The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-12-19

II
vrA=E worn beyond her years
lEI9IL lIalE with sorrowful eyes deep
sunken; complexion
white with the very whiteness Of death
itself; and her hair already lusterless
and thin, although Of that bIonde-au-
burn color, when all other charms Of
youth are faded or which, in most
women, survives unchanged, dead.
Yes; this was Jane Grand, as l first
saw her dressed in deepest black, and
walking YEARLY along the weary vii
lage street of Chesterford st. Mary.
But when Clifford Mohun first saw her
she was in the pride and fulness of her
youth; soft-faced girl of twenty,
standing beneath the shade of broad
leaved forest trees, and with the glow
of June sunset lighting up her lips
and eyes and hair with radiant gold.
Clifford was the last Of long line of
country gentlemen who had borne the
name of Mohun, and inherited the oaks
under whose shade he fell in love with
Miss Grand.
Few people, perhaps, are disposed to
be cynical in the case Of young and.
handsome lad, heir to such an estate as
awaited Mohun. Whether his nature
was a noble one or the reverse, Jane
Grand's story will show forth. 1t is
certain that during the two or three
terms which Mr. Mohun kept lin boat
ing, hunting and running prodigiously
into debit at Cambridge, he had Just
as many friends and imitators as he
liked to reckon; and also that, when
the day arrived for him to take pos
session Of Yatton, there was scarce a
dissentient opinion in the country as
to the upright, generous and open
hearted country gentleman which the
new Mohun of Yatton promised to be-
come.
Not model hero, 1 HOPPER was Jane
Grand's remark, after she had been
long demurey listening to the joy-bells
that We're ringing in honor Of Gifford's.
birthday. Il shall never take the
slightest interest in young Mohnn il he
is such perfection as every one seems
determined to make out. Model young
gentlemen are quite beyond my powers
of admiration
MY dear Janev' cried Miss Lynch,
raising her hands = knitting and ALI
in the mildly deprecatory gesture
with which for fourteen years she had
been accustomed to receive the faintest
departure from commonplace on the
part of her pupil. my dearest Jane,
what very extraordinary remarkl
AS if any one and above all any young
man could be perfect! l am sure it
quite made my eyes fill last Sunday
when Mr.. Follett aIluded, SO beauti-
fully, to the young heir, and all that
the parish might hope and expect from
his returnr'
Please don't expect me to join, dear
nuntie," said Miss Grand. II think
could cry little over the return Of a
very prodigal son, indeed; but the ex-
cellencies of the heir of Yatton are
quite too superhuman to allow of such
foolishness as tears. Dry your eyes,
good old lady, and put up your work,
and come away with me to Yatton
woods, instead of weeping any longer
over the virtues of their possessor. We
shall find it dellciously cool when we
are once away up the hill, and the bells
won't sound SO unpleasantly exuberant
out among the trees as they do at
home"
"And the schoolfeast, Jane? prom
ised Mr.. Follett most particularly that
we would not be later than
"Auntie, l don't like school feasts.
The schoolroom is always so close, and
there is combined Odor of heavy
buns, and hot weak tea, and brown
sugar, that makes me faint. But yen
shall go. You dote on the whole thing
heavy buns, and Mr.. Follett, and
weak tea, and unexceptionable heirs,
and all. Yes, you shalt so and i'm
prove your mind listening to the
speeches, and I'll follow my own evil
inclinations and get as far from the
sound of the church bells as / can.
You needn't be afraid if am not home
when you are. There went be a crea-
ture but myself in all Yatton woods
tonight, and, very likely. shall so
up as far as Haldon to see the sunset"
1t was Miss Lynch's custom to demul
at James lonely evening walks among
the woods Of Yatton: but she only OPP
posed a faint and conventional show
Of resistance on the present occasion.
The noise, and heat, and windy
speeches, and general business and
gossiping incident to all public rejoic-
ings Of the kind, were just as CON
genial elements to Miss Lynch's nature;
as they were repulsive and wearisome
ones to James.
can't turn you, my dear child"
she remarked to Jane, as they departed.
half an hour later on their different
ways TO the garden gate; "but l must
say think it dreadful pity you
should miss such delightful, such an
improving occasion as this. Mr. Follett
will speak, and Mr.. Remnant viii
speak
And Mrs. Tenant will speak," In
terrnpted Jane, laughing, 'and the
Miss Tenants will smile. and look
bashful. ana you will all OF you try TO
win the approval Of the model heir,
and fiatter him, and admire him. ana
smile upon him to his hearts content
No one win miss me. auntie and, In
deed, should be fearfuIly out Of my
element in such an assembly, added4
the girl, more seriously .'If only Mr.
Follett and good old Miss Brown were