The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-08-28

But the question was never finished,
for, to Janet's great relief, there was a
sound of gay laughter in the hall. and
Ida and Rosa came in, the latter draw
| ing on a pair of long undresSed kid
| gloves of the latest shade of tan. She
was "a stylish looking girl, and John
| Humphreys eyes rested on her admir-
ingly as she advanced to meet him and
threw over his arm, with easy familiari-
! ty, her light shawl. And Janet, who
also admired her. wondered how any
man could help falling in love with
such gay, fearless young creature;
and, taking an opportunity when they
were all talking, Slipped unnoticed
! from the room.
The hall window commanded a good
view of the broad carriage drive, and
Janet, safely hidden from observation
by the heavy curtains, watched John
Humphreys as he helped Rosa into his
light buggy and gathering the reins in
his hand sprang in beside her with
some merry remark which the pale
watcher at the window could not hear.
'She has everything, everything!"
/ iA4ui LAhlN w lib POOls lphClN llbGlS
woman; land IL have nothing. Oh,
why should things be portioned out so
unequally in this world! And yet how
foolish to repine At my age | ought
to have more sense and courage
But as she thought of her utter lone
illness, and that in day or two she
must go forth among strangers, to be-
come an inmate of charitable institu-
ton, she put her head down on the
| broad window-seat. and cried until she
was exhausted. She did not dream for
moment that the handsome couple in
the carriage were even then talking of
! her.
Janet Reeves is the best, most I'M
selfish woman | ever knew" said Rosa
Burthnot, as the buggy rolled out from
the gravel drive into the shaded coun-
try road. II have actually fallen in
love with the poor, lonely, little thing,
and don't see how anyone could help
it. She is 50 thoroughly sweet and
good
John Humphreys pulled his mustache
thoughtfully, his eyes ON the sleek
| backs of his chestnut horses, but said
nothing.
''She is evidently troubled about the
| future continued Rosa, land it is a
shame that she is so utterly alone in
the world. She ought to have married
! long ago: but of course she never got
chance. penned up in this little coun-
try village, taking care of her old
father She was telling me yesterday
about her home and what pretty, old
fashioned garden she had and she
cried so pitifully that | couldn't help
crying, too And when her father
died his income stopped, and the sale
of all the personal effects brought
only two hundred dollars! She seemed
to think She ought to be very grateful
to Ida for having given her home
for SO long, and made nothing of having
risked her life to save Ruey from
! drowning. | wish | could do some
thing for her, but she is so proud |
would be sure to hurt her feelings if |
offered her anything. Can't you sug-
gest something's"
81 don't know. I'll think the mat
ter over" answered John Humphreys:
and then he turned the conversation to
something else, and Janet's Name was
not mentioned again.
Two days after this when Rosa came
down to lunch at the ringing of the
bell at ha:f past one, she found only
Mrs. Wayne and Ruey at the table.
"Where is Miss JANET" she asked.
''She has gone answered Mrs.
Wayne. She left at ten o'clock. /
suggested to her that she ought to say
| good-by to you, but she is such timid
creature She wouldn't disturb you at
your letter writing. She said it would
be a matter of no moment to you that
she was leaving, and | could make her
adieuX for her. But | think she was
afraid you would ask where she was
going. Such absurd pride!'
"Why, has she left the village?'
ayes, she has taken my advice and
gone to the Old Ladies' home"
"Lida! you don't mean it,
Eyes, | do. 1t was the best step she
could take under all the circumstances.
She has neither the ability nor the
strength to earn her own living and it
| Nohl't w uSCISSS III HCI W dIGcluDI IL.
At the home she will have good
room. and plenty to eat, at least 1t is
a lovely place, and not at all like an
almshouse, for it is well endowed: and
she must pay one hundred dollars to
secure admittance. "
But oh! Ida! how friend1ess the
poor little thing must feel; how en-
tirely alone in the world! My heart
aches for her"
But what else could she do, Rosa?
! think it very fortunate there is an Cad
Ladies home for her to go to-
1T is cutting her life short at forty
Ida. She isn't an old lady, and she
won't feel that she is in her true place.
She will fret herself to death there,
and die of broken heart. But she
shan't stay there very long if l can
help it. Just as soon as l am married
/ will take her away"
You speak as if your marriage were
a probability"
$50 it is. | have been making up
my mind for several days to speak to
you about it."
Rosa! am delighted!' and Mrs.
Wayne rose hastily to press kiss on
the girls blooming cheek. But it
cnn,nk, 10, ,,,. l.,,- - .