Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-12-25
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asAeu' pushing ASIDE the Omc1al papers
and leaning back in his chair, smiling.
You are going to be married, Colonel7"
was the quick reply, and an accent Of
high disdain crept into the divination.
The Colonel nodded his head.
Miss Knollys, 1 supposeY'
"Pshaw! I would as soon marry ar
iclcle! was the contemptuous reply.
Then am afraid you will have to tell
me who it is for l cannot guess
"It is Miss Knox"
The Adjutant was too dum6eQndsd to
offer the usual congratulations. he was
standing with one hand resting on the
table, and now placed the other on 1t
also, turning sideways, and prevented the
Colonel from seeing his face The Col
onei, too proud to ask for the good wishes
which were not forthcoming, would not
be the first to speak
Mr.. Graeme felt compelled to say some.
thing.
AFTER what said at Cawnpore about
. married colonel, you cannot expect me
to show exuberant delight" he observed
with rather a forced smile.
The Colonel looked disappointed at this
lack of warmth.
Il thought you would have been more
more enthusiastic. Val. l wanted you
for my best man, but"
Valentine tried hard to look gratified By
this mark of favor from his colonel. but
again his effort at cheerfulness was .
lugubrious failure
1T is very kind Of you to ask me, Col
onel," he answered, with the solemnity Of
a mute at a funeral: 1t seemed such a
satire upon his hopes that he should be
asked to take the part of first walking
gentleman when he had hoped to play the
title role. "COngratulations," he went
on. ARE very stupid things in my opinion: !:
but you may be sure 1 wish rou every
prosperity. Miss Knox is" He stop-
ped short. and concluded rapidly: "Bu,
you know what she is, sir"
"Yes. 1 know" laughed the Colonel.
And we will talk about your supporting
NE on the great occasion another time"
Though he spoke carelessly he had dis
covered from Valentines manner that he
was, or thought himself, hard hit, and
understood why he had been SO unready
to respond.
He rallied Jane about 1t that same
evening.
You are n regular little fire-brand IN
the regiment" he told her, smiling; mot
content with having me at your feet. Won
have left your mark at intervals all down
the list, from Major Larron and the Adju.
tant-" He broke off abruptly.
Down to Sergeant Lynn" she finished.
quietly. Don't let us have any subject
between us that we are afraid to men.
tion, Stephen"
He had taught her to call him by his
Christian name. and the slight pause be-
fore prOnouncing it seemed to make the
sound the sweeter when at last It fell ND
on his ears.
MY darling, nothing shall come be-
tween us either now or ever!' he assever-
ated, boldly; and even to himself the
speech seemed boastful one, for how
could he tell what the future had in
store?
Some doubt must have returned to him
later on, as they sat together after dinner
In the veranda, for he asked, anxiously,
'And II Sergeant Lynn had not given
you up, could you still have sacrificed me
to your love Of TRUTH"
II must have kept my word II 1 died"
she answered, firmly.
"Then, Jenny, your love must be less
than mine for you; think could have
given up all. even honor. for your sake."I
She looked distressed at his remark and
slipped her hand in his as a gentle pro-
test against his selfdeprecation.
"You should not speak SO, even in lest,
I should not love you as do II did NOT
think you nobler and truer than any one
else In the world" Then, feeling that
she had said more than the occasion de-
she added, in a lighter tone,
IN India I think one must hate false
hood more than in any other country,
Il 10 30 humiliating to share q meannesa
nth tho nafivea"
"And not be able to beat them at it
sither," he finished. gayly.
CHAPTER XXI.
Mn. Knox was much relieved to hear
Sergeant Lynn was off to Hattiabad, and
indeed had good cause for satisfa ction.
She had played a very bold game, and !
though just now it promised to be sue.
cessful, the slightest contretemps might |
render futile all her scheming, and mat.
fers would be worse than IL she Ind
never interfered to mend them. As she |
had stood that Sunday afternoon with
her letter In her hand, a sudden temptn.
hon had assailed her, whose promptinRsI
Ihc had not been able to resist. It seemed
such a simple thing to cut of the one
short sentence at the bottom Of the paRe:
and to tear the letter in half was mil
after-thought which seemed to give en-
phasis to the implied meaning of the re-
turn.
Mrs. Knox would not have resorted to
luch an expedient had not her daughter'.
happiness as well as worldly welfare
been concerned. However unwilling, she
would have eventually resigned herself
to the failure of her ambitious plans had
Jane really cared for Jacob Lynn.
1t was probable the Sergeant might
write to Jane again. she thought, and So |
she had perforce to be on the alert lest
he letter might fall into other hands thar
her own. She was glad that she had con.
emplated the possibility when a day OF
TWO later the letter came. 1t happened
hat she was alone in the house whom Il
lrrived; but 80 afraid was she Of detec.
on that she carried it away to her own
oon and locked the door. Then she tore
pen the envelope and read the letter.
my own dear one," it began. Il have
een wretched since your letter came, and
loped you might out of your great good
less, which know we'll have never de- |
erved, write to me again a fuller explain
tion. ! like your noble frankness in hav-
ng confessed that you love some one else;
md perhaps l ought to have released you
t your request, only could not, Jane-I
ould not! And whatever you may fancy
low. l cannot but think that you will turn
o me ut last, loving me, nearly If not
Iuite so dearly as love you. They say
women always forgive crimes committed
or their sake, then surely you will look |
eniently on my fault of selfishness. You
zee, admit 1t; know that I am selfish,
nd yet cannot muster up the courage to
ry to live without you. If lost you, l |
hould lose hope and drift 1 know not,
are not where. You hold my future in |
our hands. I am ordered to Hattiabad /
nd she'll Stsxt h. tia syspiag's train, !