancy for standing about
unnoticed while the girl to whom he was
engaged coolly allowed comparative
stranger to monopolize her smiles and
society.
s'Don't 60 off angry, John" said Janet,
trying the witcherY of her eyes on her for