The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1910-04-01

\ her strength and courage. What hold
Janet supposed this man to have over
her who could tell? She feared him
as il he had it in his power to carry
her away against her will or do some
dreadful harm. The imagination of
{ a girl has wild and causeless panics
as well as gracious visions. She trem-
bled before this man with a terror
which she did not attempt to account
for. She turned round slowly panic
stricken, colorless face
Why, what is the matter with you.
my bonnie little lady? Are We feared
/ for me?'
sob, Mr.. Charlie" said Janet,
adon't speak to me here. If anybody.
were to see you! And mother
mother is in great trouble already.
Oh, don't speak to me here!"
do you mean you'll speak to me
in some other place? I'm well con-
! tent if yell do that-some place
where we'll be more private, by our
! selves. Ye may be sure that's what
I would like best
II did not mean that" said Janet,
| in great distress. @Oh, Mr.. Charlie.
don't speak to me at all! am very
unhappy already"
1T will not make you more I'M
happy to speak to an old friend like
me? And who has made you un-
! happy, my bonnie lady? I wish /
had The paying of him. It'll be that
| loose of brother of yours.
| How dare you speak so of my
brother?" cried Janet with momen-
tary energy, and then she began to
| cry, unable to restrain herself in her
| agitation. @Oh, go away! II you
please. will you go away"
and do you want to hear no more
Of the pony?" said Charlie Blackmore.
3She's as bonny a little beast as ever
stepped, and fit to carry Princess
and Miss Janet Torrance. I've kept
my word. She's, just been bred like
a princess. without doing days
work. I've kept her, as I said
would, for you
.Oh, hope you do not mean that, J"
cried Janet. "Oh, Mr.. Charlie, hope
it was not my fault! was very,
very young then, and did not know
there was any harm in it. Oh, hope
! you have not kept her for mel"
What harm was there in it?s he
said, putting his hand on her arm,
which Janet drew away as If his touch
had been fire. "Come now, Miss
Janet, you must be reasonable. There
was no harm in it more than there
is little crack by ourselves, be-
tween you and me-"
Janet shrank into the corner of the
seat away from him. There was
harm" she said, afor 1 never told
mother; and there is harm now, for
IL any one knew were to come here,
and see us would die Of shame"
aNo, my bonnie lady, you would
not die; that's too strong" said
Blackmore "And do you know it's
not civil to draw away like that?
When we met in the Easton road you
were not so frightened. You gave me
many a CLINT of your eyes then, and
many pleasant word. And do you
mind the long rides we had, and you
as sorry when they were over as me?
And the miles that I rode to bring
you the pony and give you your pleas
ure, though you turn from me now?"
You were very kind, Mr.. Charlie"
said Janet in trembling voice.
II am not saying was kind. l
would not have done it If I had not
liked it. But you were kind then,
Miss Janet, and you're not kind now"
Il was only a child" cried Janet:
Il never thought. know now it was
very silly-oh, more than silly. If I
beg your pardon, oh, Mr.. Charlie, will
you forgive me, and-and leave me
alone?"
"And what if that was to break my
hearth" he said.
Break your heart? Why should it
do that? oh, no, no, it would not do
that; YOU are only laughing"
Me laughing! What if / had taken
fancy. then, for bit of small girl,
and set my heart upon her, but kept
out of the way for years not to see
the bonnie little thing till now that
you're woman grown and under
stand? And all you say is to ask me
to leave you alone! Is that kind
thing to say?"
MIR. Charlie" said Janet desper-
ately. Il can hear by your voice that
you're not in earnest; and as for taxi
ing fancy, / was only child, and
that would mean nothing. And the
whole of it was just-just sport to
you, and it is for joke you're doing
It now
Joke? It's no joke, (" he said. At
know what you think; you think /
am not gentleman enough for you.
But I'll have plenty of money, and
Sour father. if he had lived. would
aot have turned me from his door.
Halo! who's there?" he cried, start