Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1909-08-03


blown apple orchard, where the bus,
bee doth ply his trade Awful. aw
fulT he said to himself. But whal
can you expect from a college girl
Why, ] can't even doctor these lists Of
adjectiTes up. They are only fit fol
the wastebasket"
The next day brought brief letter
to Janet:
Dear Janney-IncIosed will find check
for so. / sold your Apple Orchard In
Full Bloom" Address your work now to
once A, Smith block It's an agency for
short stories. and they will take any,
what magazines they use, but their work
goes all over the country. Congratula-
tons on your great luck. AS ever,
BURT.
The next time Burton visited his
mother In the village 1t was several
months after the above letter
Janet was radiant. glowing and,
above all, tender. She confded to him
that she received from So to $40 for
every article and often $25 for a story
and that she made as high as $40 a
Everything was rose coiored now
and burned to deeper hue when
Janet whispered at the gate, You can
ask me anything you please now, Burt,
dear" And he rode back to the city,
his cheek tingling under the rosy seal
she had set there as a safeguard
against all danger.
1t was near spring when Mrs. Har-
old was suddenly taken i'll. In her con-
dition she needed loving care, so Janet
went down to stay with the gentle
old lady, who. she thought, would not
live to see the little wedding planned
for June
Burton came home on Saturday. and
the feeble old lady watched the couple
with tear dimmed eyes and many soft
" breathed prayers. Toward night
her breathing grew more and more
labored, and the end was not far away.
Janet, dear" she whispered pain
fully-"Janet. promise me now, dear.
that you VIII never let anything sepa-
rate you and Burt"
The girl kissed her wonderingly and
promised softly.
Doctor" went on the trembling
tired voice, chow much longer have
here with my children?"
II cannot tell. my dear madam" an
swered the ancient doctor, with tears
in his eyes. Perhaps few hours"
Burton, my darling boy" went on
the loving tones, ''lean over me, my
son. You and Janet must be married
now. l cannot go peacefully until
know my boy has a comforter. Here
comes DR.. McCloud. and he will mar
ry you now IT, And the voice trailed
off into silence.
Without waiting to consult Janet,
Burton stepped TO her side, and In a
few moments the service was over and
the dying woman had placed her trem-
bling hands on their bowed heads and
passed peacefully to the land where
sorrow is never known.
A month or so after his mothers
death Burton decided to move his wife
to the city. where he could be at home
every night So Janet went to the lit
tie home to pack up the dead mothers
boxes. 1t was q sad task, and Janet's
eyes overlooked many a time, for she
had loved the dear old lady as
daughter.
In going through the ancient desk
she found large package marked In
the delicate old fashioned hand, "For
my son Burton, to be opened after his
marriage with Janet" Janet fingered
1t curiously, but slipped 1t into her bag
unopened. When in their coy library
that night she brought it to her hus-
band, saying;
Burt, dear, do open this. l am SO
curious"
A queer smile passed over her hus-
bands face as he broke the string and
out rolled all the well remembered
manuscripts of Janets, THE Apple Or
chard In Full Bloom and others.
"Burtonr' she cried in surprise
"Why, Burton, how on earth did your
mother ever get theseT
My dear little wife," he answered,
holding her closely In his arms, my
Office Is Office A, Smith block, and
mother and l were the short story
company that published all your
work.