Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-05-17
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
~ Clarice. the consciousness OF
now lover who waited only for the
r,i,test sign or encouragement from
hsr to declare himself, brought UNI
do,,bted consolation for the effort it
nod cnst her to renounce the old love;
nut Janetta dropped and p1ned Tor
some tidings Of the man who had taken
her heart by storm and held It fast-
Harry Merivale.
she saw his arrival in England re-
corded in the daily paper. Later on
she noticed that his valuable services
in the late campaign were to be re-
warded by a high appointment IN the
war Office.
".Janetta,'' said Clarice. one day IN
7une. .are you going to wear black
clothes for. the rest Of your days? It's
more than year since your brotner
died"
.I,ll go into colors again, If you
like" answered Janetta. obedient to
1larice,s faintest wish. Come up
with me to London tomorrow and you
shall choose my dresses for me.
"I'm afraid you must go alone, jan
etta berauseLbecause Sir Robert has
photographed to say that he will be here
iand T must be at home to receive
him"
Janetta looked up quickly, and car
dce's eyes fell before the questioning
glance. "Is it that you have given MIN
leave to come. Clarice?"
well, yes Clarice admitted, haif
reluctantly. "He loves me as believe
never woman was loved before-a mil
I,;on times more than I'm worth loving
and I'm going to marry him. And
1,ve got it into my head that wish
you to mark the occasion by dropping
your black frock. So go to London ana
come back in the prettiest dress you
lean buy
ooh. my dear, my dear!" cried jan
eta. between laughter and tears, now
happy you have made mellow happy
YOU will make the man who marrles
YOU, I'm so glad, so glad, that feel
as if could sob my heart out for very
joy"
That day Clarice wrote short note
TO Harry Merivale asking him to come
down on the, following Afternoon ana
spend the night at Sea Grange.
Surely it is time we met again. she
wrote. She said nothing of her invita-
ton to Janetta; but asked her to oe
sure and return to Northcliff by a GER
tain train she named in the afternoon.
And you are to come back in that
new frock, Janetta. Sir Robert Will
he here. remember
So it came to pass that, on that June
afternoon, Janetta stood on the plat
Il form of London station, prepared to
return to Northcliff. She was dressed
In a pale gray costume, with SOFT frllls
about her throat, and a large gray nat
with dropping feathers, and STOOD ny
the door OF her carriage, unconscious
of the many glances of admiration tnat
were cast at her as the passengers hur-
ried by.
She was thinking of her first journey
to Northcliff. only sixteen months ago,
and feeling that lifetime seemed TO
have passed since then.
"Good evening, Miss Howard. Shall
we travel together?'' said voice be-
hind her. And, turning, she found
herself face to face with the man OF
her dreams.
1t was impossible to keep the tumul-
tuous joy that his presence Drougnt
with it out of her greeting.
A fabGloysly large tip to the guard
insured their privacy; and Harry could
not repress little triumphant laugh
as the train steamed out of the sta
ton.
Then for the first time Janetta
trusted herself to look steadily at him.
He was bronzed with exposure to sun
and weather; he was thinner, too; per-
:haps not so strictly handsome as When
he had gone away, but the face had
gained much in nobility.
''You knew l should come, Janetta.
You were certain that, when it seemed
right and fitting. ] should Gomez"
Il was not quite sure" Janetta fal-
tered
Then you ought to have been, my
darling, my darling!" said Harry,
drawing nearer Il can't be mistaken.
Janetta Love like mine have it's echo
in your heart"
.Yes," said Janetta, simply. And
the next instant Harry's arms closed
round her
ooh, what will Clarice say?" cried
Janetta. when the train drew up at
Northcliff an hour or SO later.
'She is here to speak for herself"
said Harry, jumping on the platform,
and Drake is with her."
(The Enid