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MAY 6 1899
“But I don’t love him,” sobbed the girl,
‘And who asked if you did, miss?’’ inquired her
mother, who by dint of nursing Phil had become his
strong partisan, ‘‘Dost mean to put thy silly whims
above thy parents’ judgments?”
"But you wouldn't do as your father wished, and
maried. dadda,”? moaned Jan
ly, perverse child In was, :,? retorted Mrs, Mere-
dith, and another aft thou, to fling the misbehavior in
thy mother’s face.’?
‘Nay, nay, Patsy—’’ began the squire, but whether
he was stepping forward in defence of his wife or his
daughter he was not permitied to say, for Mrs. Mere-
dith continued:
“We'll set the wedding for next Thursday, if that
suits you, Philemon?
“You can’t name a day too soon for me, marm,’”
sented Philemon eagerly; ‘‘and as I just hearn the
sound of hoofs outside, tis likely | cae officers has
arrived, and I’ll speak ter them so’s ter get word ter
the chaplain, and ter my regiment. You needn’t be
afraid, Miss Janice, that *twon’t be done in high style.
Like as not, General Grant will put the whole post
nder arms.’? In truth the lover was not at his ease,
and was glad enough for an excuse which took him
from the room. Nor was he less eager to samounce
his success to his comrades, hoping it would put a
end to their attentions to his bri
“Then ye’ll do as I bid ye, aed ‘queried her father,
“Yes, dudda,” ’ Janice assented dutifully, while striv-
ing to stitle her sobs. ‘‘I—I’ve been a—a—wicked
ereature, I know, and now I'll do as you and mommy
tell me.”
COLLIER’S WEEKLY
“T know it,’”’ interrupted Jack, ‘and if you’d not
come to me, I’d have burst in on them rather than
have my third ride futile,
“Oh, go, please gol” begged the girl,
“Say that you forgive me,’’ pleaded the officer,
catching her hands,
8, yes, anything; only go,’ besought Janice,
as a oud laugh, from the dining-room warned “her
anew of the peril.
Jack stooped and kissed each hand in turn, but even
as he did so one of the officers in the next room
a toast to Tayenant T{ennion and his bride—
hip, hip, hip, bumpers
Janice felt horself caught by pol shoulders, with
all the tenderness gone from the
“What does that mean’? the aide demanded, his face
very close to her o
The girl, with bowed head, partly in shame, and
partly to escape | tho blazing eyes which fairly burned
her own, replied “T am to marry Mr, IHennion next
Thursday.
Willingly?? burst from her questioner, as if the
word were shot from a bon
“Then you'll do nothing of the kind,”’ denied Brere-
ton, with a sudden gayety of es “*My horse is hid
in the woods by the river; but say the word, and you
shall be under Lady Washi hington’ 8 ‘Drotection at Morris-
town before daylight.
“And what then?” questioned the gir
“Then? Why, a marriage with me the moment ye’ll
give me aye.’
il
ents, who found in it proof that she was now reconciled
to their wishes, ad they been closer observers they
would have noticed that several times in the course of
the day it waxed or waned without apparent reason,
that their daughter was singularly restless, and that
any sound out of doors caused her to start and listen,
ven the getting out and trying on of her wedding
gown seemed to interest her, Yet nothing occurred to
break the usual monotony of the life.
er state of nervous expectancy on the second day
was shown when the inevitable contingent of English
officers arrived a little before dinner; for as they ap-
peared without previous warning in the parlor door,
Janice gave a scream, which startled Philemon, who
was relying upon but two legs of his chair, into a pitch
over backward, and brought the squire’s gouty foot to
the. floor with a bump, and a wail of pain.
mel’? ejaculated one of the newcomers,
“Dost take us Sor Satan himself, that ye greet us so?”
“Tush, man,’ corrected Mobray, ‘Miss Meredith
could not sce under our cloaks, and s0, no
thought us rebels. Who wouldn’t scream a “h he
prospect of an attack of the Continental blue devils—
eh, Miss Janice
‘Better the blue devils,’ retorted Janice, “than a
searlet fever.’
“Tah, hah!’? laughed a fellow-officer, “ ’Twas
t us into that, Sir Frederick, Lieutenant Hennion,
thy first task after to-morrow’s ceremony is plain and
clear, I would that I had the suppression of this re-
bellion, ’stead of one which fights us with direst cold
and hunger, to say nothing of the scurvy and the putrid
”
fever.
DRAWN BY EMLEN McCONNELL
WORN OUT WITH ANXIETY AND FATIGUE SHE COLLAPSED ON THE BENCH AND BEGAN TO SOB
If Philemon had been made uneasy by the girl’s
tears, her manner during the balance of the day did
not tend to make him happier, Her sudden gravity
and silence were so marked that his fellow-oflicers who
had e 0 supper, and who did not know the true
situation, ° allied them both on Miss Meredith’s loss of
iy
ae faith,”’ declared Sir Frederick Mobray, moved
perhaps by'twinges of the little green monster,
for the lieutenant’s word I’d take my oath twas a
funeral we were to attend, and issue orders for the
casing of colors and muffling of Grums. n the name
of good humor, Mr. Meredith, n the spirits, and
Tl brew a punch that shall’ liquidate the gloom.’
