Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1906-05-18
ROCKVILLE. FRIDAY MORNING, MAY l8. 1906
CHIFFON. AND
HOMESPUN
By FANNIE HEAsLlP LEA

janet came out Oh Tue long leu Karin
house and paused briefly at the steps,
buttoning her dogskin gloves. The
keen, bright cold .of the November
morning brought the blood to her
cheeks and an awakening sparkle to
her cool gray eyes. She fastened the
gloves with a final tug and ran down
the path to where man and two
horses stood, just beyond the gate.
He helped her mount with no word
beyond a brief Ready" and an ap-
proving smile, then swung himself into
the saddle and followed her over the
crest of the hill on which the red farm
house stood.
you lead the way" he called after
her II am a stranger in a strange
land"
"This way" said Janet. 81 want you
to see the view from Brierson's hill.
It's about the best in this part Of the
country, l think."
Better than thisf" asked the man
audaciously, his eyes on her clear cut
profile.
1.-The background is better" said ia
net coolly.
The mountains rose blue and misty
In the distance as they rode on. Around
them the red Of the sumac blaZed Wild
ly, and on the sloping sides of the
foothills through which they passed
great gashes in the red clay suggested,
strangely, open wounds.
ITS fine country" said Burke,
with conscious banality.
Janet flung him look that startled
him, 1t was so far outside her usual
cool self mastery.
ITS Gods country" she said ex-
ultantly. "Oh, could ride foreverl See
the haze. like smoke. on those noun
tains and the leaves aflre on the hills.
There's a rabbit. See him jump across
the road. And look-yonder's an aster.
/ thought its time was over. Isn't
that wind good on your facer Oh,
love 1t all, every bit of itp'
II see you do" said Burke slowly.
"Well, why shouldn't IT she de-
manded. Doesn't 1t make you feel
your life2 I've different soul up
here"
~ see you have" said the man. "Pm
trying to fit that soul to the Janet
know I'm town, the Janet who sat for
my Lady In Gray the Janet Of trail
ing chiffons and pink teas and Ibsen
matinees. Why, you've different look
In your eyes now. You're warmer, less
aloof. less certain of yourself. What
is itH
Don't, ".-,sald the girl, with pro-
testing smile. II won't be dissected. l
asked yorktown to spend Thanksgiv-
ing with me-not to cut up my soul
with your little Ratchet"
"And 1 came to spend Thangsglvlng
with you" retorted Burke, mot with a
strange woman who has your eyes and
your hair and your face-you that l
know. How did you happen to leave
hereT he asked, with the unembarrass-
ed frankness Of intimacy.
81 don't know" said Janet doubtful
ly. ut just happened. Aunt Jane took
a fancy to me while / was off at col
lege, and when / graduated she offered
to bring me out in town. Mother new
er objected to anything wanted, and
well, | was dazzled with the idea of
town society, dances, men. Amy girl
would be, so went to Aunt Jane" she
finished. "You have the sweet, sad
story Of my life now, bar few de-
tails"
"MenT asked Burke.
Look out for that bridge; It's bad.
Yes-men," said Janet.
"Of whom / am one" he finished
She nodded inscrutably.
"Well, don't want to be one" he
unless you preface It with
the In italics"
Don't your
NO" he repeated firmly, II don't.
See here, Janet-how long have known
your
"A year and half" said the girl re-
fectively.
"And In the course of that time l
have twice asked you to marry me,
haven't ~
II seem to remember something Of
the sort" she answered, with a flicker
ing smile that somehow sheathed the
sneer.
Didn't you know when you asked
me here that I'd do 1t again. Didn't
you know that couldn't see you in a
new phase and not lose my grip on my
self All, Janet, you must have known,
and If you. knowing, let me come 1t
must have been because you meant to
say He broke off and struck saw
agely with bis whip at the leaves above
his head
Meant to say what" suggested the
girl whimsieally-"the word that would
hobble my life forever, that would mar
row my horizon and weed out my ex-
istence to one thought, one aim, one
end? Is that what 1 meant to say4"
Tf you like to put It SO, that Is It,"
said the man sullenly. "You know the
truth Isl
They rode in silence for little while
81 could make you happy" said the
man at last
Gould you, AIec7 I'm not 30 sure of
that" Janet pushed an escaping hair
pin back and after a moment faced
him proudly. I'm not playing fair
with you" she said. 81 did know you'd
ask me this again, and made up my
mind Pd"- A shabby buggy creaked
past them. In their absorption they
had ridden upon 1t without knowing.
Janet nodded a bright Good morn
mgr to the country people within.
"Well," said Burke confidently when
they had passed. There was an exult-
ant look in his eyes, and he bent to lay.
his hand on hers where 1t held the
reins.
Janet swerved suddenly. Take care"
she said hurriedly, we've ridden into
the returning congregation Of Brier-
sons church.
Burke followed her with an unuttered
tmprecation.
What are they having church on a
hk. dam nd oil