Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-06
OUR JANE.


on Jane humping her way downstairs with
a brush and dustpan.
She used in the old days to sing hymn
tunes or the British national song. for the
time being to these instruments, but lat
terly she has been silent and even careful
over her work
Indeed l would rejoice secretly, though
it may be unmanly weakness to admit it,
even to hear Jane sing Daisy" to learn
that the period of broodng has come to an
end.
Yet how we longed to hear the last of
James young man before we heard the last
of him,
The engagement lasted altogether three
years; yet how she got introduced to Will
liam, aud so became thus saturated with
him, was always a secret. For my part, |
believe it was at the street corner where
the Rev. Barnabas BauX used to hold an
open-air service after evensong on Sundays.
As Mariana has a reprehensible way of
letting servants talk to her, she soon heard
of him. "He is such a respectable young
man, maam," said Jane, 'you don't
know"
Ignoring the slur cast on her acquaint-
ance, my wife inquired further about this
William.
"He is second porter at Maynard the
drapers," said Jane, and gets eighteen
shilings-nearly five dollars-a week m IN,
and when the head porter leaves he will be
head porter. His relatives are quite SUI
perior people, MN. His father was a
greengrosher, MIN, and had a chumor and
was bankrup' twice. And one of his sisters
is in home for the dying. 1t will be a
very good match for me, ma'am," said
Jane, "me being an orphan girl"
"Then you are engaged to him. asked
my wife.
mot engaged, ma'am, but he is saving
money to buy ring-hammyfist."
Presently the amethystine ring was being
worn about the house, even with ostenta-
ton, and developed a new way of bringing
in the joint so that this gage was evident.
civilian, ma am" said Jane one day,
suddenly, with ill-concealed complacency,
as she counted out the beer bottles, "Wil-
liam, ma am. is teetotaler. Yes, MIN, and
he don't smoke. Smoking, ma'am," said
Jane, as one who reads the heart, "do
make such dust about Besides the
waste of money. And the smell. How
ever, suppose it's necessary to some"
William was at first a rather shabby
young man of the readymade black coat
StuOOl vi COoluults nc udu NdbtIl gray
eyes, and complexion appropriate to the
brother of one in a home for the dying.
"He goes tc chapel" said Jane. ''His
papa, ma am, -
ellis what, Jane?'
Ellis papa, ma am, was Church but Mr.
Maynard is Plymouth brother and Will
liam thinks it policy, ma'am, to go there
too. Mr.. Maynard comes and talks to him
quite friendly, when they amt busy, about
using up all the ends of string and about
his soul. He takes a lot of notice, do Mr..
Maynard, of William, and the way he save:
string and his soul, Am"
Presently we heard that the head por-
ter at Maynard's had left, and that William
was head porter, at five dollars and seventy.
five cents a week.
She promised in the pride of her hear
to make interest for us with William to ia
vor us so that we might get our parcels Of
drapery from Maynard's with exceptions
promptitude.
One Sunday afternoon about that time
was sitting at my writing desk-possibly
was reading a good bOok-when a some
thing went by the window.
| heard a startled exclamation behind
me, and saw Mariana with her hands
clasped together and her eyes diated.
George" she said in an awestrickeI
whisper, "did you see?"
Then we both spoke to one another a
the same moment, slowly and solemnly:-
"a silk hat Yellow gloves! A new UNI
brella"
SIT may be my fancy, dear" said Mari
ana; "but his tie was very like yours.
believe Jane keeps him in ties. She toll,
me little while ago, in way that implied
volumes, about the rest of your costume
'The master do wear pretty ties, ma am.
And he echoes all your novelties"
They were arm in arm. Jane looked eX
quistely proud, happy, and uncomfortable
with new white cotton gloves, and William
in the silk hat, singularly genteel.
That was the elimination of James hap
piness. When she returned, "Mr. May
nard has been talking to William, ma am,
she said, land he is to serve customers
just like the young shop gentlemen, durin
the next sale. And if he gets on he is t,
be made an assistant, ma'am, at the frs
opportunity. Mr.. Maynard has took
great fancy to him."
That next Sunday, as | drank my tea,
INTERCEPTED my wife.
"How is this Sunday different from al
other Sundays, little woman? What ha
ndBpCnCus Alb 1Ou WGdllllB yum ndll III
new way without warning me? l clearl
perceive a change in my environment, an
cannot for the life of me say what it is.
Then my wife answered in her mos
tragic voice; George" she said, "that-
that William has not come near the plac
today! And Jane is crying her heart on
upstairs"
There followed a period of silence. Jane
as l have said, stopped singing about tn
house, and began to care for our britt
possessions, which struck my wife as bein
a very sad sign indeed
The next Sunday, and the next, Jan
asked to go out, ito walk with William,
and my wife, who never attempts to extor
condolences, gave her permission and aske
no questions.
On each occasion Jane came back look
ing flushed and very determined. At las
one day she became communicative.
civilian is being led away" she re
marked abruptly with catching of tn
breath.
eyes, MIN. She is a milliner, and sh
can play on the piano."
81 thought" said my wife, "that yo
went out with him on Sunday?'
"Not out with him, MN, after him.
walked along by the side of them, and toll
her he was engaged to me-"