East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-05-17
IN THE TWILIGHT.

brown curls floating away from heI
face like an aureole of amber bright
ness, and q slender throat, white and
smooth as mother of pearl-that was
Valentin Bruce, as she sat by the
open French window, dreamily watch
ing the sunset flame melt into opal
pillows of light.
And Colonel Mordaunt smoked his
dispairing cigar in the fragrant shad-
ows of the shrubbery, and marvelled
what fortunate mortal might be fated
to buy Valentin's wedding ring, and
pay her millinery bills, and be her
humble slave and seryitor through
life.
Colonel Mordaunt tossed his cigar in
among the rose acacias that skirted
the lawn, and began to select clus-
tor of exquisite moss-roses, needless OF
the thorns that pierced his unaccus-
toned fingers.
"She likes flowers" he soliloquiz-
cd, "and moss roses are certainly the
prettiest flowers that grow. l will
win smile from those velvet lips Of
hers"
He twisted blade of plant grass
round the mossy stems, in place of a
ribbon, and sountered carelessly up
the graveled walk.
All of a sudden he stopped.
Frank Aldrich's voice !" he ex-
claimed, biting his lip with vexation,
as a merry peal of laughter foated
through the purpling twilight from
the open windows beyond. "What
brings that puppy here, now, of all
times and seasons in the world.
"Hallo Jack r' said Aldrich. "Been
sentimentalizing out in the dew |? The
ladies were just fretting over the
chance Of your taking cold"
Mordaunt's face frightened up
Valentin did think of him sometimes.
"That is," pursued the relentless
Aldrich, "your thoughtful sister Katy
said she was afraid you would have a
cold, and Miss Bruce said nothing"
Col. Mordaunt's counteuance elon-
gated again. But he stepped forward
and laid the knot of moss roses on the
folds of Valentines white muslin
dress, with few murmered words,
that nobody could understand.
Flowers, eh," said Frank, super
ciliously. Upon my word, Jack is
getting prodigal!" !"
Valentin looked carelessly down at
the cluster of pink buds, then delib-
erately took them up and tossed them
out upon the lawn.
Explain, if you please" said Frank,
composedly, while Mordaut grew scar
let, and bit his lips till the blood came.
"There was worm-a horid green
worm-on one of the buds" haught-
lily said Valentin, shaking off one or
two crimson petals that still adhcruu
TO her muslin dress. al have a per-
feet horror to such obnoxious insects"
"Do you hear that, Jack ?" appeal
cd Mr.. Aldrich, lazily turned round
in his chair. "It's a pity you were so
unfortunate in the selection of your
floral offering.
But Colonel Mordaunt had left the
room-Kate following him the next
minute.
Dearest Jack, are you vexed with
Frank md Valentin ? They don't
mean to annoy you, / am sure, and
"Not vexed, DEAR" said Mordaut,
speaking slowly and sadly" only
grieved. am sorry Miss Bruce finds
me so disagreeable."
He went up stairs, while Kate hes
ita.ed moment below.
"He is better by himself" she said
mentally. "Poor fellow! he's dread
fully in love, and 1 do wish Valentin
would mt tease him so.
And she went down into the terrac-
cd garden, to gather honeysuckless
for the parlor vases, and muse on her
brothers manifold grievanced.
ats too bad, so it is," she mur-
INJURED, winking back the bright drops
that would sutfuse her hazel baown
orbs. Il shall talk seriously to VAL
ontin about it this very evening""
Meanwhile Col. Mordaunt stalked
sulkily up stairs, into his sisters pref
ty little sitting-room, where the mus
lin curtains were futtering to and fro
in the delicious night wind, and the
sofa was drawn into a little recess be-
side a table all Uttered with books,
magazines and needle-cases and Thin
bles, and the indescribable debris
which two girls invariably collect
around themselves in the course of a
long June afternoon.
He threw himself reeklessly down
on the sofa, and drew the soft folds OF
Kate's cashmere shawl over him, as
if jealous lest the soft eyes of the
watching stars that werc just begin
ming to gem tho heavens should wit
ness the struggle that convulsed this
strong mans heart.
Not that his grief wrought itseli
into any external signs. Mo- there
was neither groan nor motion. One
might almost have fancied him asleeI
as he lay there, white and silent, with
the curtains sweeping around his mo
tionless head.
"Katy %
Like the tremulous COO Of the wooc
pigeon, Valentin's voice murmureC
the soft syllabless with the coaxint
accent of q penitent child. And il
the same instant she knelt down be
side the sofa, her white dress sweep
ing over the crimson carpet like tide
of translucent pearl, and one arm
thrown carressingly over the folds o
the deceitful cashmere shall.
Colonel Mordaunt's first impulse wa
to spring up and declare his individu
ality-his second to lie still, and lie
, Fate manage the matter to suit he
capracious self. SO he lay still accord
ingly, experiencing very singula
and not at all disagreeable sensation
| A. 4.