The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-07-23
JANE.

Her name was Jane. Thouob his
tory mas thrown halo around the name
ana the lyric muse has embalmed it in
tnat sweetest of songs, "My PRETTY
Jane, we are apt to think of the cir
called Jane as a plain homebody, useful
but not ornamental Her sisters. tn,
Eleanors, Maudes and Rosamonds. zen.
orally look to her to keep the house in
order, and see to it that their comfort is
not disturbed, and she is equal to the
responsibility. She does her duty. and
more than her duty, if one can do that.
without complaint, indeed, cheer
iully. But complaisaut though she be.
Jane usually has a will of her own, and.
when circumstances require her to do so.
makes it known.
such girl was Jane Lewis. She had
put the house in order-that is, she had
done all those little things which the best
OF servants will slight, and which 90 So
lar In making up the sum of those home
comforts dear to the Anglo-Saxon heart
and was seated in her own tidy cham.
Der, sewing. While she was thus en-.
gagged her two sisters came in. They
had been making round of calls and
were very elegantly dressed-Jane, in
her plain calico, looking almost like a
servant by contrast.
"Are you making those thinps for
your trousseau2" asked Edith, the eld.
est, eyeing contemptuously several gar
ments lying on the table at her sisters
elbow.
Eyes" said Jane, with gentle sweet
ness. "Are they not nice9"
"Oh, they are nicely made, l dare
say, said Edith-''you always sew nice
ly-but if 1 were going to be married. I
wouldn't put stitch in for myself, and
l wouldn't have garment that wasn't
trimmed with the finest lace"
81 too, Ethel, said Julia, who was
the youngest of the three sisters. "When
am married l shall have my trousseau
from Paris"
"But where would be the use of my
having anything so finel" said Jane, ''as
| know would have to come back to
plain clothes when the wedding things
are worn out. A costly wardrobe would
not suit the circumstances in which /
shall find myself when am married, and
l don't like incongruities.
"Well, suppose you are right" said
Edith; "but will never marry man
who cannot support me in the style to
which have been accustomed"
Perhaps you will not have the
choice" said Jane, looking lovingly up
into her beautiful sisters face.
"What do you meant" asked the other
sharply. "You are not in the habit of
saying ill-natured things, Jane, and if
your determination % marry poor man
-and-and one far beneath you-in--in
spite of the objections of your family"
"Dont say any more, dear, said Jane,
quietly. ~ didn't intend to be ill-na-
tured at all. l only meant that your
heart will have something to say when
the time comes, and you do not know
what that something will be. When
yours speaks, Edith, as it win in time,
fancy it will astonish yourself more than
any one else"
"I heard somebody tell Edith she has
no heart, said Julia, laughing.
al should consider it an objectionable
otfense were any one to tell me that, "
said Jane.
"Oh, it was only some nonsense, said
Edith, her face turning red.
Jane Lewis was going to be married to
ayoung man of whom her family disap-
proved-that is, her mother and sister /;
and she had been given to understand
that her father was OF their way Of think
ing. Not that John Ward was un-
worthy-he was truly worthy of any
woman's love and of any mans respect
but he was-at least they considered
him so-their social inferior.
He was an architect and building con-
tractor; but his father had been brick
mason, and he himself had served his ap-
premiership to the trade, stepping up to
the higher rung of the ladder naturally
and with confidence engendered by his
ervice at the bottom.
In due course of time John and Jane
were married. They went qnietly to the
church, one bright morning, accom-
panied by the parents and sisters of the
bride and few particular friends, and as
soon as the ceremony was over, drove to
the railroad station and took the train
that was to carry them to a pleasant lit
tie village where they proposed to spend
their honeymoon.
Five years had passed, and John Ward
and his wife, who had begun their
welded life in a very small cottage, were
living in house of considerable size and