Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-02-27

cret to Mrs. Dene tRas something HAD
happened to keep Valentine from the
house; and when she questioned Jane,
the answer was given frankly enough.
Mr.. Graeme was hating between two
opinions, whether he liked Diana or me
the better, SO I helped him to decide. He
actually did not know that he was in love
with Diana till told him.
And SO lost him for yourself" said
Mrs. Dene, with suspicious ronon-
STRANGE in her tone.
Jane lifted her eyebrows slightly.
Il did not want him. I never intend
to marry at ALL
Mrs. Dene was silent. 1t occurred to
her that it might really end so. First
the Colonel, and then the Sergeant, the
lover Of former days, had been dismissed,
and afterWard the little A. d. G. and
Barry Larron. Now the Adjutant was
sent away. She was losing all her lovers.
But after few days she found occa-
sion to alter her opinion. Colonel Prn-
sep had been three times to the bungalow
on three successive mornings. True, he
had stayed only short time on each
occasion, and he always came with
declared object; yet some subtle change
IN his manner betrayed that he no longer
even wished to believe himself Indifferent
to Jane. And Jane, what We're her feel
ings on the subject: She determined to
find out.
Jenny" she said that same evening,
as they sat together after their quiet
dinner, Il wonder why Colonel Prinsep'
has been here so often lately|'
Jenny's head was bent low over her
work as she answered.:
nj
friends
and are STILL But if his coming were
disagreeable to you-is it disagreeaDle'
to you, Jenny?"
She raised her eyes. Mrs. Dene sat op-
posite to her, her knitting needles fash
ing in and out of her heecy work, the fire.
light CHANGING upon her short curls and
down-turned face. 1t struck Jane how
young and winning she looked. A sharp
fear assailed her that in this might be
the secret of Stephen Prinseps visits
lately. Her husband had been dead q
year now.
Jane, like many others, had never
thought there had been any deep affec-
ton between Captain Dene and his wife;
therefore it was the more likely she would
marry again, and what so probable as
that the old friendship that had always
been between her and the Colonel should
develop into something sweeter?
''Is it?' repeated Nora Denc, softly.
NO; why should it be?' was the reply
given in clear metallic tones. eve have
both forgotten everything everything
that might make it uncomfortable for us
to meet
A slight incredulous glance, but nothing
more They should have their own way,
cd no
so inclined, without any interference
from her.
The following morning Colonel Prinsep
went to the bungalo again. Jane was
outside. but fled indoors when she Saw
him in the distance. AS he passed where
she had been. he glanced to see what she
had been doing. A large flower-pot of
cuttings was standing there with several
smaller ones ranged beside it, and on the
ground lay a large silver ring that she
had taken off before she had begun her
work, and in her rapid fight had forgot
ten. 1t was the ring she always wore on
the third finger of her left hand, and
which Colonel Prinsep had once thought
might be a sign of her betrothal to Jacob
Lynn. Now he lifted and examined it
curiously. 1t was evidently of lndia1
workmanship, quantity embossed, and SO
made that it seemed like three ring-
Joined. AS he fingered it, tha center sec
tion moved beneath his touch. 1t turned
completely, and he saw that below lay
Derdu a wedding ring. 1t could only be
the one that he had thrown down in
anger the day they were to have been
married.
Under his fair mustache his lips quiv-
cred in half amused emotion, his eyes
grew wondrously soft in their express
sion: he felt tempted to forego his wait
ing game, and following Jane, confront
her with this proof of her love for him.
Yet he knew he should only be counting
another refusal He waited a moment to
harden himself little to the part he had
TO play, and then slipping back the tiny,
shifting panel took out the plain gold
hoop. and let the outside case, still open,
drop upon the ground. 1t rolled close to
! q small stream that ran through the COM
| Mound. so near that the inner ring might
we'll be supposed to have fallen inte the
water instead of reposing safely as It did
| in Colonel Prinsep's waistcoat-pooket.
| Then he went through the open door into
| the drawing-rcom, where he found Mrs.
| Dene alone. He had come Ostensibly to
| fell the ladies of some regimental sports,
| which were to take place that afternoon,
| and ask permission to escort them there.
Mrs. Dene readily consented, If, she
| supplemented, 'Jane would co.
'Then | had better wait till she comes,
| observed Colonel Prinsep.
4 - 4