The Colorado statesman., 1911-07-15
.Janet'S Surrender
By JANE OSBORN

A tear OF self-pity dimmed her eyes
and Janet turned about and made her
way back to, the open beach. Theh
with increasing fear OF the darkness
and a hundred imagined dangers she
hurried back to the only available pro
tection-the deserted Pratt veranda-
Frantically she knocked at the OLD
knocker. but she could hear only the
hollow sound OF its vibration through
the unlighted house. Now the dark
ness of the house seemed even more
terrifying than the darkness OF the
woods and the only thing to do was
to avoid either evil by sitting on the
veranda and waiting. Some one, IL
only the cook. would return before
very long.
For hours Janet sat disconsolatey
alone. Her prettiest gown was ruined
she was sure, without even having
been admired. She was tired and
crest-fallen. At length she buried her
head In her hands and began to cry.
There was q morbid sort OF comfort
In this.
Suddenly through the trees she
heard sounds of voices. At first there
was comfort in any sort of change,
but as the voices came towards her
she was filled with terror. The party
| turned in at the driveway and as she
watched them swinging up toward her
she fancied the return OF band OF
bandits or pirates after oay
plunder. There were a dozen OF
them she could see and not one girl
She could see them distinctly now
and In a second more they would be
upon her, and would see her fearful
eyes and torn gown. Quickly she
Jumped and ran to the end OF the
veranda-
Hello there!" sounded voice that
seemed brutal. who saw ghost?'
1t was quite obvious that she had
been seen In her flight and as the
young men gathered on the veranda
she knew that a search was In prog
ress. Breathless che slipped behind
chair at the far end of the porcn.
Here she crouched. In few minutes
more the voices had passed into the
house. Apparently the ghost had not
been worth pursuing.
1t came upon Janet in flash ana
In part 1t explained the dificulty.
Obviously, only the men OF the party
were being housed here. and the girls
quite likely were safe and serene ir
the new house through the woods.
The idea of again attempting the
woodland path to reach them was
impossible and the thought OF being
discovered here was quite as revolt
ing. Perhaps the note in the room
| rh-
for her after all, and that would ex-
plain. A sob came into her throat
and she stopped.
"Oh, / don't want to explain 1t to
myself, she said half aloud. Il want
to have some one help me-"
Then she heard subdued footsteps
on the veranda Perhaps 1t was the
cook and perhaps 1t was
"Georgei" she whispered cautiously.
"George!"
Who's thereY came Georges In
vestigating voice.
"G-George ?" she tried again to make
sure.
In a second the alarmed young man
had thrown aside the chair and was
crouching beside her in the darkness.
the world did you come from?"
"Oh, I've been 80 lonesome and
frightened, and miserable. And you
were SO disagreeable and thoughtless
to leave me all alone!"
But, Janet dear" said George ten
derby, as he wrapped her cloak about
her shoulders. II didn't know you
were coming; you know you wrote
us you couldn't"
But that horrid. stiff old note you
left for me-" said Janet
That wasn't for you; 1t was for Bob
Winters. who said he might come
down at the last minute. Come. dear;
there wasn' room here 80 the girls
are at the other house. I'll take you
to them through the woods"
Il won't go unless you promise to
explain everything" said Janet. still
unreasonable.
81 won't take you step unless you
promise to listen-not Just to that.
Janet, but to something else I've
wanted to tell you for a long time.
You know, Janet"
For a minute George waited. Then
he felt Janet's hand reaching for his.
and heard her laugh
I'm afraid of the woods, alone.
George So 1 suppose I'll have to
promise"