The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-07-31
JAN
BY MoLLIE MArHER

ID ERYL came down the garden na+h
u In the morning sunshine; a small
sunny creature herself, with locks a.
golden gleam, and song on her lins
Beryl's cheeks were as softly pink n
the garden rose petal.
Beryl had never had lover. II VIVA
very strange; she pondered about n
sometimes wistfuliy, for she wa,
happily content In grandfather's bean.
tiful old home. But one could not
help but wonder when one saw other
young maids and their admirina
SWANS.
Beryl looked now at a girl with
bobbed dark hair and boyish strids
who walked the road beside a youns
man. The two were laughing and mi
youth threw his arm about the girl
who accepted the caress unembas
rassed by Beryl's confused scrutiny
Beryl would have kept her lovers ca.
resses sacred-if she had given her
self into his keeping-if her future
was to be nodded with his future. So
Beryl thought Of love as her mother,
long gone, had taught her to think:
so grandfather's guardianship carried
on for her that ideal. Which all may
have accounted for the fact Of Beryl's
loverless condition. Young men Of the
present day. or at least those who had
looked upon Beryls charms and
passed on their way, were accustomed
to Jolly comradeship In the youns
women whom they honored with their
attention.
Grandfather's old friend Of many
years was leaving for a trip abroad
you WILL" he begged Beryl. "go over
often to my lonely place and see that
things are going nicely. The house
keeper will be glad to have you open
the piano and keep 1t from losing its
tone before my grandson, John Noble
comes home. You were a little girl
when he went away, Beryl, but he
will soon come home and Will want to
play the pieces his mother used to
love, on the old piano that was hers
And perhaps, my dear, you will walk
among the flowers that are my pride.
ard see that the gardener does not
neglect them. Jan-our Swedish maid
calls him Yan'-will be delighted with
your interest !"
So, on this sunshiny morning Beryl
went softly singing, to keep her prom
ise to grandfather's friend and neigh
Dor. Dutifully she opened the piano
that John Noble was to play. and as
the perfume Of the garden flowers
came through the window she pom
dered about this young man of whom
she heard SO much; Of the pride her
own grandfather shared with his old
friend in young Johns success. Dur
Ing those years when Beryl. a child
had lived with her parents far from
the family home, this young John had
spent half his time with her grand
father in the big house adjoining his
own A framed picture Of the boy
hung above the bricked fireplace She
arose and went to study 1t again; dark
hair waved from John Mobiles high
forehead; a good face. a slim boyish
figure.
Beryl went out into the garden to
gather flowers for the vases-this part
OF her pleasant promised duty. She
found Jan kneeling before a plant.
"RosesT Jan answered her ques-
tion. "Yes, Miss Brooks, Mr.. Noble
told me to keep the best for your pick
Ing. We have choice varieties. You
will enjoy them"
As Beryl's acquaintance with Jan
grew-inevitably it must grow in the
pursuance Of her promised duties-she
was first amazed. then admiring of his
learning. From the stars in the heav-
ems above to the occupants Of the seas
below. there appeared to be nothing
which the strange, respectfully humble
Jan had not searched out in study.
James Noble" grandfather told
Beryl. has paid in part for the young
mans education. My old friend con
sidered him worthy"
"And now," asked Beryl wondering.
he Is satisfied to spend his time work
Ing In garden?"
For time" her grandfather re
piled.
One night Beryl in her moonlit
chamber leaned-like Juliet of old
from her balcony. There, in the fair
garden below she could see the dark
head of Jan. He stood motionless, as
though In thought. Then an amazing
thing happened to the girl who had
never known lovers homage-Beryl
knew from the deep tenderness that
assailed her that she herself loved the
man who was her old friends gar
dener. Cropping, yet surely. she went
down the iron steps of the tiny balcony
straight to the musing mans side. BE
looked up at her approach. then, as
though reading her heart, he put out
MS arms to her-and Beryl went into
them. "Oh. JAM" she murmured
orokenly. MY Jani'
Dear heart" he said-and triumph
was In his tone-''it is all right. ALL
N Il