Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-19

II d0nt knOD hotr 10 ten non hOr re-
9rct hdrihg to sag No, Mr.. Lane"
Never before had Fred Lane known the
sensation of beng reluctant to rejoin his
regiment. When the colonel wrote a per
sonal letter to him some eight or ten weeks
previous, telling him that Curran would
almost surely get the next vacancy on the
retired list and that he would expect his
old adjutant to come back to them at once
and restore efficiency and discipline to
Troop ID, Mr.. Lane replied with the utmost
readiness; but this was before Mabel Vim
cent came into his life and changed its
whole current How much and how de-
votedly he loved her Lane himself never
realized until the day of his promotion
reached him, and with it the news that his
successor was already designated. He knew
that within the week he might expect
orders from the war department to join his
troop at Fort Graham as soon as he had
turned over his funds and property to the
officer designated to relieve him; he knew
Noel well as to feel assured that he
would not wait for the arrival of formal
orders, but, if the colonel would permit,
would start the instant he received tele-
graphic notification from Washington that
"Old Riggs F" nomination had been ap-
proved. "'fhis is Wednesday" he mused;
and by week from today can count on
his being here; and in ten days must 60"
There was large party that night, and
fully "A week before, he had asked that he
might have the honor of being Miss Vim
cents escort. 1t was with great disappoint-
ment TINT he received her answer, which
was spoken, however, in a tone of such sor-
row that poor Lane felt that the barbs, ut
least, of the arrow had been removed
81 don't know how to tell you how re-
Sret having to say No. Mr. Lane" she
said, and there was n tremor in her voice
and little quiver at the corners of her
pretty mouth 81 have almost felt conf.
dent that you were going to ask me-is that
very bold thing to sayp-for you have
been $3.50 kind to me since our first meet
ing, and indeed / wanted in some way to
let you know that there were other ar
rangements already made. But how could
! say anything? Mr.. Rossiter, the eldest
son of fathers former partner, comes to
pay us visit of four or five days before he
goes abroad again. And he is great friend
OF the Chiltons, and, being our guest, he
goes with me. Indeed, I'm very sorry, Mr..
Lane if you are disappointed
Fred, of course, begged that she should
give herself no uneasiness. There was no
".
Mr.. Rossiter was very much to he envied,
and he would like to call and pay his re-
spects to that gentleman when he arrived
by all means do said Miss Vincent;
and, If not asking too much, would Mr.
Lane get him card at the cluby Brother
lex was away, or she wouldn't trouble
him. But Lane was delighted to he trou-
blcd. Anything she asked-any service he
could render her--he flew with untold
eagerness to accomplish; aud, though prop
erly jealous of the coming man-this Mr.
Rossiter, of whom he had never before
heard mention-he was eager to meet and
entertain him. The gentleman was TO ar
rive on Monday, and Lane spent a delight
ful evening at the Vincents', wondering
why he hadn't come. Tuesday would sure
ly bring him, or an explanation, said Miss
Mabel; and on Tuesday Lane was prompt
to call, and glad TO spend another long
evening at the hospitable old homestead, |
and stoutly did he hold his ground through |
Three successive relays of visitors, encour- |
aged 10 do 50 ty n certain look in his lady's |
bright eyes that spoke volumes to his |
throbbing heart, and that very next morn
ing at the club he found her dainty mis-
sive on his breakfast table.
How early she must have risen TO write |
t!-and To have seen the announcement of |
ms promotion IN the Washington dis |
patchesl True, he remembered that it was
frequently her pleasure 10 be up betimes to
give her father his coffee; for Vincent pere
was business man of the old school, who
liked TO begin early in the day, OF course
he had seen the name in the Washington
news and had read the paragraph to her;
that was the way To account for II. But
her note was a joy to him in its sweet, half
shy, half confidential wording She mere
ly wrote To say that Mr., Rossiter had wired
that he would be detained in New York
until the end of the week; and now, if Capt.
Lame had really made no engagement, she
would he glad indeed il he cared to renew
the invitation which with such regret She
was compelled a week ago to decline. Lane
totally forgot his breakfast in his haste to
rash To the writing room aud send her
reply.
All The Queen City" had been quick to
see or hear of his sudden smite" and con
seqnent devotion 10 Mabel Vincent, aud
great was the speculation as to the prob
able result
HOW can she encourage him as she