Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-10-30
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I KNOW MIN so wei as OF late, now tnat ne
! SO often Joined them in their rides and
drives. Besides which they were acting
! together In comedietta, and Jane often
! assisted at their impromptu rehearsals.
/ The Colonel was notably good at theatric.
| ais, but this was Mrs Dene's first effort,
and she had been very unwilling to nc.
cept the part: only the fact that the per.
formance was for the benefit of a regi.
| mental charity, and that her husband
| wished it, at last persuaded her.
Very pleasant were the afternoons spen.
in these rehearsals. Jane would be seated
Mt the further end of the room as audi.
ence, her eyes fixed demurely on the little
yellow book, listening with unnecessary
intentness to the Coloners drawlina
tones, which We're becoming dearer to her
| than she well knew. Sometimes they
referred a knotty point to her, and had
she been observant. she must have noticed
that Colonel Prinsep always adopted her
| suggestions. Once Mrs. Dene laughingly
appealed to him, whether Jane would not
make the better actress of the two; but
he only smiled, and forebore to express an
opinion.
Often he found himself glancing arounu
to see if she were near; in church he list
ened almost unconsciously for her voice,
which was at times TREMENDOUSLY up
raised; and once rs he stood near her at
an afternoon AT Home at their mess
it entered into his mind that, being SC
slim and lightly made she ought to be
a pleasant partner.
He strolled toward her slowly.
You are not dancing" he observeo
and smiled little consciously as at tn
sound of his voice she turned, her ex.
preston betraying a delight that all her
occurrences could not hide.
Some one did ask me-" she assured
him, grayely.
Il do not doubt It. Was he such a bau
performer that you refused?"
ut was more of my own shortcoming.
I was afraid. You see'-blushng-
have never learned to dance"
Dancing is an art that requires no
teaching; it comes by instinct toto such
as YOU
81 wish / could believe so,' she an
swered. quickly, too eager to show en-
barrassment at the compliment implied.
TRY with me"-persuasively.
81 dare not; besides. 1 could not. l an
with Mrs. Dene, and she is not dancing
the gentleman she introduced to me
would be offended
Half n dozen bad reasons don MAKE
one good one" he laughed, gayly.
Come"
He put his arm round her waist, ant
drew her forward unresistingly. When
the first awkwardness was over she Ell
joyed it, as he could not fail to see by
the flush on her cheeks and the sparkle
in her hazel eyes.
When they stopped at last he wac
smiling, as men will smile when they
have broken down one of the weak walls
which women love to erect, often more
as precaution than n defense. Then
almost Immediately his mood changed,
and he led her back to her chaperor
without making any remark.
At that moment Captain Dene returned
and holding out his cigar-case to the
Colonel, led the way on to the veranda
1t was quite dark, and a warm wind
rustling among the trees prevented their
footsteps from being heard. Mrs. Dene,
unconscious of their presence, answered
James inquiry.
"You were exactly describing Colone,
Prinsep," she said, laughing lightly. $50
he is your ideal of a perfect man."
A discreet cough from her husban.
startled both, and they turned to see that
he and Colonel Prinsep were close behind
them.