Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-12-11

CHAPTER XVII.
The next day brought the news of Cap
tain Dene's death. and as she wept II
sorrow for her friends sudden bereave
ment. Jane could, without suspicion, In
dulge her own hearts grief.
The funeral, in accordance with thf
wish that had been generally expressed
took place at Alipore; and Jane, standing
at the window, watched the procession
pass, through q mist of sympathetic
tears.
Jane had written a few lines to Mre
Dene, not attempting to condole with her
but only 10 tell her how she felt for heI
sorrow: and a few days after the funera.
she received a note begging her to go and
see her.
The meeting was naturally a painfu
one. both remembering how and wher<
they had been last together, but the
widow was the more composed of the two
and could but see that something else
WAS grieving Jane beside simple grief foJ
her.
You have been in trouble yourself
Jane: can't you tell me what it is
And only too glad to pour out all heI
woes into such n sympathetic ear, JANE
told the whole story.
But. Jenny" Mrs. Dene said, tenderly
"you knew of this when we were n;
Cawnpore together, yet 1t did not seem to
grieve you then"
II scarcely realized it." sobbed Jane.
"And something since has opened youi
eyes to what it is you stand committee
toT"
Jane bowed her head.
May l guess what it is?" whispere.
Mrs. Dene. You love some one now
and know what you are giving up-am
right, Jennyf"
Again Jane bowed her head-this time
TO hide the vivid bushes which suffuset
her face.
"And does he love you?"
Perhaps; 1 thought SO, and yet
yet"
She broke down in utter confusion. She
could not explain what she thought ever
to the friend she loved SO well.
Mrs. Dene remained for awhile in puI
but could not tell how.
II do not wish to force your confidence
she said at length: but something wai
told me once, and 1 was wondering
whether ought to tell it to you"
Not anything against Jacob Lynn ?
sharply.
MY dear, how should know anything
about him?" with a little gentle scorr
that showed Jane perhaps more clearly
than anything else could what a gull
would divide her from all her new friends
should she marry the man to whom she
was betrothed-
II beg your pardon" she said, humbly
Mrs. Dene went on as though nothing
had occurred to interrupt.
81 certainly should have let it reach
you through-through the proper channel
only that now the knowledge of it might
influence your decision, and otherwise il
might come too late; don't know if yor
are ambitious, Jane, but, If you liked
you might some day be Lady Larron
uore!'
LADY Larronmore" echoed the girl
surprised, for the name conveyed moth
ing to her mind.
.It is the title to which Major Larror
will succeed; and he wishes-1 know, fol
he told me-to win you as his wife"
"Me." said Jane, opened-eyed and
breathless.
Yes. you," answered Mrs. Demo, with
faint smile that showed how sad ths
expression of her lips had been before
You are quite a heroine of romance
Jenny; surely no woman had ever such .
choice of positions. You might bs
queen of society, Or" She stopped Q
little awkwardly.
"Or a soldiers wife in barracks" con
cluded Jane, quietly.
II have no right to ask you II you care
for Major Larron," went on Mrs. Dene
II only thought you ought to know hs
cared for you"
1T has made no difference" said Jane
but I thank you all the same for the
intended kindness. No, l don't even like
Major Larron; and l dare say he has
changed his mind, too, since he spoke te
you. for he has never said a word l could
construe into anything of the sort"
To Mrs. Dene it was evident that the
xirl had spoken the truth, yet who could
Il be that she loved and was thinking
about now, if her bushes were to be be
tieved? Not Valentine Graeme surely
he was too young, too frivolous to in.
spire such a tender passion; nor Colone
Prinsep-why, how blind she had been
of course, it must be he! Lately heI
thoughts had been so much with herself
and her own affairs, that she had for
gotten the fancy which Jane had alwayf
10 artlessly shown for the eligible bach.
slor colonel. Now 1t returned to her ir
full force. and she understood that the
fancy had become q love as ardent as il
was nl-advised-what she had always
feared for her protege had unhappily
some to pass, for that Stephen Prinser
returned the girls affection she could not
credit.
my poor child, it is all very hard on
vou," she said, presently, thinking that
how she knew all, she could understand
the struggle that was going on in James
mind between a hopeless love and an en-
vagement that promised to be more hope
loss still.
ut is very hard" sighed Jane. "My
mother Is, Of course, against my marry
Ing back into the position which she
thought we had left behind us forever
and even my father, I think. is disap
pointed, though he is SO good he will not
say 20. Yet l know l am right. Yor
think SO. too, don't your longing for somt
sns to uphold her in her resolution.
Mrs. Dene hesitated, afraid of Sirin:
Yer the wrong advice.
you roveu nlmS- sno an1wvsS0 -
last. II should counsel you to hold to your
word at all hazards"
Il do not love him." replied Jane, In q
low, ashamed voice, feeling that It was
the saddest confession she could make,
for was he not the man that she w'S
pledged to marry?
Then do not marry him, Jenny.
You forget that he loves me, Hnd
though 1t must have been in momentary
madness, promised of my own free VIII.
II hA bad been doh or In Q GQQ1 Do&uo0s