Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-23
JANE ANNE,
a story OF south wales.

moment in her work.
81 won't" said Jane Anne sturdiy,
and her answer was accompanied 10y the
harsh clatter of n milkpan upon the
stones. The mistress sat featherng in
the doorway of the house place, and the
white down from the half pluckcd goose
which lay across her knee blew about in
the light breeze and settled in her gray
hair.
BE you going to be married, Jane
Anne?"
"Yss Johnnie George an me did think
to if so De as he can hier hssclf to a
place what has cottage"
"Well, we'll" said the mistress YEARLY,
81 do wonder at you, | do, an him so
Eighty"
"Ain't more Eighty than most men be-"
said she, rubbing a milk pail briskly with
coarse red sand, IAN anyways | will learn
him to be steady ownct we be married"
The mistress sighed. She knew it was
futile to argue with Jane Anne once she
had made up her mind. Jane Anne, she
also knew, was a treasure as farm serv-
ants go and was not likely to be replaced
in a hurry.
a day or so after Jane Anne left the
little mountain farm early in the morn
ing while the mists yet hung white on the
hillsides. She had a long way to walk to
the country town where the hiring and
pleasure fairs are held twice n year She
tucked up her skirts, for the deep lanes,
where the branches Of tangled hazel and
blackthorn met over her head, were
damp and muddy with dccaying leaves,
and Jane Anne had on her best dress.
She was a comcly lass, with her rosy
checks and bright eyes. The way was
lonely, but as she descended to more
populous regions she overlook another
servant girl also bound for the fair.
"Morning. Pol" said Jane Anne pleas
antly. IL thought your missus wass not
let you go to the fairY"
"Yiss, so she did say, but ruined
away" said the other, half awcd at her
own holiness She had a timd, depre-
eating air. She looked as though she
had been driven whittier she would not
all her life.
81 'ouldn't 90 back neither if was
you" said Jane Anne You amt got
no spirit to let folks drive you like they
docs. be going to be married." she
added with blush.
Lori said Pol. There's lucky you
be. An SO many gals have 'outcd to
have Johnnie George. lie be 50 good
~
gal he wass keep company with fore he
coined to Jcnkinses, she did break her
heart for him" Polls voice was lowered
and impressive, and Jane Anne listened
with a dawniug wonder.
"Iiss sure continued Pol pleased by
her companions attention. There's
times she did 20 most crazy an fro'cd
herself in tn watter-yiss. indeed"
BE she dead?" asked Jane Anne
gravely. and her bright face was cloudcd.
"Noa, don't b'lieye what she be. but
| heard say as she bc bound for the
churchyard, for he have broke her
heart"
81 doant believe in broken hearts my
self" said Jane Anne, trying to shake
off the unpleasant impression the other
words had left. Hearts doan't break
none so easy. Maybe they do crack
sometimes like. But there, it is easy to
! talk. II Johnnie George hadn't took up
with me, he 'ould have had somebody
else. He is always a chap TO 20 along
wi a gal. He'd never have KEEP to that
| gal, she living miles away an him over
TO Jenknses. There ISIS not wan chap
but what | could have had for the arst-
| ing" with n proud toss OF her head, but
| liked Johnnie George best o the lot. an
| y
| him now | shan't never"
At the town gates they met the tickle
| Johnnie George He was radiant. but
bashful, and had rather shcepish air.
! Jane Anne promptly took possession OF
| his earnings and. after dealing him out
some small change for plcnsuring, in
vested the rest in the savings bank.
For if doesn't" she said, you'll
spend it all or have it stole from yo' be-
fore night, an then what'n us keep house
| with?"
He had no answer to this problem
though he would have preferred to kecT
| his money. He was in some awe of Jane
Anne, but he admired and was proud OF
her. This off her mind, Jane Anne So
tied steadily to enjoy herself. Booths
wild beast shows, shooting galleries and
cheap jack stalls filled the narrow, cob
| BILE paved streets of the usually quiet
little town, while in a more open space
near the church roundabouts and swing
boats were attracting large crowds Of
farm lads and lasses. Above the din oil
shouts and laughter came half frighten
ed, shrill screams from the girls in Z {
swing boats and, half drowning it all, the
constant roar Of the orchestrone playing
popular airs with untiring vigor. Jane
| Anne tulcItu Win LeSl lulo All Nilt
pleasures of the fair. Johnnie George
thought he had never seen her so gay
But still the thought of the girl she ha
heard OF that morning haunted her. \!
If in answer to her thoughts her eyes Eel
on a slight figure standing a little bacl
from the crowd. She seemed to be alone
and she leaned against the church wal
in a weary and listless attitude, but s.
was watching some one in the swing
with close attention.
Jane Anne followed the direction o.
her eyes and saw they were fixed upo'
Johnnie George. She was about to eros
over and speak to the girl, when tn,
crowd moved, and she lost sight of her.
All day, amid the shifting, noisy crowd
Jane Anne kept a sharp lookout for he
rival. 1t was getting dusk when she saw
her again, and naphtha lights were be
ginning to flare on the cheap jacks stalls
The crowd was getting rougher, noisieT
more hilarious. Here and there a drunk
en- man reeled across the street. The cir
was standing near fortune teller's tent
and Jane Anne left johnnie George ant
went up to her.
"Yo' be a friend O. Johnnie Georges?
said Jane Anne, accosting her abruptly.
The girl shrank back before Jan
Anne's rough greeting. She was smalle
than Jane Anne, with large soft, pathet
ic eyes and very fair hair. She was pref
ty, but in a more fragile way than Jan