Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-04

|
cha, hal" laughed Roland. s'Wba
matter about your dress if your face
pretty, little sister? IT'S your face, an
not your Dress sir Wilfred Pearson wi
look at. Besides, there are roses III th
garden and in the conservatory; you vii
need no other ornament. l shall go AM
gather the sweetest and the best for you
and so no more about your non-appearanc
at dinner"
And Janet said no more. When tn,
preparation bell rang she went up to he
room, and standing before her looking
glass, dressed herself in the prettiest blacl
gown she had; and M.ry Brown, who in
sisted upon attending upon her in the ca
pacity of lady's-maid, now she knew thu
secret of her birth, bound up her beautiful
fair. hair in innumerable braids, and set 8
dainty bunch of white roses among them
-sI'm blessed" said she. when she had
finished this part Of Janet's toilet, eff yor
don't look like fairy queen! Sir Will
fred won't have any eyes in his head if he
don't fall move with you and make you an
offer Of his hand and heart straight ayayI'
"Oh, don't talk nonsense, Mary!" re-
piled Janet, with blush that was very be-
coming, as she completed aer adornmept
with another bunch Of 75iHisa sesss in hel
posom.
81 amt talking nonsense, miss, an
svered pretty Mrs. Browne, quickly, as
she retreated step or two to regard the
s'fairy queen to better advantage; "not I,
indeedl I've never talked no nonsense to
speak Of since my marriage, because Rich
ard don't like it. Do you think Richard
and me AIM; noticed how Sir Wilfred look
ed at you when he's come up to see how
things were going ona A pretty excuse,
indeedl Me and Richard aia't bee" s.
love ourselves a dos~- : Il
s/ - - times Tor nothing
- Anow the preliminaries. Richards
often and often said to me after one of the
Baronet's visits, well, Mary, girl, that'l
be case for the parson as sure as eggs il
eggs! He'll speak the word to the house
keeper some Of these days, despite ole
Lady Pearson And John-well, John
seen how the wind was blowing, too, O.
late, andsit's nearly bowed him out of his
wits, it's bothered him So Have you moi
noticed him moping about like bird loos.
ing his features?"
81 can't say l have" answered Janet
laughing. ''He seems to have kept out Of
my way rather"
"And he'll keep out of it more now,
of heap at finding out that he's beer
making an offer to Miss Cavel, that I'm
afraid, if you don't tell him that you are
not offended, he'll 60 and drown himself
he's that ashamed and me me'ancholy."
"Dear mer' exclaimed Janet, feeling she
had no business to be amused; ''perhaps
had bottef see him directly.
81 wish you would, MISS" answered
Mary Brown, eagerly; ''it'l set him right
for waiting at the table. I'm afraid, il
his present state of mind, he'll upset som.
of tf.s dishes :f you do;s'.. Richards bcel
telling him he hoped he wouldn't make :
scene with his feelin's, and he says as how
he don't see how he can help it, wher
he observes you and Sir Wilfrcd sitting
together at the same table,"
But he mast help it," said Janet, GOV
ering her face with her pocket-handker
chief. "Tell him to go into the little pinl
sitting room, and wait for me there.
dare say shall find some means to preven
the threatened catastrophe"
Nlary waited for no further orders, ant
not even squall from her son, as she pass
ed the quarter where he was lying, arrest
ed her footsteps.
Janet meanwhile descended to the draw
ing room and presented herself to he
brother.
s.What do-you think of me, Mr.. Cavel?'
she asked, making low curtsey. cd,
you consider the roses atone for the othe
deficiencies of i,y toilet?"
For answer, Eo folded her in his arms, ant
kissed her again and again.
"Oh, how sweet it is to have brotherr
murmured Janet. returning his embrace
'But lover would be sweeter," answer
ed Roland, gazing with admiration at bi
his fair sister; ''and no doubt shall soor
be cut out"
'Perhaps tonight" replied Janet, sau
cily.
Il hope so," said Roland Cavel, fervent
ly; and he was going to add something
else, but Janet put her hand over his
moustached lips, and told him she could
not stay to hear any more just then, be-
cause an old suiter was aN ating to speak te
her, who was making himself miserable
because he had found out, as he thought,
that his offer was presumption; and then
she told him abou' John, the footman, anG
Mary fear lest the dishes should be upset
| if he was not comfOrted.
Janet found John standing in discon
solate attitude in the pink sitting-room
He was arrayed in his best livery, and had
his hair finely powder d, but the expires
sion Of his handsome face was not in ac
cordance with his holiday attire.
He looked very miserable, and when he
saw his mistress, in both senses, approach
ing, adorned with roses, he evidently die
not knnw what to do.
Janet, however, was not in the least dis
turbed by the presence of the handsome
rejected John. She marched boldly up te
him, and holding out her hand, which
somehow he did not notice, said, ''What il
the matter, John? Mary Browne tells me
there is something on your mind"
''Yes, miss; that quite trueP' said John
instantly falling on his knees before his di
vinity, and looking as if he was going tt
burst into tears. 81 cannot bear to thinl
of that day in the moonlight, when l SCI
you home from t lodge, and Lady Maut
was lying dead!"
"And why not?" replied Janet, smiling