After one glass of the steaming drink, the ladies, as
was the custom, rose to leave the room, At the door
Janice was intercepted by Peg, with word fhat Sukey
wished 10 advise with her anent some matter, so
maid ‘ia uot follow her mother, but turned and “tore
the kitchen,
The cook was not in view, but as the girl realized the
fact a cloaked man suddenly stepped from behind the
chimney breast, and before the scream that rose to
Janice’s lips could escape a ‘firm hand was laid on
them, Yet, even in the moment of surprise, the girl
was conscious hat, bess as the fingers might, there
was still an element of caress in their touch.
doomed ‘to fright you, Miss Meredith,” said
reton, ‘but, indeed,.’tis not intentional. Twice i in
ie last week I’ve tried to gain speech of you without
success, and so to-night have taken desperate meaus,”?
Ife took his hand from her mouth, ‘*This time I know
myself safe in your hands, Ah, Miss Janice, wilt not
forgive me the suspicion, for not one easy hour have I
had since I knew how I had wronged you. I was sent
to eastward with despy atches to the New England gov-
ernors, or nothing would have kept me from earlier seck-
ing you to crave a part
“You must not shay, protested Janice, ‘‘There are
five—'
“But I care ho more for you than I do for Mr. Hen-
nion, and even—”
“But DI make you love me,” interrupted Jack
ardently,
“And even if I did,’? concluded Janice, ‘you your-
self helped fo teach’ me what the world ‘thinks of
elopements.”?
‘Ah, don’t let—don’t deny—’?
“No, once for all; and release me, sir, I beg’?
“Not till you swear to me that this accursed wedding
is not to take Placo, till Thursday.”
“Of course
**And where is it to be?’”
**At the church in Brunswick.”
“And is the looby with his regiment or staying
here?”
**Here,”
Bren, Jeughed gally, and mere loudly than was
prude bet and a marve e bantered:
0 Mise Janice Noredith that the most
bewitching creature in the world lacks a groo
her wedding day! I must not tarry, for tts thirty
jles to Morristown, and three days is none too much
time for what I wonld do. Farewell,” Jack ended,
once more catching her hands and kissing them, He
hurtiedly crossed the room, but as he Jaid hold of the
latch he as suddenly | turued a strode back to the
maid. “Has * he demanded, with
a savago seowl 0 on his fac
“Never!”? ipativly cried the girl, while the color
flooded into her che
“Bless him for a cold-blooded icicle,”? joyfully ex-
claimed the officer, and before Janice could realize his
intention she was caught in his arms and fervently
kissed. The next moment a door slammed, and he
was gone, leaving the girl leaning for very want of
Breath against the chimney side, with redder checks
than
The ‘color still lingered the next morning to such an
extent that it was commented upon by both her par-
For the next few hours cold and hunger and disease
were not in evidence, however, and it took little persua
sion from the squire, who dearly loved jovial company,
S me the visitors to stay on to tea, and then
y hile they were enjoying the latter the interruption
Janice had expected came at last. In the midst of the
cheer, the hall door was swung back so quietly that no
one observed it, and only when he who opened it spoke
did those at table realize the new arrival. Then the
sight of the blue uniform with buff facings brought
every officer to his feet.
“I grieve to intrude upon so inti a company,”
apologized the new arrival, bowing. ‘*But knowing of
the unstinted hospitality of Green nwood, I made bold,
Mrs, Meredith, to tell a friend that we could scarce fail
of awelcome,”? Brereton turned to say, “This way,
Harry, after thou’st hung thy cloak and hat,’? and
entered fhe room,
“ life!’’ burst out the baronet, as the second
‘aie ested in Continental dragoon uniform, en-
tered, ani al be owed respectfully to the company, ‘*What’s
to pay her
“But a ** went on Brereton. -“I see your table is
already filled, so we'll not inconvenience’ you by our
intrusion. Perhaps, however, Miss Janice will fill us
each a glass from yon bowl of punch. Tis a Jong ride
to Morristown, and a stirrup cup will not be amiss,
Yet stay again. Let me first puff off my friend to you.
Ladies and gentleman, Captain Henry Lee, better known
as Light Morse Harr7.”
“May I perish, but this impudence passes belief!”
gasped ons of the oflicers, ‘Dost think thou'rt not
pri
“IIo, Shek! I told thee thy hare-brainedness and love
of adventure would get us juto the suds yet,’? spoke up
Lee. “Then the ninety light horse whom we left sur-
rounding the house are thy troops?’? he questioned,
laughingly, of the four officers,
“Devil pick thy bones, the two of youl’ swore