Janet of the Dunes

pped stitches and uneven rows were in evidence all over the creation of dark red, with its bushy little knot on top. But Janet had an eye for the impressionistic touch, an

e had taught her true, but Thornly had, later, assisted Nature; and no French modiste could more accurately have chosen the shade of reddish brown to suit the complexion than had Janet selected, from the vi

would ask for no other helper; it would seem like disloyalty to Mark. Janet took a turn now and again to relieve David,

ired as he was, the girl's

t out on the table, Davy, and

on't b'lieve Pa Tapkins can beat yer coffee. Expectin'

heard a w

' vis

miled a crooked little smile, and gave the artistic Tam a new angle, "but I'm rather frozen out. Mrs. Jo G.'s Amelia made a 'face' at me yesterday. I shouldn't have noticed it, for the creature'

id, moving between st

wonder if they are going to shut the

ed, and spoke from the d

ar window and the old unbroken

if Mark should happen back, go over to the Station to see Cap'n Billy. Something's the matter with my Cap'n Daddy. He's keeping off land like an ocean steamer. Davy, he's

en doubtin' Billy's actions fur some time an', if Mark comes back, I'll jine y

halfway down the garden path as she answ

eping room; "Mark's got his stomick full of c

, she would always be able to know this satisfaction of the senses. She paused at the entrance of the woods and looked back. The path was strewn with a carpet of leaves; here and there a tall poplar stood majestically above its stunted comrades of pines and scrub oaks, but looked gaunt and bare, while the hu

content with statin' truths, day after day, when the sea lay smilin' like a babby; they handed down a bigger whopper than what they did when they fust saw the water. 'Nearer! nearer! it's comin',' that's what they said, mingled 'long with powerful yarns as to how the monster looked! Naterally the scared oaks didn't take no interest in shootin' up, when they thought they was so soon t' be eaten, so they got the habit of crouchin' low an' dependin' on the poplars fur information. They got a notion, too, of turnin' away from the sea.

d from the station. In the far distance the girl heard the panting shriek of the engine of the morning train from the city. Could that shambling, weary figure approaching be Mark? Why, he lo

cheerily, "you l

face and an awakening of

e. "Davy managed pretty good? I was kept longer

Mark?" The amusement in the laughing voice made Mark shi

ight, but I got there a day

whe

' out. He's jest cle

ashamed of herself to want him when he did not want

e girl could speak in that fashion. She had no knowledge within her to cause her to falter or stand abashed. But the tired man, in the poor fellow, cried out to thi

has acted like an idiot with every man boarder her mother has had.

rl, so detached from him, must keep her childish faith. Whatever was to be borne and suffered, he, in his bungling fashion, must

of duty with a sigh. He was awake to life and i

n err

ha

as soon as you can, go up to the Light. I'll soon be bac

kind of

to be great fun. D

nd the curve of the road. That any being on e

al t' tacklin' it. The dear Lord knows I don't. I hate t' have a job what I know from the start I'm goin' t' botch,

ellar window, keeping the house between her and the barns. The window still swayed inward to her touch! The long skirts and new womanhood retarded movement somewhat, but the agile body had not forgotten its cunning. In a minute

lonelier than others," whispered the g

iet happiness; she would go back to the book and begin alone what they had eagerly pursued in company. Janet went to the bookcase; the book was gone and its neighbors were leaning

this untutored girl into all manner of paths and bypaths. It was a never-failing delight to him to watch her crude but keen gripping of the best from each. Alone now, and with

her nook she could see distinctly through the hall. The outer door opened, and in came Mr. Devant. He had apparently walked from the station, and was unexpected by the caretakers. He had been, without doubt, on the train with Mark but had taken a longer path from the station, or

dly he was rarely taken off his guard. "The surest way of getting you here,

beneath the vivid cap. The first impression of the girl's beauty was always puzzlingly s

ant had met her repeatedly since that morning and had always been jovial an

at a distance, but

m!" A wan smile flitted

ll winter, perhaps, Janet; you must teach me ice boat sailing and let me into all the other deba

showed his rough, red

he call

f Mrs. James B. can come up this afternoon

torated musingly,-"but she'

erfully, "I'll starve then. Saxt

had returned to hi

ferent face. "I suppose you couldn't cook for yourself even if y

ore I left town, and Mrs. James B. will be over as soon as she he

e where we left off. They're

to his easy-chair, "read it until you do. Bring the book here,

her feet. She stooped to pick it up, looked a bit su

that?" Dev

other's picture! I always carry

I see

t to Cap'n Billy and me. But then you are different. I think Cap'n Billy would not mind if you saw her. She w

nd stepping back, "why! I'm-I'm-why,

face this man and young girl at God's own time! How shrivelled the memory of the grim error was! How weird and pitiful it ar

ou know of

dropped one picture from the boo

, but to Devant it bore the awful

from her. "My God!" There could be no mistak

een a child; but that would have been a senseless invention-and Thorndyke was not the man to waste his energies. Perhaps the first child had died. Perhaps there had never been a marriage such as Thorndyke had said. That might easily have happened, and then the mother could have drifted

black. An answer she would have, and her heart demanded truth. She saw

He nodded toward the photographs as they lay side

entless voice wa

later in

er-"did you love her?" Why this question was wrung from her, the gi

uld save the future from the clutch of th

fe of him, the man could not fa

et you keep her picture!" She swayed. For the first time in her

erself almost at once and turning toward

ow to say it. She might be going to-what? An awful danger seemed to

ance. Devant heard the outer door close; then he sank i

ore you!" he groaned. "Poor