The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-02
CHAPTER III.


AS she approached the church. she was
surprised to see the figure of Dan seat
ed on the stile, smoking, in deep medi-
tation
Janets first impulse was to turn back:
but at that moment Dan looked up. and
FASTENED to meet her. JANET he
cried. in tender rapture.
DAN oh. Dan! In a moment she was
in his arms: tears and sobs came quick
and fast. to the relief of her swelling
heart.
What's happened. Janet?"
I've quarreled with daddie." she
sobbed.
About me?"
yes. yes, Dan He abused you
shamefully."
"And-and-called me names that
Oh. Dan, I thought he loved me-
I've been dutiful; and he's been 500
steady. and careful and tender to me
since mother died-I-I-could never
think it Oh such words! I couldn't
stay with him after them"
Then you've left him?"
Eyes, yes-I couldn't stay"
what are you going to do?"
Il don't know; but l won't go back"
Then come with me TO Sheffield
"No. no. Dan; that would look as if
we'd run away"
"But to my Aunt Betsy. She'll give
you home; and I'll soon get a job; the
strikes ended; and I'll have a cot of my
own for you before long
Nay. I'll go to my Aunt Janet; she'll
tell me what's best She has a large
family of her own; but she's always
kind and motherly word for me-
but I shall come over often-every week
So, with prolonged caresses, they
parted, and Janet hurried on to her
aunt's.
That large-hearted woman was holding
the youngest IF six in her lap, and rock
ing with her foot another in the cradle
while she combed the hair of a wrig-
Cling boy of five.
Dear o. me- what's happened?" she
asked. as Janet seated herself with
face plainly betraying her distress. Her
niece quickly told her what had taken
place, and of her fathers abusive
language.
An you've left him?"
. eyes, aunt"
AN I glory in your pluck Serves him
right He's been a bully o. his life He
lorded il over our Jane, until he ground
all t spirit out o her. But her would
have him, spite o. all we'd said; an now.
poor lass, hers head an buried. If he'd
had me. I'd"
Don't ak of that, Aunt Janet. Tell
me what / must do"
What yo' must do?'
Yes. Can 1 stay here? I fear you
have no room to spare
ooh, yo' canstay here, an welcome,
lass. Wen loom enough. Yo' can sleep
wi little Jim here. But stop a bit; let
me think. If yo' stop here, Hidden 'ull
be coming for yo'; an that'n never do
Our Jim 'ud order him out o. t'house
an then ther'd be a row. An tho he's
a bigger mon nor Jim. our Jim 'ud never
give in while he could raise arm He's
a little un, but he's a rare plucky un,
is Jim
Then what can do aunt?"
Go to yer Uncle George at Sheffield
Our George has neither chick nor child
an his wife was allus fond o. yo'."
Yes; 1 think that is best"
Have yo' any brass, Janet?"
Yes, aunt, a little"
Janet. after listening to her aunt's
directions and motherly admonition to
have nothing to say TO fellow-travelers.
man or woman. set out for her Uncle
Georges at Sheffield.
This was Janet's first railway journey
alone; her nerves were at full tension
she chung tenac4ously to her third class
ticket, and looked eagerly at every sta
ton sign, lest she should pass her desti-
ndllOD, 10 the great amusement Oh more
experienced travellers.
While in deep reverie. in which Dan
figured, she suddenly remembered that
Dams home vas in Sheffield. What if
he was on the train2 Then her thoughts
drifted off to her father: and she was
picturing his storming at her aunt's
when the train dashed into a great
black, smoky station, and she realized
she was in Sheffield.
A good-natured old porter advised her
to take a cab to her uncle's. as it was
fully two miles, and the road confusing
This she did; and after many windings
and turnings-which convinced her she
could never have found the house alone
she was put down at the door. She
discharged the cabby, and was about to
knock at the door. when she found to
her dismay the house was empty; a
ITO Let" card in the window directed
applicants to No. 49, To that number
she went, and knocked.
a cheerful tidy old woman, and a
wholesome odor of hot mullins. came to
the cottage door.
Can you tell me where George Hell
rock has gomez asked Janet.
George Helrock, lass, Why, bless
you, he's been gone to America these
three months"
Uncle George gone! .Oh dear. what
must 1 do?" she cried with a look of
CONSERVATION.
Did you expect to find him. lass %
Yes. yes. He never wrote; but
but"
Have you come far?"
Yes: from near Birmingham"
"Then come i'm and rest a bit. and
have a cup q tea: you'll be tired" said
the tidy old woman. with that kindly
hospitality which is the first impulse of
Midland housewives. She saw that the
girl was in genuine trouble and her
heart vert out to her I'm sympathy.
i've known your Uncle George this
many a year." continued the good wom-
an, after she had induced Janet to take
eff her hat. Your fathers brother. be-
like?"
mo; my mothers. She's was a Hell
rock"
"Ay, ay; / remember he told Dave.
my good man. He's a night Waterman.
my dear He's just getting up. You
will have cup o. tea wi us-there's
only us two"
"Oh. it's very kind of you: but I
ought to go-go-home; it will be very
late"
You can stay all night. lass. an Dave
shall see you off in L morning.
When her husband came down stairs
the childless mother told him where the
girl had come from.
why" said Dave, that's just like
Georgiel l told him to write, but he
kept a...putting it off until he forgot 1t.
Presently as lana. was seated before