Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1884-02-21
JANET's MISTAKE.

wreathed doorway of her home, com
Portable Maine farmhouse, at the close
of sultry July day Her glance was
directed toward manly, sunburned
young fellow, tall and broad-shouldered.
who was making his way toward her
through the wide, sweet clover meadow.
Nearer he came, until smile broke
the naturally grave expression of his
hand some mouth, and he stretched out
his arms and drew her to his breast.
Janet, instead OF nesting close against
the manly heart which she knew bent al
ways 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 putherhandsin his over six months ago
and pledged herself to be his Gown little
wife2n
"Janet,n he said, ''what ia it9n
"What do you mean, John2n Janet
kept her eyes fastened on the toe of her
little shoe, that, Notwithstanding her ap-
pearance of GOODNESS, beat lively tattoo
against the painted boards. CHANGING
up she saw an expression on that face
bending sternly over her that forced her
to add, II am tired. I have been help
ing mother get ready for the boarder who
has engaged the front chamber for the
Summer
s1 did not know you expected to take
boarders, Janet. y
'fHe is the only one. He came last
week, while mother was at the sewing
circle, and ] showed him the room, and
he engaged it for two months, and-and
that's how it is. "
Janet's cheeks grew pink as she thought
of the dashing strangers look of admira-
ton, as, in her pink print dress, she had
stood at the gate when he went to the
city for his baggage. Her tongue seemed
unloosened now, and she gave an ami
mated description of her new boarder,
informed John that he was an artist from
Boston, wealthy and of good family; his
name was Raycliffe- Raycliffe.
She pronounced it lingeringly twice over.
John was far from being elated at the
prospect. He could not see the delights
Of the Boston artists high-toned society
as plainly as Janet He said SO in so
many words, little more energetically
than the occasion warranted, perhaps
but Janet was very pretty and the hon
est young farmer was very much in love.
Anybody would think he was an
ogre" pouted the young woman, seeing
with her quick bright eyes the state of
mind her lover was in.
'sThere he comes now, she cried.
Mr.. Eugene Raycliffe smiled under his
dropping jet mustache as he noticed
Janet's lover.
''Some country pumpkin boring her
half to death, I've no doubt; but I'll
soon settle him.
These remarks, made mentally, were
accompanied by such an air OF self-satis-
6ed complacency, as he threw his satchel
on the steps and sat down beside it at
Janet's feet, that John Wentworth
scarcely bowed in answer to the languid
ssglad to know you" which followed
Janet's introduction.
John seemed suddenly overgrown and
awkward. Mr. Eugene Raycliffe's hands
were 80 exquisitely white and delicate
that his own seemed by contrast redder
and of more gigantic proportions than
ever.
His attire seemed rough md ill-ftting
compared with the natty "store clothes''
Of the artist from Boston, 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.. Raycliffe's black eyssto Janet's brown
ones.
'sYour friend seems slightly displeased
at something, said he, as John, with a
5< farewell and never second glance
at Janet, walked away with firm step
and head well up.
John had no fancy for standing about
unnoticed, especially while the girl to
whom be was engaged eooIly allowed a
comparative stranger to monopolize her
lnilss and society