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

CHAPTER XAI-(Continued)
A few days later something occurres
Of such serious Importance that MRS
Knox no longer thought of anything ss
trivial as whether her daughter wors
orange blossoms or roses on her weddhhS
day. All her faculties were employed II
planning how to avert the danger thS
threatened.
It had been a great grief to Jane that
her projected marriage had caused a oir
ference in her relations with her father
Pleased and proud as he had been at hes
success, it appeared to him as though
in gaining his Colonel as a son-in-law ~
had lost his daughter; and he avoided
being with them whenever he could throw
q reasonable light upon his absence. Jant
demonstrated with him in vain-h
smiled, kissed her, and promised compi
ance with her wishes, even putting pres
sure upon his inclination for that day
but the next he slipped insensibly baei
into his newly acquired habit OF nearil
living at the mess. One day the Colonc
noticed how seldom he was at home; ant
then Mrs. Knox. afraid lest he shoult
take offense, determined to speak to heJ
husband.
1t happened that the Quartermastei
had forgotten some papers that morning
and coming back for them, found hii
wife alone in the little room where he
usually wrote. and to which she often, a.
she had done on this occasion, brought
her work.
She opened the attack at once.
won't you come home to lunch to-day.
JohnY" she asked, in her mildest voice.
1.-THE Colonel is staying, and l am sure
he thinks it strange you should alwayf
avoid him so"
~ don't avoid him, wife; but feel out
of my element with him. and that's the
truth. Men are as nature made them
women are different and make. or, at any
rate. improve upon themselves. Neither
the Colonel nor l can ever forget the diff
ference between us. l am sure he pre-
fers to meet me as seldom as possible"
Il don't believe it," returned his wife,
| bluntiy.
"Women never do believe ANYTHING II
| does not suit them to believe" he re-
Joined, with a good-natured laugh.
"And IL makes Jane miserable, know.
she persisted. -
"Jane will be such a great lady soor
she will forget to miss her poor old fath
er. In any case l cannot stay at home
| to-day l am up to my eyes In busi
ness"
He saw by her expression that she wai
| still incredulous. and went on to explain
IAN order has just come for the de-
| Ia achment from Hattiabad to rejoin us al
once. l shall have a lot Of trouble =
| squeeze them all in."
Thinking by her silence that she wa'
angry with him, and consequently reso-
lutte not to be convinced by anything hs
| might say, he thought 1t better to let the
| subject drop. and having found his paper
| on the desk. he gathered them into a bun.
| die and left the room. never noticing that
his wife was lying back In her chair
| white as a ghost, and with as little pOwe'
| Of self-assertion.
Colonel Prinsep came into the room ten
minutes later. He was searching for
book Of James, and asked Mrs. Knox II
she had seen it Then, a. he looked fol
her reply, he noted her deathly pallor, and
asked her instantly If she were Ill. Sh'
answered by another question.
"Colonel Prinsep, 10 It true that thu
HattIabad detachment II coming here al
once7"
Eyes, quite true; It was rather An I'M
expected order, but Government general
ly makes up its mind in q hurry"
"And Jacob Lynn-wiil he come" sh'
gasped out.
"Of course the Sergeant will accom-
pany his troop" was the impatient reply
BE no longer feared the influence Of hel
frst lover over Jane. being 70 sure of hel
love, SO certain that nothing could sep
arats them now. He felt vexed that Mrs
Knox should place such undue importance
upon this mans comings and goings, al
though he could control or even hamper
his movements. Yet the effect Of hel
words filled him with an uncomfortab blt
surprise. She fell back In her chair
wringing her hands and moaning out
that "All was over; there could be NJ
wedding now!
The Colonel was very much annoyed
and did not try to conceal his displeasure
"You seem to forget, Mrs. Knox, that
am not woolng your daughter In the dark
All the regiment IL aware Of my inten
tions, and l am not afraid of what AM
single member Of it may do or say. Ser
geant Lynn of his own free will released
Jane from her engagement, and she Is nc
longer bound to consider his caprices.
am really at loss to conjecture how hii
return could interfere with our actions
He never gave her up," confessed Mrs
Knox, now in tears. 1T was my owl
wicked scheming, and now 1t will al
come out, and shall have deceived yov
all to no purpose"
Good heavens, Mrs. Knox! Do 20,
know what 1t Is that you have said 2
cried the Colonel, hoarsely.
She went on with what she was saying
without any notice Of his Interpolation
Now that she had begun to unburden he
mind she felt it a. a relief.
"You remember the day when Jan,
wrote at your instigation to ask the Ser
geant to give her up. Well, any mai
with an atom of pride or even self-respec
would have done so at once, for few
would care to wed 50 avowedly an un
willing bride"-Mrs. Knox generally grew
eloquent under excitement, and used tn
words she had thought appropriate to he
, position as village school-mistress-"bu
Jacob Lynn was always selhshness incar
nate, and he refused. Her letter was re
turned with one short sentence written q
the end Of 1t, declaring that hs could no
sivs her up. And he had left the envel
. ope unclosed. YoI may blame me II 20
! VIII. Colonel Prinsep: but I take 1t few
mothers could have resisted the tempta
ton of cutting away the words which
chance had placed 80 perDously close a
the bottom Of the page, when by SO doin,
they could have secured q daUghser'
, happiness as well as prosperity. Bot doe
1t matter what others would have don,
In such a case? Suffice it to say that
, having carefully guarded against the sus
J piciOn that anything had been take,
away from 1t, 1 tore the letter In half
and inclosed It In its own envelope, leay