Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-03-01
Janet's Mistake.


comfortable Maine farm house, at
the close of a sultry July day. Her
glance was directed toward a 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 a smile
broke the naturally grave expression
of his handsome mouth, and he
stretched out his arms and drew her
to his breast.
Janet, instead of nesting close
against his manly heart which she
knew beat always warmly and truly
with love for her, drew petulantly
away.
A deep red flush mounted sudden
y to the young mans forehead. He
looked at her averted face, her indif
ferent attitude, with amazement.
Was this the girl who had put her
hands in his six months ago and
pledged herself to be his "own little
wife 2"
Janet" he said, 'swhat is it ?"
"What do you mean, John ?n
Janet kept her eyes fastened on the
toe of her little shoe, that notwith-
standing her appearance of GOODNESS,
beat lively tattoo against thepaint-
ed boards. CHANGING up she saw an
expression on that face bending
sternly over her that forced her to
add, 81 am tired. / have been help
ing mother get ready for the boarder
who has engaged the front chamber
for the summer"
II did not know you expected to
take boarders, Janet"
HE is the only one. He came last
week, while mother was at the Sc W.
ing circle, and / showed him the
room, and he engaged it for two
months, and-and-that's how it is. .
Janet's cheek grew pink as she
thought of the dashing strangers
look of admiration, as, in her pink
print dress, she had stood at the gate
when he went to the city for his bag
gage. Her tongue seemed unloosen-
ed now, and she gave an animated
description of her new boarder, in
formed John that he was an artist
from Boston, wealthy and Of good
family; his name was Raycliffe-
Eugene 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 theoretically than the occasion
warranted, perhaps, but Janet was
very pretty and the honest young
farmer was very much in love.
"Anybody would think he was an
OGRE" pouted the young woman, see
ing with her quick bright eyes the
state of mind her lover was in.
sThere he comes now,'' she cried.
Mr.. Eugene Raycliffe smiled un-
der 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-satisfed complacency, as he
threw his satchel ON the steps and
sat down beside it at Janet's feet,
that John Wentworth scarcely bow
ed in answer to the languid "glad to
know you," which followed Janet g
introduction.
John seemed suddenly overgrown
and awkward. Mr.. Eugene Ray
cliffe's hands were so exquisitely
white and delicate that his own
seemed by contrast redder and OF
more gigantic proportions than ever.
His attire seemed rough and i'll
fitting compared with the natty
"store clothes" of the artist from
Boston, and altogether John felt awk-
ward and uncomfortable standing
with his broad back against the lat
tice Of the porch, and observing with
scant approval the upward glances
from Mr.. Rsycliffe's black eyes to
Janet's brown ones.
"Your friend seems slightly dis
pleased at something" said he, as
John. with brief farewell and new.
or a second glance at Janet. Walked