Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-04-12

beggarly screw is given me. Do come
to the rescue, there's dear girl! The
minute I can hear Of something better
l mean to throw up this clerkship!"
For once in her life the softening
, veil Of almost motherly love and atrec-
ton that Janetta had for her brother
was torn aside, and she saw him as he
Was-weak, selfish. INSCRIPTIONS. She
knew that she had left him with
enough money to keep him in comfors
for two months at least, and the arst
was not yet over.
All through the night she lay tossing
and wretched, wondering what to do
for the best. In the wide world she
had not single friend of whom she
could ask advice. Fifty pounds was
all that was left of the wreck Of their
little fortune, and she dare not draw
it out.
Surprising that by any unforeseen
circumstance she was thrown out OF
her present situation, she must have
some small reserve fund, so that she
could support herself until she could
obtain something else.
Clarice would have been the first to
| notice her heavy eyes the following
| morning, but that her heart was full OF
her own troubles.
He's going tomorrow, Janetta," she
said, when the girl entered her room.
Il can't think what is the matter with
me. | never cry at the thought OF
his going; but today / could sob my
heart out. I've weight like lead on
it. l feel something as if l had come
to an end of it ALL"
AN end of what?" questioned Jan
eta kindly.
"Of life-or, rather, of the love
which is my life. He's going right
away from me, and he may be going
to his DEATH"
"You can trust him to Gods hands,"
said Janetta gently.
"Oh he may forget me-
'You trust him too we'll to think Of
that"
II shall feel that he has passed be-
You'd my reach there is something
which seems to warn me that l am
losing him forever"
When Clarice was dressed and car
ried to her boudoir, Harry Merivale
came and sat down by her, and Janetta
watched the restless lock die out OF
Clarice's face, all doubt and discomfort
dispelled by the sunshine of her lovers
presence. Then she slipped quietly
from the room, and went to the study
to answer her brothers letter.
She did not begin it at once, her
heart was full of her friend, and he.:
misery at her lovers departure; and
yet, was she SO greatly to be pitied?
She thought of the alteration she had
seen written but now upon her fea-
| lures, of the tender, loving sympathy
of his.
TO love and be loved, after all, were
! the two chief factors of human happi-
ness, and that Clarice had. One diff
Guilty Captain Merivale's departure
would remove from her path-she
would not need to make excuses to
avoid going out with him. Their &C
quaintance would be brought to an abb
rupt termination.
Then she opened and re-read her
brothers letter, and the Oftener she
read it the more perpleXed she became.
as to what the answer should be. De-
spite her love and warning, Neville was
steering straight for the rock on
which their father had wrecked his
life! Janetta laid down her head upon
her arms and sobbed aloud
Miss Howard, Clarice wants to
know" Captain Merivale stood in
dismayed establishment behind jan
etta's chair, the question he came to
ask dying on his lips. This man, who
would have faced an army without
turning color, was inclined to run away
at the sight Of woman's tears.
I'm sorry-I'm afraid I've intruded
upon you," he stammered.
"Yes-no-at least, it doesn't mat
ter" said Janetta. I'm in trouble,
but no one can help me out of it.
What did Miss Seymour wish?'
"Forgive me-" said Harry gently;
"but in your great kindness the other
day you assigned to me the position
of friend. If you feel me to be such,
can't 1 help you? Ii you are alone in
the world, as Clarice limited to me one
day, it is possible that just common,
everyday fellow like myself may be OF
use to you, might give you advice, foc
example, on any business matter that
is bothering you"
There was dawning hope in jan
etta's heart that here was the friend
she needed this kind, capable, cul-
tured man of the world would be able
to tell her what was the really wise
thing to do about Neville.
Il have one brother, and I'm in
trouble about him." she said simply.
Yes said Harry, seating himself
in chair with grave attention. Then
bit by bit Janetta told him the story,
just the simple facts; and Harry, as
he listened, saw how the girls life
had been one long self-sacritice, and
offering for the salvation of another,
who apparently declined to be saved.
Il, u ind tim