Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1895-11-13
CHAPTER VIII.


way carriage door. chatting gnyly to tn,
three gentlemen who were with her, whel
at the further end of the station she saw
the quartermaster coming toward then
with his daughter.
go and meet her Gerald" she said tc
Der husband, and waited impatiently un
Ill they should come up.
The weather was wild and stormy, ant
Jane had wrapped her gray alpaca dust
cloak closely round her, and drawn the
hood over her head, her lovely face look
ing the Iovelier with battling against tn.
wind, her eyes, frightened by excitement
shone like two stars: and Mrs. Dene
Elancing furtively from one man to the
sther, saw how fair they thought her.
She stepped forward and kissed her
not so much in demonstration of her of
tection-for Mrs. Dene was not one to dis
play her feelings-as to show she consid
ered her friend on an equal footing with
herself.
Then followed the introductions, aEi
Jane's eyes rested upon Major Larror
with something like awe, caused partly
by the knowledge that he was bearing
now an honorary title, and would one
day be peer of the realm-on which nat.
urally she from circumstances laid a.
exaggerated stress-and partly from g
romantic admiration of his dark Byronic
countenance, which might have beer
good-lOoking had it not been so grim and
gloomy. She only withdrew her gaze tc
meet Valentine Graeme's laughing blue
eyes, and to put her small gray gloveo
dnECrs into his outstretched hand.
You have met before?' observed Cap
tain Dene, who had made them formally
known TO each other.
We are old friends" said the young
man, with easy boyish cordiality. THAT
is to say. we are already sufficiently in
innate to have had n quarrel. and l an
afraid to tell Mrs. Demo on what sub
ject.'
WAS l concerned?" asked the lady
smiling.
1T was only a question of color" an
swered Jane. Il told Mr.. Graeme
thought your drawing-room so pretty, and
he said-out of pure kindness, you know
she assured her listeners gravely-"tha'
he liked cur blue-and- white striped
chintzes better
Better than mine of mignonette
greenT' finished Mrs. Dene, In pretended
wrath.
1T is my ignorance, perhaps" he plead
ed, humbly. Every one is not born es
thetic"
For which the saints be praisedw ex
claimed the Hon. Barry Larron. Then
meeting her glance of hurt surprise, be
added quickly, with an air of elaborate
gallantry, II mean no reflection on the
mignonette- green curtains, than which
there is nothing l admire more. If every
one possessed the exquisite taste of Mrs
Dene, there would be no need of a prett!
affectation becoming a vulgar fashion"
I'VE had better get into the carriage,
said Captain Dene, curtly.
1t annoyed him always to see Major
Larron in converse with his wife, for he
could never for a moment forget the In
suit she had suffered at his hands, and
he wondered suspiciously why she had
asked him TO join their party. Was il
only on Jane Knox's account? He had
never been admitted to friendly inter,
course since their marriage. He had
dined once with them when he was one
of twenty guests. and he had called twice
the usual exgencies of society, no more
But Mrs. Dene noticed nothing. and
Jumped lightly into the carriage in obedi'
encc 10 her husbands suggestion, as Jane
turned to meet her father, who was com.
ing toward them after seeing to her lug.
gage.
How do you do, Mrs. Dene? It is very
kind of You TO be troubled with my daugh-
ter" he said, with an awkward attempt
at ease. Then addressing Jane: Here ID
your ticket; take care of yourself, my
girl"
Il will take care of her, Mr.. Knox
said Mrs Dene. graciously.
We will take care of her." supple
mented Val Graeme, with a smile.
'Good-hy, Jenny"
'Good-hy. father
And with a hand pressure only they
parted, the quartermaster not being GER
tain whether a warmer farewell was COM
patible with good manners. and unwilling 2
to compromise his daughter-she, too. a
little ashamed and self-conscious. But
as the train left the station she yielded to
the impulse that moved her, and leaning
put of the window, kissed her hand to
him-once, twice, thrice.
CHAPTER TX.
Colonel Prinsep had never felt So duh
as during the week succeeding his prom
lse 10 Mrs. Dene.
In n moment of ipna tieDce he resolved