Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-12-05
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OF getting rid of Sergeant Lynn for
aMnile, SO soon after his conversation
Win Mrs. Knox. He had not determined
"hetner to comply with her request, but
nov the whole thing seemed taken out
of his hands.
Having disposed of all the papers that
had anything to do with Sergeant I,vnn.
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 should you say was the most
UNLIKELY thing to happen, Graeme%' he
ASKED, pushing aside the official papers
ana ieanlng back in his chair, smiling.
GU are going to be married, Colonely"
was the quick reply, and an accent of
hlgn olsdaln crept into the divination.
me Colonel nodded his head
Miss Knollys, I suppose?'
fsnaW! l would as soon marry an
lclcle! was the contemptuous reply.
linen l am afraid you will have to tell
me VINO 1T is for l cannot guess
1T is Miss Knox
line AdJutant was too dumfounded to
offer the usual congratulations. He was
standing with one hand resting on the
table, and now placed the other on it
aiso' turning sideways, and prevented the
Colonel from seeing his face. The Col
onel, too proud to ask for the good wishes
which were not Forthcoming, would not
be the first to speak
Mr.. Graeme felt compelled to saw some
thing.
AFTER what ] said at Cawnpore about
a married colonel, you cannot expect me
to show exuberant delight" he observed,
with rather forced smile
The Colonel looked disappointed at this
lack of warmth
Il thought you would have been more
more enthusiastic, Val. wanted you
tor my best man, but"
Valentine tried hard to look gratifed 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
mute at funeral; it seemed such
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 l wish you every
ped short, and concluded rapidly: "But
you know what she is, sir"
eyes, I know" laughed the Colonel.
"And we will talk about your supporting
me 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 it that same
evening.
'You are regular little fre-brand in
the regiment" he told her, smiling; mot
content with having me at your feet, you
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
ton, 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 up
on his ears.
"My darling, nothing shall come be-
tween us either now or everv' 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 if Sergeant Lynn had not given
you up, could you still have sacrificed me
to your love of truth?"
81 must have kept my word if l died."
she answered, firmly.
''Then, Jenny, your love must be less
than mine for you; l think could have
given up all, even honor, for your sake. ;"
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 jest.
T should not love you as l do if 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-
manded. she added, in lighter tone:
an India I think one must hate false
hood more than in any other country;
It is SO humiliating to share meanness
with the natives"
"And not be able to beat them at it,
either" he finished, gayly.
CHAPTER XXI.
Mrs. Knox was much relieved to hear
Sergeant Lynn was off to Hattiabad, and
la <ooJ couSa for SatiSfa ctiON