Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-12-25

CHAPTER XXX.
When, early on the morrow, Stephen
Prinsep received a note from Jane con-
tanning only the word Come" 1t may
be believed he lost no time in answering
the summons.
As he entered the compound, he saw
Jane standing under the veranda. and
going up to her with hasty, swinging
strides, he caught her in his arms.
Her red lips quivered beneath the fierce
admiration his eyes expressed. but he
stopped and kissed them into Quietude.
! MY little love. my own sweetheart,
he murmured, fondly.
In all his intercourse with her he had
never been able to speak or act as he
would have chosen. But his promise to
Mrs. Dene had bound him, and then the
knowledge of her promise to Sergeant
| Lynn; but now all neei for self-repres-
sion was at an end, and he could put his
| passion into words.
For more than an hour they strolied up
| and down, and then a servant interrupt
ed them with a salam for the Colonel
from Mrs. Knox. Telling Jane to wait
| for him there, he at once obeyed the
summons.
To his surprise the lady was neither
| 50 elated nor pleased as he had expected
to find her. She was pale and discom-
posed, and the smile with which she tried
to welcome him faded away at once.
You may congratulate me-" said the
Colonel. "Jane has accepted me. and
only want your consent now and the
Quartermaster's."
'She is the most willful child that ever
wns!" cried Mrs. Knox, irrelevantly, az
1t seemed. 81 believe that II a man with
all the fortune of Rothschild had wished
TO marry her, she would still have kept
to her promise to that drunken sergeant"
But now she Is mine," said Stephen
Prinsep. proudly.
"Then mind you keep her."
'Why! You don't think"-
She put her hand upon his arm, and
met his glance of surprise with one Of
solemn warning.
'I'll tell you what I think. II Jacob
Lynn sees her again. he will persuade
her to marry him In spite of what has
passed"
But he has released her from her en-
gagement; at least suppose he has,
Mrs. Knox remained silent: but the firm
compression of her lips seemed to de-
clare that she could say something If she
liked.
said in reply to your daughters letterY'
There was a touch Of authority in his
tone which Mrs. Knox Immediately de-
tected and resented.
"You had better ask my daughter" she
replied, sullenly.
'Of course l can do that, but 1 would
rather hear from you. Jane has suf-
fered 30 much that should like her to
forget everything connected with that un-
happy man."
lie waited for her to speak, and at last
she said, hesitatingly:
'You wish me to tell you what Jane
told me?"
He bowed gravely in assent
Then" she answered, hu urriedly, "Jans
Baid she only received her letter torn In
hall, with nothing whatever in reply"
(which was tantamount to giving her
up, Of course. though one might have
wished he had released her in a more
courteous fashion"
He had said '.good-by" and crossed the
threshold, when sudden suspicion struck
him, and he came back
"You really believe that Sergeant Lynn
meant to release Jane?" he asked, look
ing searchingly into her face.
She crimsoned to the temples, but her
voice never faltered as she replied. DE-.
cisively:
There could be no other meaning to
such an act"
And this appeared SO incontrovertible
that the Colonel's doubts were satisAsd.
He changed the subject to a pleasanter
one.
"By the bye. Mrs. Knox, now that
everything is settled, is there any reason
why the wedding should not take place
ut once? Another fortnight will SEQ near
ly every one away from here-could IL
not be before the fifteenth"
She looked up. delighted at this solu.
ton of difficulty which oppressed her.
II think it is the very wisest thing.
People will talk. of course; but the SOON
er you are married. the sooner gossipping
will cease"
II am glad you consider 1t practicable" "
he rejoined. "Will the Quartermaster
II will answer for my husband: only
win James consent, and the thing 10 set.
tied"
He went out and found Jane where he
had left her. She ran toward him and
put her hands in his with little familiar |
gesture, and effectually effaced any dis
agreeable impression he might have re-
ceived during his interview with her
mother.
And in "reminiscences and the sweet
feeling Of happy lovers, the morning
sped. 1t was two o'clock before either
thought about the time, and then the Col |
onel recollected that he had not yet visit |
ed his office. He had to tear himself |
away.
Il was Just coming up to your bungalow
with these papers," said Valentine |
Graeme. meeting him as no rode up to |
the door of the orderly-room and dis |
mounted.
II am sorry 1 am 80 late. In thers
much for me to signT
Rather more than usual, and some
must go by to-night's post. There ID q
sergeant wanted Immediately at Hattia-
bad. Lynn is next on the roster; but l |
thought you would rather that he re-
mained here, under your own eye for .
bit, than send him on detachment"
why do they want another serKeantY'
asked the Colonel. thinking It q strange
that lance should occur
or getting rid Of Sergeant Lynn 1o1
awhile, 80 soon after his conversations
with Mrs. Knox. He had not determined
whether to comply with her request, but |
now the whole thing seemed taken out |
Of his hands.
Having disposed of all the papers that
had anything to do with Sergeaut Lynn,
the Colonel turned to other business, and
soon forgot the whole affair.
But before he left he had to tell his
adjutant the news about himself.
what ohould vou aav vna the moaf