Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-03-04
CHAPTER XXXIV.

CHAPTER XXXIv.
Mrs. Dene arrived two days later, an
found everything in her house far NOR
luxurious and home-like than sEe expect
I'd She had brought only q few OF he
goods and chattels with her. intending
to rough 1t for a month or 20, but tn
Commissioner, among whose faults In
hospitality was not, had decreed other
wise, and had made the place 90 cosy u
the limited time, that even Jane, who hat
been backward and forward many timea
scarcely recognized it when she paid hd
last visit.
Alipore seemed very little altered. T
struck Mrs. Dene that Jane, who WA
seated opposite to her in sympathetic 81
lence, was the most changed of all. Sha
thought Of her as she remembered her I"
first, . shy. pretty child, slowly develop
ing into the coquettish beauty, the 40
knowledged Simla belle. She was lovel1
still, lovelier than ever, she was fain Il
confess, but it was such a pale, wear2
face that owed nothing Of its beauty Il
happiness or animation.
Among the first who called on MIRA
Dens was Major Larron, but, though hi
manner was very gentle and sympathiz
Ing to herself. she could not fail to set
that the real object of his visit was Jane
His gaze rested on her all the while
eager to forestall every wish. to lose NJ
movement of the white fingers which
twined 20 restlessly one with the other
nor u glance of the sorrowful hazel eyes
which roam as they would, never me-
his own.
srrtf do
It was very seldom that he could see her
and when he did happen by sheer per
severance to come in her presence, hel
thoughts were evidently SO far away
that he knew it would be of no avail te
push his own cause. Mrs. Dene coulS
not help feeling sorry for him, he seemed
20 terribly in earnest-besides, long ago
she had promised him her aid.
"Come and see my flowers" she said
presently, when the conversation begaI
to lapguish II have such . capita
garden. 1 suppose the Commissioner
mollies have kept it in good order. A.
Hattiabad l had nothing but a bare eH
panse of kunkur, and a WELL"
Major Larren rose to follow her, and
artfully addressed a remark to Jane al
the moment, so that the common civil
ity obliged her to follow them; and once
In the garden Mrs. Dene soon made az
excuse to leave them.
"Mrs Dene is not looking we'll" he
began awkwardly, when that lady was
out of hearing.
"She is not WELL She came here 70,
. change of air, you know"
"Ah, yes! 1 understood so, of course
And yourself, / wish l could see yor
looking better" he went on.
- 4 = all n q
you, Major Larron. l am in perfect
bealth''-a little stitfiy.
She walked away a few PAGES, less
with the intention of avoiding him thar
to calm her own agitation. She did not
love him; sometimes she even regarded
him with an instructive dislike, even
fear; yet for moment she was carr1ef
away by the passion in his tones.
Am l so distasteful to you that you
will not stay beside me" he asked he1
sadly. standing still little way apart.
ut is not that" she murmured.
"Then listen to me, Jane; yet what !,
II after all that l can say! l have 50
little to offer you-nothinS except
wealth and rank which seem such worth
less things now that l have to stake my
all upon them. 1 am too old for you
older than the Colonel by some years.
He stopped abruptly. Fool that hs
was to mention the very name that
should have been avoided! He saw al
pnce how James face, which, touched
by his self-depreciation and humility
rev softer and kindlier as he spoke,
now suddenly hardened into stone.
"If you had every advantage 1t were
possible for man to have, it would make
40 difference" she said, quickly. y
shall never marry!
"Never marry me; but there is some
sther-"
sNThere is no other" she declared, with
quiet sadness.
She had moved on and Major Larron
vas walking beside her. Now, she spoke
4 sudden turn brought them face to face
with Mrs. Dene, who was coming In theiI
direction with Colonel Prinsep.
An impulse. of which she repented the
next instant, caused Jane to turn round
sharpiy and go down another path
and naturally Major Larron accompan'
led her.
"Oh, how stupid of me! What Will
they think? Let us 60 back, exclaimeo
the girl. excitedly-
"Not vet. Jane-not yet. 1 have some
thing to say still. This il no time foE
make believe of any sort, and will NOT
pretend to be blind to the fact that there
/. another who is my rival, and that 9th
,r-Colonel Prinsep. l also know thai
you will never marry him.
.sNeyer. neverI' CALCULATED Jane.
"Yet you will pass most Of your life In
his near peighborhood, and the next two
vears at least will be lived where Jacob
Lynn died."
He was playing his last card, and play
ing It knowing we'll that 1t was NO legiti'
mste came. vet his voice never faltsred.
he would have betrayed his dearest
friend to have won that upon which hii
heart was set.
She shuddered. He knew his shaft had
rome home. and hastily followed MP MI
success.
"Be nv wife, Jane, and leave the past
bahind you. will take you whore moth
lns shall remind you Of 1t. Will sur
round you with love that nothing harm
ful shall be able to penetrate. My whole
Hfs shall be spent in making yours happy
Won do not love me now, but you Will
..rh love as mine begets love. worsnlI
5ou, I adore you-is II such . hard maj
tar to consent to be adoredT
A. she hesitated, meaning to say "yss,
and 70 escape from all that had pee!
npuhling her of late, now half held bacl
by the knowledge that all her future hum
upon the word that she might utter
ahe heard Stephen Prinsep speaking o
he walked with Mrs. Dene q little dis
tance OF.
At the sound Of the low, musioa! tone
Aee half-formsd resolution faltsF1d. aox