Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-02-26
CHAPTER XXXH.

CHATTER AAAll.
If Colonel Prinsep had been perturbet
by their interview Jane was no less SO
Heaven forbid that she should condemn
him for her suspicious, she thought, aht
only find ont their mistake when his HI'
and her own We're both ruined. An oc
casiOnal feeling of anger against him ais'
helped her TO the decision to whlch sL'
at last arrived. She would herself pro"
his innocence-or guilt.
An opportunity occurred a few day.
later. The regiment was to go out mt
the country 10 practice maneuvers, anf
as on an occasion like this all the omcer'
would necessarily be absent from theu
quarters, Jane could visit the Coionei'
bungalow without danger. For TINS Wa
what she finally resolved to do.
Yet she felt her courage nag. as nav
successfully eluded her mothers ooserva
ton, she started away on her MISSION
The two bungalows were not far apart
and by good luck she encountered no one
on the way; yet at the gate she pausee
irresolute, feeling naturally unwlliint
to cross the threshold of her lovers nome
While she hesitated the sound o.
wheels decided her, and she went II
quickly. 1t would not have done to h
seen standing thus outside his gate. once
inside she put away all scruples ana walk
ed on toward the veranda. As she nae
surmised, none of the servants were
about and the bungalow door being OpeI
she might enter if she chose. A deef
blush suffused her face as she stepped IN
1t was the ColonePs dressing-room, TIT
room in which the proof, if proof ther'
were, would be.
Directly-for there was no time TO b'
lost, at any moment she might be dis
turbed-she crossed to where his boot
stood side by side on a pair OF shelves
Each in its turn was reversed, and aftei
q hasty scrutiny again set down IN II:
place. On none was found the triangular
mark she had seen for an instant in the
foot print which the soldiers had on then
arrival So thoughtlessly but effectually
effaced.
That clew having failed, another ye'
remained. In her pocket was the bit o:
cloth she had picked up near the spot
where Jacob Lynn was murdered. II
she could find the gaiter from which il
had been torn, her doubts would become
certainties; and she would know the
worst She knelt down beside portman
teau, and slowly-caressingly, an on.
locker might have thought-turned ovel
its contents without finding what SO un
willingly she sought. Another box and
wardrobe were equally Intellectually
searched; and as she rose to go, sigh o.
relief escaped her parted lips.
But so much had not been required Of
her. and she felt very grateful, very glad
at her non-success.
Throwing back her veil, she passed
through an open door into the next room
1t was plainly yet comfortably furnish.
Cd, its owner having evidently hit the
happy medium of having sufficient, yet
not too many, things about him. Jane
took in every detail at a glance, and
moving slowly forward, mechanically
picked up n closed velvet photograph
frame that stood on his writing table
1t fell open as she raised it, and her
brow, which had puckered into an anxious
frown, cleared as she saw her own pic.
tured face It was a photograph that
had been taken during their engagement
and underneath was inscribed, in bold
handwriting that she recognized as his
own, Jenny, January Goth to April
l4th," the dates of their first meeting
and the parting on their wedding day.
The girls eyes grew moist as she
Razed. But the next moment her ex.
preston changed as she saw an envelope
living on the same table addressed to
Miss Knollys.
q She pnt down the photograph frame
and turned away. After all she could
NOT expect that he would remain true to
q mere memory, yet it panied her that
he could turn so soon to one she had al.
ways looked upon as a possible rival
That he loved her and her only, with o
love incapable of change, was the only
excuse she had been able to urge for the
crime of which she suspected him, and
should it become no longer possible to
Mead that extenuation her one solace
amid SO much misery would be removed.
He would marry Diana Knollys, she
felt sure; everything seemed shaping to-
ward that end, and the match was .
more desirable one, of course, than that
he had contemplated before. Yet q wild,
nassionate desire came eurging into her
heart that she had not sent him away
from her-that she had condoned the
crime instead of suffering 1t to part them,
A her duty to the dead man had seemed
10 dictate. 1t would have been 80 easy,
10 perilously easy, to forgive. even though
abe might never be able to forget.
She sighed SO deeply as she left the
room that an unseen watcher, who had
.tood for the last few seconds half con-
cealed by q heavy curtain, which he held
hack with one hand intending to come in,
made a hasty movement to follow her.
then on second thoughts, refrained.
Jane had slipped out of the bungalow
uIchallenged, but as she passed through
the compound gates she came face to
face with Valentine Graeme.
"Are you going home, Miss Knox
May l walk with youT" he asked, jump
ing from his horse and handing 1t over to
his syce's care.
She looked up furtively into the Ad'
1utant's face. He was frowning, and she
ruessed that the meeting was as un'
pleasant to him as to herself. That ne
would not betray her she felt sure, yet
was equally certain that she had faiien
iretrievably in his estimation.
"You did not go with the rest to-day .!
az? oh, yes! We were all out; but II
was over sooner than we expected.
"Then you are all backT"|blankly.
tnmK so. DID not near OF any ons
staying behind"
"And-and Colonel Prinsep?" she fai
tered.
"YOu have not seen him
He looked into her face. She vas gaz'
fng at him wistfully. her eyes full OF
mute entreaty, as though implor1ng fof
an assurance, which yet she was ashamed
to beg.
81 shall not mention that I met you to
day." he said, hastily, looking away.
II wish could e1nlAin-@