The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-28
THE EVENING STORY
Janet's Reward.

more noted-the Wilton pearls or the
Wilton temper.
Euphemia, the youngest Wilton
girl, had inherited both. together with
much land, many stocks and bonds,
not to name revolutionary relics quite
equal to a patent of nobility. There
fore 1T was, and was not, amazing that
she was single at thirty-five. There
nad never been hint of romance nor
suspicion of blighted affections. She
had had suitors in shoals. At least
three times she had contemplated
marrying one of them. But it had
not got beyond OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
or the three had been dismissed.
Both her brothers had married and
had crops of lusty young Wiltons. but
Clara, the sister who shared with
Miss Euphemia tenancy of the big
homestead, had only stepchiIdren. She
ditfonal family. 1t was remotely
through this family that the affair of
the pearls came to happen. If there
had been ne need of a governess for
three very unruly girls, Janet More,
Irish, finely bred, wistfully pretty,
careless and happy in spite of poverty,
would never have seen those famous
gems.
Janet danced like leaves in south
ern airs, sang with the voice of a
lark, seemed indeed the embodiment
OF youth and spring. Because none of
the great people awed her in the least
she made her way to their hearts.
Their splendid aloofness touched her
quick sympathies as did the squalid
poverty of her peasant compatriots
living down beyond the mills.
Miss Euphemia held out a brief
while-Clara and the minister, Mr..
Fay. had surrendered at sight Before
three months ended, Janet was one OF
the family, freer indeed than the step
children to break up Miss Wilton's
solitude and make her laugh.
Sure, laughing makes you the
prettiest,' Janet said, with just the
faintest touch of brogue. When she
chose, her English was crystalline,
but she had found out that the Irish
infection pleased the stately lady.
She dared further to rummage out
It's a bride 1 am making Of you"
she said one dull afternoon, raw and
cold, when Miss Euphemia was held
by a sore throat from her daily drive.
you shall be the enchanted princess
in wait for the fairly prince" she ran
on I'm your lady-in-waiting. Stand
up please. Fairies sure made the lace
on your white frock-with the pearls
and all, you'd outshine even a dream
you're a big baby, and I'm your
doll, a foolish doll-very,'' Miss Will
ton retorted, nevertheless permitting
herself to be adorned She loved her
clothes, her jewels as happier women
more than she could say to sun herself
in Janet's admiration. you'll have to
hurry, though" she went on. DR..
Bently may come in any time after z.
If he came and caught us in our mas
"He would say he was in luck a
voice said from the opening door
After a half minute it went on, the
speaker meanwhile walking to the fire.
sid, upon nv soul! Is this prophetic?
Are you really going to do it at last p
ct don't know what you mean" Miss
Euphemia said Grossly.
DR.. Archibald Bently laughed. He
was a stout man, slightly bald, and
half an inch lower than tall Miss
Euphemia. He had played with her
in short frocks, being but year her
elder. and son to a close family friend.
"Bless my soull Phemy!' he ejacu-
lated, after looking her over IF only
I'd known earlier how stunning you
something foolish
you never will come to things
where people dress like Christians"
Miss Euphemia said. still Grossly, but a
smile lurked about her mouth.
Janet danced in between them, say
ing gayly: Children! Children! Mind
your manners! And your medicinesi
But isn't she The love-" This to the
doctor: ITO think of wearing string
of pearls like that only once in awhile!
call it sinful"
you'd wear them every day-to
market, mill and muster" the doctor
Janet grew slightly pale. "T? I
shouldn't dare to wear them at all
or to keep them she said. They are
worth so much; and the money!-it
would build houses and homes. and
warm cold little children, and COM
fort, oh, so many! I'm glad to be
to have them-and awfuller to give
them up
run away. you young anarchist
DR.. Bently said, shaking his head.
1feI-. H%o1- les l.
toms hand. 1t was hot and tremulous
so much so he looked startled. In
stantly he called back Janet, also sum-
moned Miss Wilton's maid and had her
put to bed as quickly as possible.
Grip! No danger unless complica-
lions develop" he told Janet as he took
his leave.
Mrs. Fay was away with her hus-
band; therefore Janet had to be the
family head. Nursing is pretty much
everything" the doctor went on.
There's where you come in-she won't
have a professional Keep her quiet
Don't lose your head. She's got all the
chances. Wish I could say as much for
the cases down by the mills"
Before midnight Miss Wilton was out
of her head. DR.. Bently found her
playing with the string of pearls, talk
ing to it's component parts and occa-
sionally fondling it. 'You-you won't
take it to give Janet?' she asked in
fearful whisper as the doctor bent over
her Janet would sell it, but we won't
let her.
She fell into drugged-sleep, with the
pearls huddled under her cheek. Janet,
watching, also slept, fitfully, but heard
neither sound nor stir.
Morning found Miss Wilton raving-l
and the pearls gone. Janet hardly gave
them Thoughtful her thought was for
the sick woman. Two days, another
night, half the next day she sat by her,
battling with fever, with deliriuna.
Complications had developed-the-e was
pneumonia. Though others came and