The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-12-19

But Janet did not reply to her. She
went toward the cornfeld, basket slung
over her shoulder, and as she went she
smiled softly, and said, under her breath
"Nhen the right one comes. Ah yes, /
know how it will be then But how much
longer--oh, Lord, how much longer. -
and the dark eyes she lifted to the gray
November skies were wet with tears, yet
brave with hope.
All, Janet already was your womans
heart crying out for its own; in spite of
your bold words you were longing for
freedom. So Mrs. Norris would have
said had she heard Janet's low cry. But
it was heard only by the angels, unless
the ears of corn were listening, which
Janet proceeded to sever from their
withered husks and fling into the basket
which she had brought for that purpose
She filled the basket with surprising
swiftncss, then lifted il on her strong
shoulders and carried it to wagon
standing at some little distance. half
filled with golden cars
"lf the season had been warm and dry
instead of cold and wet, dozen wagon
loads of ears would have left this field
iiotNti vi bllNs IlNl0IAl Jdltl. ANU
that together with the price the horses
will bring, and the machinery,
would have kept us through the
winter, or until could find work to do.
But as it is---' Janet finished her SEN
tence with a long sigh. Then she lifted
her eyes skyward again. God will not
let us suffer-I know it, she said, and
fell to her work with renewed zeal, and
worked until the dull glare of light that
shone through the gray clouds above her
told her that the sun was nearing the
zenith. Then she shouldered her basket
and went back TO the farmhouse to pre-
pare dinner She had been at Norris
farm these three years. acting in every
capacity-from nurse to domestic in
doors, and man-of-all- without
She, stranger, had one day knocked
at the door, saying that she had heard
there was sickness in the house, and that
she had been nurse in hospital, and
was wanting situation, and would be
willing to give her labor for her board
until she could find better place and
better pay.
Mrs. Norris had taken her in without
any parley, though some of the neigh
bors who were in the house at the time
had warned her against such risky act.
Men tramps are bad enough, they
said, "but women are worse. Better
find ont who this girl is before you take
her in"
~ can't wait to try her before court
and Judge" answered Mrs. Norris. ''My
husband lies in yonder room, crippled by
a fall from load of hay My daughter
is in another room, dying of quick con-
sumption, rs you all know. am worn
out with watching and with care, and
the ncighbors can't take care of us for
ever. l'vc sent word far and near for
help, and now help has come. shall
not stop to question her. | like her
face ard will trust her till I'm obliged to
distrust her"
But the time had never come, and now
Janet Dyer had been with Mrs Norris
three years 1t was she who had closed
the eyes of sweet Hattie Norris and
robed her for the grave. And it was
she who waited upon Mr.. Norris, and
bore with all his petulance and impa-
tiencc during the year that he had been
confined to his room, and at the same
time she had done mans work in the
field. And for all this she had refused
to take one cent in money.
And so she had staid. 1t was ac-
knowledged by all, far and wide, that it
was owing to Janet Dycr's excellent
nursing rather than to medical skill, that
Mr. Norris had regained the use of his
limbs. But he was not able to do farm
L l., i IL.
mind seemed shaken little-its old
vieor and strength gone for ever Janet
was head and hands both at Norris farm.
And yet the neighborhood never quite
forgave her for the mystery surrounding
her coming to Norris farm for Janet
had not taken pains to make the eXpla-
nation to her neighbors which she had
made to Mrs. Norris
"She has her eye on the property"
suggested one. "Thinks she'll be the
heir, now the girl is dead and the boy dis
inherited -
"Oh yes, she's an AK TO grind or she'd
never stay on slavin' as she does, - replied
another. i" But the property's all under
mortgage, and even if that's paid up, and
it's all decided to her, that boy'll come
uuOh Ntl anu lIltthN ilNl llbubLNs
"Ieard he was killed in a saloon fight
over a gaming table or somethin' years
ago.
Report never was confirmed. He's
sure to turn up, like bad penny
The "boy referred TO was the only
son-now the only child of the Norrises
He had been wild youth, and his father
had been a severe Judge, of his youthful
follies. The tighter the reins had been
drawn the faster he had gone, like an un-
ruly colt-till finally he had disgraced the
family by contracting debts in the name
of his father Norris farm had to be
mortgagcd to lift these debts, and, with
curse, Ansley Norris was banished from his
fathers roof, and forbidden ever to re-
turn.
He had gone, and year later the re-
port had come of his death in gam