Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-01-23

discouraged by first failure, and that
Sou o VIII go and see her again.
IN yes, will do that certainly! She
eau always be SO impracticable, always
e I,, answered Miss Knollys, hastily.
"eil' she had pledged herself to stand
Wy cahe at this juncture, and would not
~ from her word. Besides, she did not
oeileVe that, even if Jane proved obdu-
rue Colonel Prinsep would ever turn to
ler. ANA she liked the girl for her own
sake and wished her well.
some women have such luckv' NUT
1ereu Dlana, ruefully, thinking of how
1ane nau once been sergeant-major's
uaughter, and now might be a peeress
II she chose; or, which might be an even
brighter fate-for Miss Knollys did not
like Major Larron now-the wife of
Stephen Prinsep.
Meanwhile Colonel Prinsep walked
away slowly, his gaze bent downward;
therefore it might have been uncon-
sclous!y he passed the mess-gates. and
went on toward the quartermaster's
house.
llana,s last words were ringing in his
ears, and had driven every other thought
away She can't always be impractical
Die; she can't always refusev'
There seemed something Of prophecy
IN the unconsidered remark, which he
was faln to apply to his own use. She
mad been so long deaf to his spoken en-
treaties and even more persuasive I'M
uttered prayers that at any moment she
might have discerned his love in his
eyes; surely she would listen now, the
cause OF her forced GOODNESS being re-
moved. just at first she might have felt
VeXed with him as with herself, for the
fear and resentment she had expressed
about Jacob Lynn; but her natural good
sense must show her that neither had
been to blame, and she would, if she
loved him-as she had loved him without
doubt during that short, bright period Of
their engagement--turn gladly to the pro-
lection of his love- His name could
shield her from so much that was dis
agreeable, the attendant gossip and ru-
mors that would follow upon the troop
er's death, more especially since that
article had appeared in the Argus. And
for his part, if every one turned against
and reviled her, he would none the less
joyfully take to his arms the one love of
his life.
AS he turned into the compound he
met Mrs. Knox.
Il was just going out" she told him
when the usual greetings had been ex-
changed. But l will turn back with
you. 1t was nothing of Importance, and
am sue it was very kind of you to
call; we have been dreary enough lately"
1T was your daughter I came especial
ly to see. Will you let me so and speak
to her alone?"
She looked up inquiringly into his face,
and he smiled somewhat sadly in reply.
eyes, [ have come 70 ask her again to
be my wife, but whether [ have a chance
or not cannot say
"She loves you, | am sure" asserted
Mrs. Knox; but she did not speak so hope
fully as she might have done on such an
occasion six months ago.
Excited at the prospects which re-
opened out before her daughter, though
at the same time sorrowfully convinced
that their brilliancy would be displayed
in vain, Mrs. Knox hurried on, and the
Colonel was free to pursue his course I'M
hindered.
The front windows of the bungalow
were open, and at one Of them Jane stood
looking out; but directly she saw him
she shrunk back, and when he entered
the room he found her at the furtherest
end of it with the handle of the door in
her hand, as though about to fee
Jenny, Jenny, what is it that has
come between us that you would avoid
ne sop he cried, staying some distance
off lest she should escape him altogether.
She leaned against the door, and her
face was hidden from his gaze. Only a
convulsive movement of her shoulders
showed him she had heard what he had
said.
care you afraid of me-" he asked gen
tlv. "Surely not You know that my
feelings have never altered-that | love
YOU now even more dearly than the first
day l asked you to be my wife. You are
bound by no promise now; you are free
at last!'
ooh, hush, hush.' she moaned.
"What is there to prevent me pleading
nv cause again!
She turned to him so white and horror
struck an expression that involuntarily
he quaied before her glance.
"You can ask that:
"Why not? You loved me once, he be-
gan. ,
DO you think do not remember that
if YOU and I never met, JACOB Lynn
would be still alive?'
81 think you eIaggerate,' he remon-
strated in his quiet voice, which insen-
sihlv soothed her excitement; his death
was an accident, and though we may
both regret it. for one cannot be so I'M
selfish as to ignore the fact that it makes
possible what you declared impossible be-
fore-our marriage, Jenny.
'.Over his grave!'
81 do not understand he said, hope
lessly. "You must
II know air. she interrupted him,
meaningly.
For moment or two neither of them
smoke. Jane. frightened at her own bold
ness stood before him with downcast
eyes and trembling lips, and Colonel
Prinsep. more than ever bewlldered,
-----.....= g, .1-oIl Nothing he thOught.