Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1883-02-17
A LUCKY BLOW.

StOOu out grim uLu uuTh dEtluSb Tic
clear, cold wintry sky. It's 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 leafless branches of the
elms on either side of the long avenue
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 the picture gallery, old portraits
looked grimly at each other in the dim
light, md seemed to shake their heads
and ,nurmnr, "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 inger in every dark corner.
In q large, shabbily furnished room.
before bright wood fire, sat 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 beard
| 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 smile played upon her lips,
and blush rose to her cheek every
now and then, as she sat there gazing
into the leaping flames. At last, how
from her chair, stood for a few minutes
| irresolutely, her hands clasping each
other tightly. Then, with light step
! she left the room, and crossing the cold
| dark hall, 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-chaio
before the fire sat a man who seemed
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.
can hour ago father-Mr. Wood
drove me home"
There was little hesitancy about the
last speech, 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 fine fellow-I always liked |
him.
Janet still caressed the hand she held
and Mr.. Warden spoke again:
Il hope. my dear, you were dressed |
as you should be-"
'Oh, yes, father, dear. You know,
if do not dress like the Grey's, and |
1Noi loL ., CaN always aAoiu W lux
like lady"
Mr. Warden nodded his head gravely, |
and Janet pressed her lips to his hand. |
Father, DEAR" she said in a low |
voice that trembled, 81 have some
thing to tell you"
''1o tell me Jane? Let me hear it,
dear; hope you are in no trouble of
any kind"
And Mr.. Warden looked graver.
Z ooh, 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?"
"Oh, father-I was SO surprised-so
troubled, so that IL 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
much! 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 l
know. But, my child, he must know
that you are penniless. Have you told
him this"
"Oh, father, he knows-every one
knows that we are Door. and that / have
nothing. But he says''-and Janet's fea-
lures frightened through her tears
that he does not care for my money
that he is glad have rot any, and-he's
coming to see you tomorrow, father"
Mr.. Warden smiled gravely and pat
ted Janet's white hand as she placed it
caressingly on his shoulder. Then he
said, slowly:
Coming to see me, is he? Well,
dear, ! must talk about it to him. Now
you must 90 to bed-It must be late and !
/ want to think. Goodnight, my dear
Janet pressed her lips to her fathers
wrinkled forehead with more tenderness !
than usual She, who was accustomed
to his quiet, studious manner, knew !
tAat he had been shaken by what she 5
had told him, and that he wished to he
alone, 80 she crept away to her chamber y
fitted through the dark passages and f
echoing galleries like some fairspirit, il
and fell to sleep on her pillows, the inn h
age of life, youth and hope, in the midst II
ofdecaying age and forgotten grandeur. II
1t was the week before Janet's mar
rage. and in the old picture-gallery, II
standing where the sunlight fell upon Q
L.,
Hither her father often came at night, =
,andle in hand, TO gazeon those who !,
lad gone before him. drawing aside the !,
e that covered the face of his ill-star- =
ed brother George. !,
The portraits on the wall looked down =
lpon them as il scandalized at what they !.
aw, for Henry was standing with his y
Irm round Janet's waist, and the girl a
lad raised her fair face to the handsome !.
me above her. e
One cid painting in particular of Sir { .
george Warden. Janat's great grandfath- Z