Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-02-19
NO. 10.

repor.s were true. went to you oncs
more, because l loved you SO dearly, ant
dared to think that you loved me. Be
lieve me. II was not because of the man's
position, nor with the idea of tempting
you from him with the advantages ]
could offer; IL he had been worthy of yoe
l would have been content to see you hii
wife, il he had been even lower in ths
social scale 1t was the knowledge of Oui
mutual love, and the wretched existence
you would lead If you married him. thai
made me seek you then. You wrote Il
Sergeant Lynn at my instigation, throw
ing yourself upon his generosity"
DO not let us speak Of that" inter
pOlated Jane. coldly: and it chilled hin
even more to discover that she still wore
the big silver ring upon her finger, though
| the presumable giver of it was dead.
Dispassionately as he had spoken, sh,
had not been able to hear unmoved the
story of that time-told, too, by him; but
! as his words recalled the deceit which
had been practiced on her, all the scorI
' she had felt before revived: and NOR,
than ever 1t appeared possible he Nigh,
be guilty. too, of the death of Jacob Lynn
Her coldness communicated itself I,
him.
Il have no wish to say anything thai
will pain you. will not deny that WA
to blame then. though perhaps not S.
deeply a. you think. Should you ever fes
curious to know how it happened, yoU
mother will tell you the true story"
Il am not curious" sighed Jane.
She would have given much to hav,
known nothing that could make Stephei
Prinsep the less hero in her eyes than
hn -
been cOndOned, but these of his were "
despicable and mean that she hated her
self because in spite of them she lovei
him still. 1t was that which made hes
fear him 80, lest her infatuation-so sh,
termed it-should prove stronger than ha
sense Of what was right.
"And l will not speak of the day." h,
continued, (which should have been tn,
brightest In my life. and was the dreari
est. l went away shortly afterward, ant
tried my hardest to forget what was u
once pain and shame; yet the first sigh
of your sweet face, the sound of you
dear voice dissipated all my resolutions
knew you were as dear to me as ever
Then gradually the impression grew up
on me that you were no longer bound bI
the old promise, and that evening we act
ed tOgether-with me il was no acting
JENNY resolved to WOO you again; ani
| again, just as l began to dream of sue
cess. the more to be priced because "
hardly won. you met me with the unen
pected blow that you had pledged your
self anew, almost as fatally as before!'
when l did So" said Jane-and tn
words seemed wrenched from her b,
some inner force she could not combat
81 believed that should never marry
WAS it so" he asked, gently A
times he could have sworn she loved hin
still, then again that look of dislike to hin
presence, tinged. too, with fear, swep
over her face, and he was fain to doubt
Tell me, Jenny. when you gave tha
promise"
''The day you called for the first tim,
after your return from England" she an
swered, In a low voice.
Because you thought that no longe.
loved you. oh, Jenny, it was you who re-
manned 30 cold aud unconcerned, and BY
your Indifference drove me to the belie
that you had forgotten all that passed
between US short a time before,
had not forgotten-I shall never forget
that l have held you in my arms, an,
kissed you as a man only kisses the wo
man he loves, and hopes TO make bin
wife. The aching sense of loss which wal
in my heart the day on which our mar
riage should have been is there now, ana
will be till die, or until, Jenny, you re
lent! Do you owe me nothing for the suf
fering you have caused? | respected tn,
feeling of honor which made you refus,
to listen to me while you were engaged
and even the generous kindness of YOU
second promise; but now, surely there
aothing now to part us!'
"Stephen, Stephen she murmured
wistfllly, momentarily led away by tn,
fervor in his tones; but as, in answer Il
her pleading cry, he stepped eagerly to
ward her, she shrunk back, rememberin,
what was between them. Yet his word
had not been without effect BeHevfni
him guilty still, she could make some nj
lowance for the crime now, gauging tn.
greatness of the temptation by the great
ness of his love. And it had been an ao
had no, meant to slay him. sh,
was sure, or he could not have appeared
80 unconscious Of rong-doing! She, too
had been SO much to blame, first in max
Ing such q promise, and afterward n
sending the one lover to meet the othei
with anger in his heart. She had take,
no thought of the jealous passion eacI
would feel against the other.
Jenny, what am to think? 2" cried th,
Colonel, as she moved away
Think" she answered, hysterically
that would give all 1 have to brin,
Jacob Lynn to life. How can I ever b
happy again, knowing what do"
The door opened, and as her mother en-
tered Jane slipped away, only too thank
full to escape.
CTo be concluded)