Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-04-08

= CHAPTER -(Continued.)
Mrs. Dene said nothing to Jane O1
what had passed. She kissed her affec.
tionately on both cheeks, and repeated
her invitation.
You may change your mind at the
last moment. l shall hope you WILL" abe
said.
Then the train steamed out Of the sta.
ton, and Jane, as with fearful eyes she
waved her hand in farewell, felt az
though the last link to that brighter life
were sundered. She turned away anf
walked quickly home.
As she went, she saw Valentine
Graeme sauntering along with Miss
knOllys in the direction of the public
gardens. His head was lowered, and ha
was talking with evident earnestness,
while she listened with as evident atten'
tion. Presently they discovered Jane,
and looking round waved their Tennis
bats in friendly invitation. But Jane
shook her head in refusal. The realitieS
Of life were beginning, and she must
shirk her responsibilities no longer. How
she envied Diana, with love and no card
to spoil it. Her blushing face. so altered
since first it had been seen at Alipore,
had told its own tale, and the Adjutantj
for a rejected suitor, looked wonderfully 4
content. The girl hurried on. Now that
she was actually on her way home she
felt a strange longing to be there to help
or comfort, at any rate to get over the
dreadful meeting with her father.
As she entered the house, she saw him
come out of the sitting-room, and go to-
ward the dining room.
Father" she cried, in a low, strained
voice.
How changed he was-so old and bow
ed, and with a dazed expression on his
face that Jane could compare to nothing
but the look of hunted animal whose
last chance of escape had been cut Oft!
She did not know how nearly she had
guessed the truth. Turning, she entered
the sitting-room. Mrs. Knox was sitting
there with a handkerchief to her eyes.
and big blue envelope lying in her lap
"Oh, that is you, child, is it?" she said,
presenting her cheek for a caress. We'll,
I'm glad enough you've come. 1t was
getting about as much as 1 could bear.
Your fathers that queer and put out
about triiies that / begin to think he's
losing his wits altogether. He's Ill,
know; but illness won't account for ev!
erything."
"What is it, mother?"
"Well, my dear, it's about our going
home. He sent in an application fof
leave, as told you, and this paper came
when he was out. / opened it-perhaps
It was that which made him angry-and
you have no idea how he went on when
told him.
"What was it, mother?" asked Jane, q
little impatiently; she knew of old how
difficult it was to compass a fact when
her mother was excited.
'"They say they are compelled to refuse
his application for the present He'll get
Il all right in the end, I've no doubt; but,
II not, why, it can't be helped. It's no
use making such n fuss. Though l must
say" warming up, and getting indignant
as she talked, 81 think they might have
shown a little more consideration, es,
pecially in a case of sickness. l cans
guess what they mean by it, I'm sure
But Jane could. She remembered how
the Deputy Commissioner had assured
her that he knew who the murderer OF
Jacob Lynn was: how he had told her too
that every precaution would be taken
that he should not leave the station.
Now he had proved his words.
She sunk into a chair, looking as dazed
and alarmed as the Quartermaster had
looked few moments before.
The blow had fallen at last. oh, heaveD
holm them all.