Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-01-08
CHAPTER xxi


had come. Mrs. Knox had insisted upon
the ceremony taking place at very
early hour. Ostensibly to avoid the heat,
but In reality to allow of the Colonel and
his bride leaving the station before the
detachment could arrive. But, early as
1t was to be, Jane was dressed an hour
too soon, and stood before the mirror in
the dfawing-room surveying herself with
pardonable pride in her appearance.
Jane gazed on wistfully in the glass.
She was glad that she was so fair, that
even H she had no other dowry she could
at least bring her husband the gift Of
beauty. She prayed that in his eyes ut
least she might never seem less lovable
and lovely. that he might never repent
having chosen her above all others to
he sis wife. And as she gazed, some ono
-a.s,e in through the open window, ami
beside her glowing, smiling face In the
mirror was reflected the figure Of Jacob
lynn.
At first thrill Of instructive terror ran
through her, as she met his fierce blue
eyes. and she shrunk away from the pas
sion expressed in his haggard face. But
the next moment a truer feeling moved
her, and she was only conscious Of
great compassion for his sorrow.
why did you come, Jacob?" she asked.
her voice full of tender, womanly com.
Miseration, as she turned toward him.
why did Gomez" he returned with a
bitter laugh. because wanted to see
with my own eyes whether Jane Knox
was as false, as untrue as they tell mel
"False, untruer she echoed, paling.
Even l, with my unhappily suspicious
nature, never dreamed of this" he went
on. ruthlessly. II thought You might
write and throw me over, perhaps; but
how could believe that you, whom I
thought purer and more perfect than any
other in the world, either man or woman,
would steal a march upon me 20, and to
avoid a disagreeable explanation with
me, would get married In my absence.
You need not have been afraid of me-
Iennyv he added, In q softer tone.
II afraid Of youl Why should I be?
You gave me up-you returned my letter
torn In half without . word" she re.
turned.
81 returned your letter. It IL true?" he
answered, more quietly. "But 1t was not
torn, and at the bottom Of the page I
wrote my answer that I could not give
ron up. wrote again"
"And never had the letter.
at was your mother who did It'll She
was always dead against me-" Jacob
Lynn replied.
Jane remained speechless, listening to
the clatter Of plates and glasses in the op-
posite room, where her mother-her moth
er who had deceived her 50, and brought
her to this degradation-was putting the
finishing touches to the simple wedding
breakfast.
"And so you were to have married our
Colonel, Jenny. Do you remember how
long ago I thought you two were court
ing? You denied it then, but after all
1t came to pasa. 1t is difficult to deceive
q lover, and you are 30 pretty, 1 could
not expect to keep you ull to myself with
out q rival"
Slowly her gaze wandered over him,
from his rakishly good-looking face, with
its bright blue eyes and amber mustache,
to his tall figure towering above her.
Acknowledging that he was handsomer
and more soldier-like than any one she
had ever known, Jane felt that she would
rather die than become his wife.
II rode az hard as could gallop all
the way" he explained. 1T was only at
the last camp we heard the news that
and then, when heard who 1t was he
IhcouI " hAAAyp uAoSA1sOOA WAy eAO
marriage had been kept 10 quiet. got
leave to come on At once, without telling
anyone my reasons for wishing to bs here
and here I amp
At this juncture Mrs. Knox looked In
at the door, which was half ajar.
The Sergeant, unconscious that they
lad an on-looker, went on:
Il am glad that I managed to arrive
n time. Suppose had come just as the
marriage was over, what q dreadful
blow it would have been!'
Still the girl did not answer. She
wanted him to say straight out what he
expected of her; then she could better
'ealize the extent Of her misfortune.
"Yet 1 am not ft to come In here, all
iot and dusty; and you looking 10 dainty.
,, ike an angel. Jenny"-timidly touching
fold of her white gown-"will you wear
such pretty things for meT'
"Give me time to think" she pleaded.
I'm any case there will be no wedding
to-day. and you can come again"
And with this promise he was salts.
sed, and left her.
1t seemed hours to her; but In reality
only twenty minutes elapsed from the
time that she saw her father ride away
to the time he came back with Colonel
oPrinsep. Then she heard the latter tell