Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1884-04-24

a H.faFs
sLaghtly?" cried the doctor with a
s1fug o. his shoulders. II am glad we
weren't on the top OF wotre Dame when
ne mentioned i'll Janet. your mother
isn't Your motherig
Il was an astounding announcement
and made in the abrupt way usual With
the doctor. II was an ineonsistant IN.
probable, impossible statement, and vet
Janet understood him. For a moment
she seemed bereft Of speech and mott IN.
Dr Weatherby. Is that true? she
SIZES, JANET
And father kept il from mess
you.ns
Why is there need now?"
Answer that yourself, Janet. Tha,
is Why you rejected Gale Cardonne.s
Yes" gasped Janet. "1t would no,
have been right Yon hava gnassad ah4
reason-as q physician, solely, perhaps,
and my mother, my real mother, my
true mothar-was she insaneSp
NO, little one.s
fa;her in heaven; / thank Theein
her hands were clasped, her ewes
were reverently uplifted. her face shin.
ing ike the face of a saint. AT least
the doctor thought so.
Janet, your happiness hes at u
feet" he significantly said. "You will
be sensible enough 10 take it up.p
Janet stole off into the dim woods Il
be alone, under the trees and the won.
dertul revelation. Her stepmother,
whom she supposed was her real mother
q died IN the insane asylum ravihp
mad. Poor Janet believed that she had
inherited the faint the dreadful vista,
ton would come some time; she could
not bring sorrow to the life Of a hus.
band, or shame and suffering to her of,
spring.
There wasa great crowd at the church
fair. Gale Cardonne, looking not III
K a German baron. passed from tabl,
TO table chatting with the ladies and
buying their wares.
Once a pair of soft, sweet gray eyes
met him from amid the ~festoons Of ivy
All, he knew to whom they belonged
his heart ached for a moment, and the
light went out of his face.
"A letter for Mr.. Cg-donne," cried
the post-mistress from the little window
vi .Ie pretended post office.
He walked thither, paid the postage
and received his letter. 1t contained
but one line.
The ehasm has been bridgedip
A tremnlous hand and no name
What did it mean2 1t came to him 81
suddenly that he selt that he was trem,
bling.
The evening wore away; the crowd
dispersed; the ladies covered the tables
for the morrow; the %ianitor began tC
put out the lights.
Gale Cardonne fingered. Janet came
TO the door, drawing her shawl closely
around her, her face unusually red, con.
sidering it was usually so white.
Can | see you home, Janet?"
She answered him with a nod and
smile.
The path led from the church acros.
the meadows, odorous with clover ant
Haunting with dandelion blossoms; the
sky an unbroken expanse of blue, stud
ded with softly twinkling stars.
Janet was clinging to Gale Cardonnei
arm.
Il received your letter. he said.
ayes"
ut had but one meaning"
There was but one intended"
"oh, janet you have made me mex.
pressibly happyl"
She did not answer him. Their,
wasn't any need to. Perhaps sh,
couldn't answer; he had clasped her 81
tightly.
How was il bridgedP" he inquired
you are never to ask, was her hur
ried answer. "Dr. Weatherby knows.
"0hl" eiaculated Gale. II recall
promise he made. 1t was merely
foolish fancy; wasn't ita"
"At the time it seemed horribly real,
Janet replied. with a shudder. ''Thanl
God, it wasn't reali7