Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-02-05
CHAPTER XxvI1I.-(Cout,nu.d.)


CHAPTER XXVIII.-(Continusd
But Valentine Graeme would not heal
of any compromise. He was stage-man'
ager, and was especially bent upon These
theatricals being a success. Nor had he
now any fear for the result. Colonel
Prinsep was one of the best amateur
actors in India, and particularly good at
the love-making. which was the principal
part Of the small comedietta they had
chosen, while Jane, too, had considerably
talent, as she had shown at Simla.
The first rehearsal she had with Col
onel Prinsep was q decided failure. She
had gone through the piece with Val
Graeme several times and had been pro-
nounced by him letter perfect. Now she
missed her cues, stumbled over the SIM
plest sentences, and by her general awk-
wardness and stupidity sent down the en-
thusiasm of the stage-manager to zero.
Nor was the next rehearsal more prom
Using. Jane spoke her words correctly.
but infused no spirit into the part. And
this time Colonel Prinsep was also i'm
practicable, repeating his lover-like
speeches with parrot-like precision, but
avoiding carefully any sentimental In
Election.
Barry Larron, who was generally pres
ent when they rehearsed, guessed the rea-
son Of the stiffness which was mutually
assumed whenever any tenderness was
required. He knew that they loved each
other still, and therefore dared not trust
themselves to pretend what they really
felt. Yet he did not give up hope.
And so the evening arrived. The time
had been SO short that they had no full
dress rehearsal; and the station, being Q
small one. would scarcely furnish an audi.
ence for two performances.
1T will be only for this once, SO we
can make a supreme effort" said Colonel
Prinsep to her as they stood alone in one
Of the wings waiting for the rising of the
curtain.
She was trembling visibly: bat as he
spoke encouragingly she tried to smile.
"You must not be nervous" he went
on. 'After all, it Is only acting, and no
one will misunderstood if you throw you
self into your part, as know you could"
The bell rang: and a minute later abe
was called to go on the stage.
A storm of applause broke from the
audience as she stood before them in her
old-fashioned, short-waisted frock and
sandal shoes. her white arms almost hid
den by her long mittens, and her brown
hair gathered on to the top of her head
with a huge comb. The enthusiasm In.
creased when Colonel Prinsep came on,
boyishiy impulsive, and ,betraying the
love he felt in every glance and gesture.
And Jane was SO daintily coquettish, 20
bewitching even in her declared heart.
lessness, and again SO pathetic in her
despair when he left her; and the curtain
fell as she laid her head on the table and
sobbed aloud.
They were encored vociferously, Jane
responding to the CALL led on by Colonel
Prinsep, her cheeks crimson from excite
tears that had really fallen.
Then the band played during the twen-
. u minutes interval, which was supposed
to be equivalent to thirty years.
Jane was now a sweet old lady. Quak-
erishly robed in plain gray satin, prema.
turely silver haired and leaning for SUD-
port on a gold headed stick. Her voice,
which before had been 50 joyous, was
subdued into habitual pathos, and man.
ner and appearance both spoke Of the
sadness which had pervaded her life.
The years had dealt very differently
with her lover. The romantic boy had
grown into a crotchety, matter-of-fact.
middIe-aged man. Yet her loyalty never
faltered, though it was keenest pain to
zee how entirely he had forgotten the
events of the past which by her had been
% treasured.
Jane was acting almost beyond herself.
1t was all SO like a dream that for the
moment she believed it might be actually
true that she and Stephen Prinsep had
met in the after-time of their own life,
che loyal as her nature was, he oblivious
Of everything save the merest details Of
time and place.
In his careless, boisterous way he de-
elared she had never loved him, and a.
she sadly put aside the doubt, an accent
% pitiful and tender came into her voice
that Colonel Prinsep himself forgot that
II was acting, and invoiuntarily glanced
Into her face. There he saw the whole
truth written so plainly that he was on
the point of answering very differently
from the book Recollecting himself, hs
tried to recall his part, but for a moment
failed.
The prompter came to their rescue, and
to most it had appeared only a momen-
tary forgetfulness of their parts; but to
two of those who were looking on 1t
seemed clear enough. Major Larron bit
his lip with rage.
The other who had noticed, and under
Hood what passed, had no such com
mand of facial expression
He stood up, his eyes glaring, his face
distorted with the violent passions that
moved him. Several Of the men around
him looked at him curiously, but he never
needed them, he saw and knew only what
his jealousy had shown him. The play
was ended, and when Jane had spoken
her last word she allowed her glance to
sweep the audience. but 1t was arrested
by the first object on which It fel-the
tall figure and passion-distorted face OF
Jacob Lynn.
She shuddered SO violently that her
hand. being in Colonel Prinseps, he de-
tected her agitation, and led her At once
off the stage more quickly than was ialo
down in the book.
..The strange thing about 1t all, CON
eded Valentine Graeme that same night
20 Manor Larron, who rode back w1tn
rim 10 their quarters, was. thar tney oio
,hcir best just where l expected them 'e
o., in tho iove-mnkinR."
-numphr calculated The Hen. 1essN
and made no other remark.
CHAPTER xxx.
A lovely morning In NovemberCnot
November a. 1t 10 known In England. wto
leaden skies and bleak, biting winds tAas
thistle mournfully among bare tfsse-
but November as 1t IL In India. wafm
still. vet sr..efulIy cool after the exhaust
M h.nt that has gone before: the sun