Norwich bulletin., 1916-11-09
JANET's REWARD

There! Father always said, 'Tt takes Janet to build a are!'" A final poke. and a shower of sparks went scnrrying up the wide, old fashioned chimney. Little darting flames reached up and caught the great log in warm embrace. Janet sank into the big chair sacred to the. memory of the old professor, and raised her eyes to mantel.
 You were fire worshipper. too. weren't you, daddy?" she asked softly. then added wistfully, T don't mean to be a coward, daddy. but oh, I wish you might have stayed. Did you miss little mother so that you were glad to go? Did the children worry you with their nosy play7 I tried. daddy-I think you know how hard tried to take her place"
 The shadows deepened in the pro- fessor's old library, softening defects in the marred furniture, hiding thread bare spots in the faded carpet. From the shelves of the great bookcases old time friends and dear companions looked down upon the girl.
 Outside the low, oid-fashioned win dows the wind blew in ftful gusts, dashing the rain -drenched woodbine against the diamond panes, loosened shutter rattled. and from far up the chimney came little sobbing moan.
 The old collie stirred uneasily and rose, only to lie down again little closer to his beloved mistress.
 Janet's slender fingers closed over the worn arms of the big chair.
 'T mean to be brave, daddy, but" A sudden crash in the. distant kitch- en brought Miss Warren to her feet and drove back the threatening tears.
 Tt can't be the pink lustre pitcher, for I've forbidden her to touch that, prny- No Ia c1 fo .1t-nr things. I wish Martha wouldn't be quite so hard on the child.
 Well, ,NannIe," as the door burst suddenly open and a frightened face appeared; but the door closed quite as suddenly. and Miss Warren found her self alone. A brief silence, then gentle knock.
 Janet smiled approvingly Come in." she called. You did remember, didn't you, dear,?" fz.-i :pr
 "Yes'm, afterwards"
 Mamie came slowly forward It dragged little more than usual. She noticed, too, the tired droop to the slender shoulders and the pathetic pleading of the dull blue eyes.
 Well, Nannie," she repeated and her voice was very gentle now. She was thinking of what old Mrs. Fales had said: tze5 s55 @9E -,@1
 She ain't overbright. Miss Warren and she's jest been knocked about from place to place, till the society took her up. That peralsis' a dretfu1 thing for children" 1
 Janet became suddenly aware that Mamie was speaking. .-r<fJ55 a--
 Tt was the middle-sized mixin' bowl, ma'am-uhe cracked one with the blue band. Martha says she'd rather it'd been any other dish in the house. She always says that. Seems as if I'd get all her fav'rites- smashed up pretty soon," she ended wearily
 Janet suppressed a smile. Come here, Nannie," she said, and tell me how it happened"
 But Mamie did not hear The big log which had been snapping merrily during the last few minutes had burst into sudden flame, flooding the room with its rudy glow.
 "Ohi" she cried in childish rap- ture, isn't this beautiful room" As is fascinated. she drew. nearer and nearer the fire, stretching. out herthin little hands to the blaze. "I reckon you don't ever get lonesome in here, do you, Miss Warren?"
 Just how it happened Miss Warren herself never could tell. Martha found them, some time later, Janet in the big chair, Mamie curled up on the old fur rug, one hand buried in Lad dies shaggy coat, the other stroking
 
 And so." Janet was saying, there was another wedding in the old stone house, and the last Of the little broth CTS and sisters went away and left Janet alone"
 All alone" repeated Mamie softly, nestling closer to Miss Warren's side
 There was silence for a moment in the old library, then shyly came the question. -r Fl
 "But don't Janet want to get mar ried, too Miss Warren?"
 Perhaps it was the glowing embers that caused the soft flush on the sweet face-perhaps Miss Warren had not heard the question: Mamie waited patiently, but Janets thoughts were far away.
 How long ago it seemed. If only
 With an effort Janet came back to Mamie and the present
 Not all alone, Mamie. I have Lad die to protect me, faithful old Martha to care for me, and dear little girl