The National tribune., 1883-01-11
JANET'S TEMPTATION.
a Simple Story of WOman'S Love
and S3if-SacTilCe.
[By Hrs. r. Saceey Pe'ers.l

AlEtr iDr La44-N a 4a-alL.-- -ls tatb iAitla III
that pleasant little village were Wild over her
She was certainly very beautiful; she had
wonderful charm OF manner: she dressed IN the
most exquisite taste. Was il strange that She
carried everything before her, Her admirers
thought that the very COwsIps aud crocuseS
tie iasmiucs and hOueysucE!es, Lad never be-
fore bl0ssomod in such profUsion and perfection
of beauty: she c3rricd summer with her whcr-
ever she went, il was said: so much ot warmth,
and beauty, and brightness wcuJ with her-Was
indeed part Of her very SELF,
With her own sex she WAS not 50 popular.
Some euvicd Lgr beauty. some ncr city man
neIs, and some her line dresses; and spoke, at
least behind her back, Glspara-lug-iy ot her, IN
consequence. Others pToiCsscI 10 view her
more impartallv, but most, even OF these, pro-
n0unCgd nCr selfish and heart4C5a. ' she lS 4
Gree tell vou." said one oi them, Mrs. Wealth
orbv addressing a group OF girls. See how
she has beCtilcd Doctor Beverly away from
Janet Harlow. He and Janet We're as good as
engaged before Miss GIeGGower came, Perhaps
the exact words had not been spoken, but there
could have been uO mlstaiSing the doctors at
teutious: and now, Iay gentleman IS forever IT
the beck and call OF this false cnchaAtress. and
poor Janet. the proudest woman that ever
lived Is left 10 eat out her heart III mor,lica-
ton and jealousy
'Ves. / saw Janet and the doctor pass each
other, Yesterday said one Of the listeners.
"She bowed SO coldIy, Ii WAS Impossible not TO
see what it meant. The doctor was on horse
back. going his rounds: ana he flushed up quite
plainly, assure you, at being thus more than
half cut"
Miss Glendower herself had heard Of this
assumed attachment, and IN he very lns0ience
Of her success attacked the doctor On ths sub
ject one day.
An" She said. this Janet Harlow VIII
YOU not tell me something about her? She IS
The village school-mistress, ! believe. I have
seen bnt I.tgle OF her; our circle Is not exactly
the same; but people gOwlld over hcr wisdom,
goodness and general graccS OF character and
person. l believe you and size have long been
REGARDED she spoke with something q
sneer-' as models of Platonic devotion TO each
other. have You not?'
Doctor Beverly bit his lip. and his face
clOudeG. He had seen but little OF Janet, OF
late: fer as Mrs. WCathcrbv had SAID, she was
proud: and having observed his attentions TO
Miss Gllndoucr. had avoided him. So cool
ness. or an indifference, or something had
grown up between him and her lie hardly
knew now, what to think Of 1t all, or what 20
say: and SO remained silent.
lie and the fair interrogation had been stand
ing on a bridge, just outside Of the village. She
had busted herself dropping pebbles into the
stream. Suddenly she glanced up.
Are yon thinking Of Miss Harlow, that you
do not anSwcr?' she said. "Oro of that proles-
sional call you have TO make, and which, you
say, must cut short OUr stroll here? You heard
my question, surely?'
'Yes 1 heard it." he answered, promptly.
"BUt I was thinking whether Miss Janet and
myself had been the models Of PlatOnic devO-
ton YOU suggest. AT this moment, am in
cIined 10 say that we have not been"
Was there a double meaning IN his words?
Did he mean there had been something more
than Plat0nic affection? Miss Gleudower's
blue eyes questioned his for an instant Then
she said, softly:
q think YOU are not one to give your ale
glance. whether IN friendship or II love, and
afterwards to withdraw II Lightly. Are youT"
&" No" he answered his face frightening.
He stopped nearer TO her over the railing,
and suddenly felt. as never before the spell of
her beauty, her Circe-lle destinations
yet" he added, hcsitatiugly, as long as 1
have known Miss Harlow, she has not, IN all
that time learned to read my nature as you nave
done IN the six weeks Of our acquaintance
Six weeSs?" she repeated, lifting her beau
tiful eyes to his for moment, while the color
deepened in the satiny smOOthne7s Of her
cheek. "Can It be we have known each other
but six weeks? How much Mss Harlow ought
to have discovered in you, in the years she has
been your friend. I have found ont so much,
so very much, in this brIctCr acquaintance"
Her voice trambled as she spoke. Ii she was
acting it was wonderfully done
Suddenly they heard footsteps approaching,
and looking Up, saw the object Of their conver-
saton. Janet, at the same moment, became
aware of their presence. she had come for
walk, 20 the picturesque Old mill, which lay
just beyond the bridge and which was great
f;svorite with her. the lulling sOun4 Of the
water, the lnOssv wheel, and the cool atmos-
pheIe always acting sOOthingly on her nerves.
so often Jared, and even overtasked, by her
avOcaUion. Her first impulse was TO turn back.
But seeing that she had been recognized, she
knew that this would not do; It would look
like coWardice. 50 she went on braycy.
Miss GlendOwer was the only one who was,
Er- r., ffas. '.a
salfcondcmned In Jauets pure presence, he
wondered how this sOrceress could have be-
guilel him, even for a moment. janet, iguO-
rant of all this, and remembering only what
she thought his neglect, was naughty and cold.
But Miss GlendOWer was ell sweetness.
What 4 love Of dog that is you have, Miss
Harlow she cried for a perfect little spaniel
was following Janet. Where did y0u-eGcUse
me-whcre did you, in place like this, pick
up such a beauty"
1T was a gift from Doctor Beverly" Janet
replied, coolly.
"Oh!"
And" moved by sudden impulse Of ieal-
ousy, / am bringing it back TO him. Alpha's
caprices occupy too much time Tor poor school
mistress
Miss HarIow-Janet-" broke in the doctor
" Miss Harl0w-Jauct. rs you call her said
Miss Gendower, coolly, almost in5olcntly, is
doubtless right" She saw the girl suffering
but instead of pitEIng her, Urluaphcd IN 1t.
"a pet Of that kind IS cut Of place, when one
has work 10 do"
At any other time, Doctor Beverly would
have resented such a speech; but he was stung
by Jauct's words; he could no longer be just
" Miss Harlow, being woman" he said
cyuicalIy, lone cannot condemn her for heI
capTiciOusncss.'
''Pephaps So" replied Janet, as, with some
bitterness she saw the dog at a word from
Miss GlcEGowcr, go up TO that lady and fondle
her " But Alpha has taught me one thing, At
least"
"What is that?" said the doctor, sharply.
"ThaC his sex Is always ready 10 play i double
part"
"Oh! now my dear Miss Harlow" said Miss
GlcHdo"Cr looking up innoceuty, - don't be
So severe. Pray, what has Alpha done? What
has any oG Us doucE
"Nas il NOT TaIIeyrand" answered Janet
with q dI-Gaiuful curl OF her lip as she turned
away. "wI.o said that he had sworn allegiance
10 dozen different governments IN a day: AL
the Talicyrauds are not dead yot-as-wiLness
Alpha"
Dear me- what q sPitfre," cried Miss Glen.
dover, watching Janet, as the latter went on
her way. suppose she would murder me, il
she dared-and all because poor innocent have
made friends with her discarded pet"
She looked up at Doctor Beverly, rs she
spoke, with her great eyes, the very picture o
r-. 1-..-+ !, rL..