The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-10-21

seemed yet more boundless She might
| go with whom she pleased, smile as
sweetly as she divinely willed, dance
with the young lawyer all night, and
| write down to the academy full bill of
particulars with the utmost impunity
But this night-well ! well there was
no possible excuse for his folly, and he
would think no more of it.
Bright and early next morning he left
Harry Landers in the library--writing a
letter home-and saddling his horse, rode
over to Sackett's Harbor to take dinner
with favorite aunt, and listen to the
advice that had been gradually acoumu.
lating over his head for the past two
years
In all these anticipations the Lieuten-
ant was not disappointed. He received
hearty welcome, an excellent dinner
and even better advice the third class
blessing being, by the way, so long pro
tracted that it was not until late in the
afternoon that he was able to imprint
the farewell kiss on the old lady's cheek,
and begin his retreat from her hospital
ity.
But at so sharp pace did he urge
the sorrel mare that the sun was yet an
hour high when the centre of Hepworth
Forest was reached and time was granted
him to stop at the Powder Springs--a
favorite spot with him from childhood.
Our memories are loyal to the law of
association, and as the Lieutenant fas-
tened the mare to tree a little from the
highway and then threw himself on n
grassy knoll by the spring, a panorama
of his young life, before epaulettes and
ambitions dream had come to dazzle,
seemed to rise before him. His truant
days, when without furlough he had
stayed from school with certain boon
companions, the hour she spent at this very
spot, the fun of splashing the waters of the
brook in one anothers faces, or building
dam bit below the fountain source,
with faintest manifestations of that en-
gineering skill that was to score him
. high at the academy.
But how could he chase such thoughts
long ere they brought him to when the
r eyes of Jennie Hanlan seemed blacker
and brighter than the eyes of the other
girls, and his bashful glances were an
|
when he finally essayed to rival her
boldness she would turn away and smile
as sweetly elsewhere, and he awoke to
find himself head over heels in love with
the greatest flirt in the school But as
they grew older he was certain Jennie
! improved. until, one bright morning
the very brightest of his life--the past
q Yves all secured by that letter of all let
ters, that answered his inhammabls
I epistle from the academy, and assuret
= him that she, Jennie Hanlan, ,thoughtless
wayward Jennie Hanlan, would be hi,
- own true sweetheart forever and ever
! amen.
{ How much longer this young man o
n 23 would have suffered such commun
4 ions as these to drive his aunt's advice
e from a level head was never tested, fo
g Just then step was heard, and with i
another and "a remarkably grutf voic,
n announced that they would stop righ
# there.
J. Almost instinctlvely the Lieutenan
l. kept very still, but a natural curiosit,
l led him to peer through the foliage t,
n where they had seated themselves. The,
were not a specially refined or attractiy
3 brace of tourists, or such as would max
e cOngenial company III back alley on
e dark night, if one might Judge from ap
& pearances 1t should be said they wer
r dressed in considerably better style tha
k the model tramp, but their clothe
d seemed to speak rather of former splel
s doris than of future hopes, of setting
ir than rising sun. But their converse
k ton was decidedly more interesting thai
d themselves.
d "lle was "A trim cut youngster, nov
l. wasn't he, Jack p
G "All brass buttons are, came the surl
answer.
o. "And so sweet on the girl that &C
n Jealous; eh, Jack" with an heroic effort
a arouse his companion from his stupor
at But Jack appeared wrapped in though
le and so was the Lieutenant. A great ligl
le was shining out from most unexpecte
a source. Harry Landers stood for TIL
at "bra' buttons" and Jennie Hanlan wa
De out riding with him, and the bitter SUI
n, picions of the last night returned wit
G, tenfold force.
as "Now, Jack, you're bit envious {
is me" said the more talkative one, with
grim sense of the humorous, which JAG
lie didn't seem to appreciate.
a 81 was wondering what time OF da
IT, it is.
IF 1t seemed an innocent and reasonab
ur manner of wonder, but his companio
OF looked at him inquiringly. Jacks answe
nd ing glance appeared to satisfy him.
he "It's a go, Jack, but hate to frightC
it. the girl.
lis "Of course" answered Jack, with q
ny oath, ''she might cut your acquaintanc
ed or refuse your hand at the ne
er German"
lss The grimness of the remark broug
Ter loud "Hal ha" from his companio
which Jack instantly suppressed with h
lot scowling looks, as he muttered that
80, was time for them to be back,
eu- The idea that the gay young caVali
lie and the object of his passion would 800
lily be that way seemed to furnish food /
of reflection for all three, and the silence
nd natures spot came back. 1t could n
Re- have lasted long but il seemed full a
he to Lieutenant Stockton Again the c
he glances of Jennie Hanlan were steali
toward him, and then she was bescechi
Try him to defend her When had he dreaI
he of greater privilege When would
m sabre so gaily have leaped from his sc'
ud bard? But his arm shrank back now al
lhe there was pollution in the cause He "
lay asked to re-establish the throne
ng ueachery and to crown the queen
ing coquettes.
an He would care no more for ,Ienl
ok Hanlan than for any other human beil
the not so much as for the beggar along
lad way; and yet suppose he didn't--wl
)od then What mattered it all And
stole toward the sonel, unfastened b
ag- and felt for his revolver
l. There was heavy step crushing
or underbrush behind him, and then
TO sensation of a weight of hemisphere