Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-12-03

have made such mystery about nothins
I should not have objected to her bridal a
} tire. or to her extravagance in wearing vail
able jewelry in her grave, though certain
! ly think it a pity and folly; don't you ?"
"Wel, it seems so,'' said Janet. 'It wa
strange DESIRE"
"Strange, and wasteful, and ridiculous,
commented the young man sharply; and s
she knew it was, you may depend, or els
she would not have kept her intentions sue
a secret.''
| perhaps she was afraid some one woul,
rife her tomb ifit became known that pearl
and diamonds were buried with her." mur
INJURED Janet.
every likely" replied Cavel. ''But VIII,
did she venture on such risk? 1t woull
have been better to have sold the gems t.
benefit the poor; Or" he added, laughing
CIVILIZED them to my wife, though she be ye
unchosen She ought to have them if
have the property. Eh?-what say you
JanetP Shall they go through the form O
burial, and then be hung around the fail
neck which they would best adorn. YOU
and could arrange such nice little plot
for their rescue; could we not 9''
"Oh, Mr.. Roland !'' exclaimed Janet,
alarmed at the young mans tone and man.
ner; how dare you suggest such thing9-
You would not venture upon an act sc
dreadful !''
'No; I would not, JANET replied Cavel
suddenly becoming serious. "You are quite
right. would not dream of doing any.
thing SO mean or wicked. Lady Maud has
been wonderfully liberal to me, because
because-a secret for secret, Janet am
not the legal heir; am only an inheritor by
will"
"Oh," gasped Janet; for surprise at this
revelation had almost taken away her
breath. ''What do you mean, Mr.. Roland?
My lady always spoke of you as the only
relative she had living:"'
s'You mean, Janet, she appeared to speak
Of me as suoh," corrected Roland. "Had
you noticed her remarks more closely, you
couldn't have failed to observe that she
never gave me the title of nephew
"Ihen how came you to be considered her
nephew, sir?" asked Janet.
81 cannot tell, replied Roland; ''but the
day after I arrived at Weldon Hall, I re.
member some one called who remarked to
Lady Maud that she had a fue little neph-
ew, and she never contradicted the speaker.
the idea."
"And you-did you know 10 different
sir ?'
''No; believed that such was my rela-
tionship to Lady Maud until my last visit
to her when, under promise of silence, she
told me the truth. She told me only, how
ever, that was the son of some one she
had known. 1t was Sister Glare who add
ed the particulars, at Lady Maud's request,
have no doubt"
"And what did Sister Glare tell, sir ?" ask
ed Janet, deeply interested.
Well, she told me that my father was the
man who had Tilted poor Lady Maud-jilt-
ed her at the very last moment when every
arrangement was made for the marriage
1t is sad story from beginning to end.
Lady Maud's heart was wounded, and her
pride was hurt past healing. She secluded
herself for many years after the event, and
was not to be comforted. Meanwhile, was
born and my mother died-died, it was said
of broken heart, caused by her husband s
neglect, because he found out that she was
not to be compared to the woman he had
falsely and cruelty abandoned, either in
fortune or talents. Whether this was SO, Or
whether it was not SO, am not able to say;
but he buried her in India without regret,
and soon afterwards set sail for England in
search Of his old love. Lady Maud, how
ever, would neither see him nor answer his
letters; and when his leave of absence ex-
pired he was obliged to return to his mill
tary duties disappointed and chagrined
man. Two years later he had killed him
self with the dissipation into which he
plunged to drown sad memories, and his
orphan was on the way to England to be
educated in an asylum. But the benevo-
lence of Lady Maud interposed. She nobly
repaid it's fathers perfdy by undertaking
its education and adopting it as her heir"
Roland Cavel ended his story with tears
in his eyes; and Janet turned away con-
vinced that she had nothing to fear in his
quarter from the revelation she had Just
made.
In the meantime, John, the footman, who
had secured the flowers, which he had
volunteered to fetch, was searching all over
the park for Janet; and as true love did not
prove to have such a good scent as he had
imagined, he was getting tired and vexed.
"Bother the wench! he muttered. at
last, 81 expect she has gone home on pur-
pose to annoy me. But he added, philo-
sophically, ''as there's no accounting for
girls whims, for they always go the way
you don't want 'em, just like little pig
with string tied to its leg. 1 suppose I'd
better not show my vexation when we meet.
Miss Janet has refused the offer of my hand
and heart, but she may alter her mind when
she sees with what forbearance I put up
with her tantrums At any tate, there is
no harm in trying the trick.'
With which resolution John trotted brisk
ly with his light burden towards the hall,
wondering what excuse he could make to
the house-keeper for his long absence; but,
as he passed a little covert of underwood,
he thought he heard voices, and curiosity
induced him to pause and listen whose
they might be.
He was too far off to hear what was being
said, but the tones of the voices were famil-
lar; and SIS he listened, he felt sure that
Janet was one of the speakers-Janet, for
whom he had been searching
What was she doing in that concealment?
and who was her companion?
1t was certainly man.
John determined to see without being
seen, and therefore he crept cautiously in
among the shrubs, and gently drew some of