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Show THE PURPLE STAR. The next time Gus Rybolt is brought before me for some of his numerous misdemeanors I will sentence him heavily." And Judge Johnson stirred his tea vigorously while a deep wrinkle grew between his fine iron gray brows, under which glowed his keen earnest eyes. The ?? daughter Janie lingered to pour his second cup of tea. She was very fond of waiting on papa, for Janie, though only twelve years old was the old judge's housekeeper, her mother having died two years previously. "Who pays his fines-for you often speak of his arrests, papa?" "His brother Warren who is as fine a young man as the town contains. I cannot understand Gus, he's handsome, bright, and might be most anything he chose. He'll end on the gallows yet." "Oh, papa!" But reckless, wild Gus Rybolt was soon forgotten when the parlor was reached, and Janie sat down to her piano. A servant entered an hour later and handed the judge a telegram. "Uncle Rube is dying, and has sent for me." "Dying! Uncle Rube!" "Yes, are you afraid to remain with the servants and Mrs. Smith? I feel uneasy owing to that money. I ought to have put it in the bank, but have been overcrowded with work and business. Too bad!" muttered the judge a trifle anxiously, glancing at his little daughter dubiously. "Oh, no, papa, I'm not afraid. Poor uncle Rube! You had better start at once. Don't worry about me, Mrs. Smith sleeps in the next room, you remember." But the judge did worry and fret, not only over the danger of his daughter and his money, but blamed himself severely for his carelessness. Even among his graver fears for his brother, the thought of thieves and burglars haunted him. "I ought to be ashamed of myself to leave that amount of money in the house even for a day for the place is so isolated, the servants such arrant cowards and cousin Sallie such a weak help. Only Janie's brave little heart to depended on. Heaven bless the child. Now what can be the matter of Rube I cannot imagine; he was well enough last week." Mrs. Sallie Smith, a forty second cousin of the judge's, and a confirmed invalid, occupied the room on the right of Janie's, while that on the left was her father's, and in it the iron safe that contained the money referred to. "I'm afraid I am a bit nervous," mused Janie walking round her chamber with a shudder. "The servants are quite a way off and cousin Sallie takes so much laudanum she would never waken. I wonder if I would feel safer with the money under my pillow." And foolish little Janie, having the combination of the safe, went to it, opened it and took out the roll of bills. "Oh, ho," said a soft voice behind her. "That is exactly what I want, I had no idea you would be so accommodating. Don't scream on your life." And the bold fellow actually laughed as he seized her wrist. Janie did not cry out. She gave him one sudden, startled, indignant look, and bending her head, buried her white strong teeth in the exposed wrist of the hand that held her captive. "You little tiger-cat," he cried, in a rage and intense suffering. "Let go or I will kill you." But while the sharp pain had unmanned him, with the other hand she thrust the roll of money into the safe and sprung the lock. "Now," she said triumphant, "get it if you can, but-oh, Gus Rybolt, I know you." "You-no you don't-ah, well, you will tell your precious father before another day closes. Come, hand over the cash, I want to have some chance of getting away." "No, you cannot have the money. Oh, Gus Rybolt, remember your sainted mother, your good brother; what will they think now? How can you be so wicked?" "I have no time for nonsense. Hand over the cash, or I'll-" and the click of a revolver hammer sounded. Janie's eyes flashed in scorn. "You harm a helpless little girl! You, who always boasted of bravery! For shame, Gus Rybolt, you are a coward!" But in a gentler tone-"If you will make me a promise I will also make you one and keep mine as long as you do yours. If you will leave me now and become a better boy-an honest, honorable one-I will never tell." The temptation to persist in his undertaking was great but down in wicked dare-devil Gus Rybolt's heart there was a tender spot, which beautiful Janie Johnson had held ever since she was a mite of a child, and he had taken care of her at school. Harm her? He wouldn't have harmed a hair of her head to have saved his own life, and she knew it. "You cannot have the money, but won't you accept the promise-won't you make the compact?" "Yes," he said at last, in a husky, strained voice. "Heaven bless you, Janie Johnson, and may Heaven help me!" and he was gone. And Janie, with eyes full of tears slipped into bed, and after a long time fell soundly asleep. But wasn't that old judge furious when he came home? "An abominable practical joke," he fumed. "There was Rube well as I am, and very much surprised to see me. I know who did it." "Why, papa," laughed Janie "you ought to be so thankful that Uncle Rube is well and not dying, as you thought. How can you feel provoked or angry? I am so glad it wasn't true." The next morning Gus Rybolt had disappeared. Ten years later Janie Johnson was a lovely stately woman. The radiant promise of early girlhood was more than fulfilled, while the brave, tender heart was unchanged. The wife of the governor was receiving, and her rooms were filled with distinguished guests. The last comer was a young man of thirty of commanding presence, whose grave and noble face made him seen somewhat older. After paying his respects to the hostess, he made his way slowly forward and was met by many smiles and greetings. He was evidently a great favorite in society. "Oh, there is General Rybolt, who has refused the Austrian mission, papa says because he has another and better mission among the poor of New York. You know him by reputation, dear; but very few know the half of the great and good things he is doing with his wealth and talents." The speaker was the governor's daughter. Janie Johnson turned her lovely hazel eyes carelessly toward the person pointed out-looked one instant coolly upon him, and her face underwent a sudden strange change. "It is-yes, it must be Gus Rybolt! How marvelous are thy ways, O God!" she breathed. Slowly yet steadily he found his way toward her. Her face was no longer pale, but flushed, and her upraised eyes showed pleased recognition. His first words were, "I have kept my promise, have you kept yours?" "Yes, oh yes," she breathed, then added "Thank Heaven!" to which he gave a low "Amen!" To say the old judge was astonished is putting it mildly. To find in the eminent editor and reformer his old-as he supposed-incorrigible Gus Rybolt, utterly nonplussed him. To an old friend he said confidentially: "Yes the boy has turned out a trump, and the wonder of it is Janie thinks so too," he laughed. And Janie never told of her robber, yet she kisses sometimes a purple scar on her husband's wrist. "It was the beginning of the new life," she says, "the beautiful new life of an honest man."-Our Second Century. |