Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-12-12
CHAPTER XXI

Ihe fourteenth-Jane's wedding day
mad come. Mrs. Knox had insisted upon
the ceremony taking place at a very
early hour. ostensibly to avoid the heat,
but in reality to allow of the Colonel and
MS bride leaving the station before the
detachment could arrive But, early as
1T was to be, Jane was dressed an hour
too soon, and stood before the mirror in
the draWing-room surveying herself with
pardonable pride in her appearance.
Jane gazed on wistfulIy in the glass.
She was glad that she was so fair, that
even II she had no other dowry she could
at least bring her husband the gift Of
beauty. She prayed that in his eyes at
least she might never seem less lovable
and lovely, that he might never repent
having chosen her above all others to
be his wife. And as she gazed, some one
came in through the open window, and
beside her glowing, smiling face in the
mirror was reflected the figure of Jacob
Lynn.
At first thrill of instructive terror ran
through her, as she met his fierce blue
eyes, and she shrunk away from the pas
sion expressed in his haggard face. But
the next moment truer feeling moved
her, and she was only conscious of a
great compassion for his sorrow.
'Why did you come, jacob" she asked,
her voice full of tender, womanly COM
miseration, as she turned toward him.
"Why did 1 Gomez" he returned with
bitter laugh. Because I wanted to see
with my own eyes whether Jane Knox
was as false, as untrue as they tell mel"
'False, untrue"' she echoed, paling.
Gwen l, with my unhappily suspicious
nature, never dreamed of this" he went
on, ruthlessly. 81 thought you might
write and throw me over, perhaps; but
how could l believe that you, whom I
thought purer and more perfect than any
other in the world, either man or woman,
would steal march upon me so, and to
avoid a disagreeable explanation with
me. would get married in my absence
You need not have been afraid of me,
Jenny!' he added in softer tone.
81 afraid of you! Why should I be?
You gave me up-you returned my letter
torn in half without a word" she re-
turned.
81 returned your letter, it is true?' he
answered, more quietly. "But it was not
torn, and at the bottom of the page I
wrote my answer that | could not give
YOU up. I wrote again
'.And / never had the letter.
sit was your mother who did it! She
was always dead against me- Jacob
Lynn replied.
Jane remained speeches., listening to
The clatter of plates and glasses in the OPP
nos;te room. where her mother-her moth
er who had deceived her so, and brought
her to this degradation-was putting the
finishing touches to the simple wedding
breakfast.
"And so you were to have married our
Colonel. Jenny. Do you remember how
long ago thought you two were court
ing? You denied it then, but after all
If came to pass. 1t is difficult to deceive
n lover. and you are so pretty, could
NOT cxpect to keep you al to myself with
out a rival.
Slowly her gaze wandered over him,
from his rakishly good-looking face, with
;ts hr;obt hlue eyes and amber mustache,
TO his tall figure towering above her.
A Acknowledging that he was handsomer
and more soldier-like than any one she
bad eyer known. Jane felt that she would
RI thor die than become his wife.
..I rode as hard as / could gallop all
Tho wav he explained. 1T was only at
tho LOST camp we heard the news that
Tho Colonel was to be married to-day;
and then. when I heard who it was he
meant TO marry, understood why the
,,arr;are had been kept so quiet. L got
laaya TO come on at once, without teIilng
anyone INV reasons for wishing to be here
and here am!
A. this iuncture Mrs. Knox looked IN
Mt the door, which was half agar.