Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-10-23
CHAPTER 1.
vi
Jenny

Jenny.
ayes, Sergeant Lynn"
His fine figure drawn to its full height,
as rigidly as though the eyes of the ad.
jutant were upon him, yet apparently
straining every nerve to appear unembar'
rassed and at his ease, Sergeant Lynn
was Il man with whom any woman might
be satisfied as u sweetheart His lea
lures were good, if not refined, and tho
weakness of his mouth was hidden by
mustache as magnificent as that of any
cavalry colonel in the service.
1t was only pretty Jane Knox, the ser
geant majors daughter, who seemed 81
impervous to his attractions and madd
him appear as witless and uncouth as the
latest trooper who had Joined thS awk.
ward squad. Hitherto, success had been
30 easy to the dashing sergeant. 1t could
only be said of his over-eagerness 10
please that this time he babe fair to fail.
She did not even dislike him. he told hint-
self with angry surprise; it was merely in
difference that she felt-indifference aS
gravating as it was complete.
Jane, don't be SO provoking. You
know | mean-
THAT it would be best for me to MARI,
a sergeant. Well, I dare say it would
thoughtfully-.'if-i / could only make
up my mind
"Try-onIy try, Jane. Love always
comes after marriage" he argued, eager
ly.
why don't you prove it by your Own
example?" she answered, negligently.
Marry some one you detest, and if
"You-you don't detest me.''-blankly.
ooh. no; but | don't love you, and
there's no middle course in marriage,
think"
He was silenced for the time. and con-
tented himself with watching her as she
fitted about the room. arranging the bits
of holly. with here and there twig Of
the white berries intermingled.
Mrs. Knox. Miss James mother, hac
been the daughter of veterinary sur
geon. and being left almost pennilcss al
her fathers death. had become a teacher
In the village school. 1t had been quiet
HttIe-frequcnted spot. and until the age
of twenty-nine she had not even the sus
picion of love affair to brighten the mo-
notony of her existence. Then the cler
gyman of their village came into a small
fortune, sufficient to allow him to retire
from his labors and put curate in his
place.
The man chosen was q bachelor, bu'
that might we'll have been considered the
only point in his favor. He was plain
elderly, and half-starved, as indeed he
might well be, considering the miserable
stipend he received. But to James mother
his charm was that he was gentleman.
His manners had seemed to her the per
fection of courtly breeding, and had he
asked her she would have gladly become
his wife, in spite of all the petty troubles
which were attendant on genteel poverty
But, either because his own heart was
not sufficiently interested. or that, from
mistaken unselfishness. he hesitated to LEI
her share his lot. he never did; and after
three years of alternate hopes and fear
on her side, another lover appeared upoI
the scene, and by his brisk wooing sue
ceeded in winning her for his wife.
"A terrible match for her." people sait
she, the educated woman, to bind her
self to the rough if dashing hussar. who
could offer her only the barest necessaries
and at whose side she might have to en-
counter endless hardships; but equalizet
surely by the fact that she was faded an6
worm and that he was a man in the prime
of life, loving her passionately, Oblivion
of her vanished youth and indifference T.
him.
Hold it a little higher, Jenny darling
whispered the Sergeant, audaciously
and coming close behind her, he attempted
to encircle her waist.
But she wrenched herself away, and
confronted him crimson with wrath anc
shame.
"How dare you! How dare your shi
exclaimed, and In her anger she could sa!
no more.
But the momentary madness over, Ser
geant Lynn looked as penitent and abash
ed as she could have wished, or any mum
ber of reproaches could have made him.
Falling back to his old position of lat
tention," he could only murmur shame
facedly:
I'm very sorry, Jenny, upon my soul
amr'
"You of all people-you who pretend te
like me- to insult me sol"
ut was just because of the liking" an
swered the Sergeant, with a twinkle ir
his eye, which fortunately Jane did NOT
detect. Besides" he added, hastily, 'T
didn't kiss you"
81 should think not, indeed!' tossinf
her dainty head.
"And I'll never do 1t again-until yor
give me leave"
"And that will be never"
The Sergeant, noting ruefully her com.
pressed lips and flashing eyes, decided
that she was sincere in her intention, ant
that he had lost rather than gained by
the boldness of his wooing- He looked sf
woe-begone that the situation became
ridiculous in James eyes, and she hastenet
to bring back the subject to more matter
of-fact footing.
''You never told me where you got /
ALL" she observed, nodding vaguely a
the eyergreens that were the innocen'
cause of her admirers first offense.
But you never asked me-" was hb
prompt reply. only too eager to snatcl
at the proffered olive branch 'It wa
quite by chance as it happened. 1 wa
up at the Coloners with some letters wheI
a big hamper arrived-from Simla,
think. be said-and l helped to open ii al
IL would like a Bit thought of yol
directly-for ne gave me as much as
could carry. and told me to give 1t to my
sweetheart-and-so l brought it to you.
Indeed remarked Jane, frigidly.
81 brought it in a basket for fear any
,ne should ask me for bit, and wanted
it all for you. / don't suppose there s
another in Alipore, besides the Colonel
and yourself. that has piece of real mis-
tletoe or holly"
Did you say it was for meT'
Il mentioned no names, but expect ne
guessed. 1 don't think there's much mis-
take about my feelings any way"