The Winslow mail., 1897-08-07

"Janov'
With a bound the man knelt at her
feet and buried his head in her lap.
Jano, her only son, had returned!
Mother love had banished the peni-
tentiary specter. The villagers well
coined him cordially The lads who
had grown up with him took him to
the tavern, and demanded that he tell
them of the strange sights he had seen
during his long absence. Jano related
what he had heard others say, and
what he had read in books. 1t was
like gospel truth to the young men,
who had never been twenty miles away
from their village After the first days
of greeting Jano hired out as a farm
hand and worked untiringly. In the
evening Katha, his sweetheart, came
to the little house, and the three sat
together and made plans for the future,
when Katha and Jano would be man
and wife. Soon Jano forgot the ugly
past. 1t seemed like dream that had
nigh wearied Mother Kathrine and her
son to death.
One sultry afternoon Jano came
along the dusty turnpike with his rake
over his shoulder. Toward him trun-
died the bent and ragged figure Of a
man. A tramp, thought JanO, then
stopped suddenly, pale as death. The
beggar, too, made halt, when he saw
JanO
"Halloov cried he, with a sneer, ''my
mate from No. 7. Don't you know me?
Lanky Jake, your old cell-mate?"
What in Gods name do you want
here?" stammered Jano.
The beggar laughed. Picking up
what can get-don't you see?"
Jano put his hand in his pocket and
took out Il dollar.
'"Take that" he said, "and go away.
Don't go to the village, and don't tell
anyone that you know mel"
The ex-convict pocketed his coin.
Ashamed to know me, hey?'
''Not that" said Jano, with a shud-
der. "But they don't know here that
I've been In prison. I'm leading an
honest life"
''I'd like to do that myself. Have no
fear, I'll not tell 'em. You were good
to me in those days"
He laughed and hobbled away. Jano
stood still and looked after him till he
disappeared from view.
"The storm has passed." thought
Jano and hurried home.
He had scarcely turned when a good
looking young peasant, who had watch
ed the scene between the two, emerged
from behind a thicket and fastened
after the tramp.
That night in the tavern over glass
upon glass of fiery wine and silver
coins piled up to the height Of five, the
handsome young farmer learned from
the tramp Jano's secret. He was Jano's
rival for the love of Katha, the pret-
test girl in the village The next even
ing Jano, as was his wont, hastened to
Katha at the end Of his days labor, to
bring her to his home for the chat un-
der the apple tree, and the walk back
through the blooming fields. This
night Jano looked into pale, distress
ed race, ana eyes, lrdHtlc With lear,
were riveted upon him.
"Kathar he said. You are crying.
What troubles you?" Katha buried
her face in her hands and sobbed
aloud
"Katha, tell me, your lover"' He lift
ed the hands from her face.
"Jano," faltered the trembling lips,
''by our love, tell me, is it true, that
you have not been around the world,
but have been in prison the while!'
Jano was Mortified. "Katha-who
told you?"
The girl paid no heed to his question.
rs 1t true Jano?" she reiterated.
Yes"
From the finger Of her right hand
Katha took the little gold band with