St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-12

ing could be more becoming. These
tints really make your complexion
fairer.r
"I'm glad to hear you say so, for
should be very sorry TO part with nav
poppies and sunhowers. No doubt YOU
think it strange / am fond of them.
But you see, my dear, when sister
Becky and were children, my mother
was very poor, and we lived in apoor,
mean cottage. In the narrow yard,
we made a little strip of flower garden,
which Becky aud tended. We had
no money with which to buy flowers,
but the neighbors gave US poppy and
sunfiower seeds, and OR little plot oil
ground became gorgeous.
"Then mother died, aud Uncle James
left us his large FORTUNE; but when
Becky and moved from the poor old
home, that we loved on mothers ac-
count, we brought seeds from our: dear
flowers. Becky loved them so much
that she always wore them, aud used
to call them our memorial flowers. Nc
exotic gave her half so much pleasure.
She had constant mind, Becky had,
aud never sighted old friends: When
she was dying she said
Peggy, bury with me some of the
old sunf1owers and peoples, and by
them, perhaps, mother will know that
l have never forgotten the dear old
home.' dare say graver colors would
be more suitable for my age, but
think SO little of such things, and the
flowers are so precious to me. 1t is a
pleasure to fancy that possibly even
now, Becky may know by these flow.
ers that I too have remembered"
Janet tried to look sympathetic, but
it cost her an effort, so she exclaimed,
40 Cousin Peggy, wouldn't think Of
wearing grave, dowdy colors that
would make you look as old as the
hills.
"But | am an old woman. You
must reconcile yourself to that fact my
child"
ooh, | don't like to think it, replied
Janet, looking grieved. "Fd like you
to be just twenty years old. But you
don't look old Indeed, indeed, you
don't ~
"Don't II Well you know best, but
my eyes are getting so dim, can't see
my own face in the mirror. You will
have to be my mirror, dear, and I'm
afraid you are a very partial Que. But
it's nearly time to start. Run up stairs
and look on your dressing table
You'll find little present there foI
you"
"Dear, warm hearted grill" Miss
Harding murmured to herself as Janet
left the room. Glow grateful she is
Well, we'll, what better use can make
of my fortune than to benefit herr /
am glad am able to provide for hel
so that after my death she will not be
forced to earn her own living or be de-
pendent upon any one for support
Did the bracelets please you, dear 2
she asked, as Janet with radiant face
rushed into the room.
ooh, they're too lovely You're too
good to me, darling Cousin Peggy !"
In her secret soul the girl was say
ing, ''Tm so disappointed, for wanted
diamond brooch. I've been crazy
for one, and she knows it. This pair
of plain gold bracelets aren't worth
having. What mean old thing she
is!n
Arrived at Mrs. Torton's, where they
were to dine, Janet's spirits rose
Pretty, weIi-dressed, supposed to be
the sole heirsss of her wealthy and &C.
centric relative, she received great
deal of attention. After dinner a
dance was proposed, and Miss Har-
ding gazed with pride and delight at
the girls grace and beauty. Towards
midnight, however, the old lady began
to get sleepy and tired.
"Janet is so fond of dancing L won't
take her away just YET" she thought.
"But it's so close here where all these
people are, that III sit on the balcony
awhile, and get little fresh air"
The balcony was deserted, and as
Miss Harding sat there her kindly
thoughts turned to the girl she loved.
II don't like to see that worthless
Wilson Griswold hanging about ia
net" she thought. ~ dare say he
thinks she is going to be very wealthy,
and it is to save her from being the
prey of fortune-hunters like him that
shall be careful that the fortune l
leave her shall be in the hands of trus-
tees. Nevertheless, | shall speak to
her about him."
The voice of the very man she was
thisking of sounded almost in her ears.
He and Janet had taken seats near
the open door that led to the balcony.
The balcony was dark, and they did
not see the solitary figure sitting at
the side of one of the pillars but a few
feet away. Mr.. Griswold was saying,
with a sarcastic laugh
Upon my word, Miss Janet, you
ought to correct Cousin Peggy's, taste!
She's big sunfiower sure enough this
evening; or rather she's a hoary old
ruin, over which the sunfiowers are
nodding their yellow heads. Her cos
tunes must drive you frantic" ~.
a laugh answered him. That rip
ping, merry laugh which Miss Hard
ing used to love, for she thought it
the music of an-innocent, happy heart.
"What can | do, Mr.. GriswOld ?