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


And you won't speak TO me, and
know deserve it darling" J"
There was q moments silence, as il
Miss Valentin had expected some sor'
Of response to her pretty penitence.-
But she din'nt get any, and SO, after q
brief pause, she went on:
Indeed, Katy, 1 don't mean to
grieve you--and won't do it again
/ am SO sorry for my ridiculous freak
DO you suppose he was rery angry
Katy? DO you thind l ought to ash
his pardon 2 But then you know he
didn't see me steal around the lawn
when that odius Aldrich was gone and
pick up the roses again"
There were strong symptoms Of
coming tears-a sort Of quivering sot
in the voice.
= "You won't forgive me Katy No
if tell you that do really love you,
tall, stern brother +? Only, Katy, l was
silly enough to want to tease him 0
little, and test my power over his no.
BILE heart. 1 love him, / may tell go,
of it. dear, without being bold or un.
womanly, because you know we have
SO often talked about his liking me a
little, and--and-oh, Katy, answer
me don't be so cold and cruel sure
ly you can't be asleep2"
Valentin leaned over and drew back
the folds of the shawl, her soft hand
pressing lightly over the forehead be-
low.
Where are your lips, ehere annie ~
she coaxed playfully. / shall soon
break the magic spell that binds them.
You know you never could keep vexed
with me more than five minutes at q
time. Why-where's your hair p
Whore
She sprang suddenly to her feet
with piercing scream-her wander
ing hand had touched the dark, heavy
moustache on which Colonel Mour-
daunt prided himeelf 50 specially.
He strove to catch the hand--to de-
tain the heightened beauty long
enough to plead his cause in earnest,
impassioned words, but in vain. Fear
seemed literally to lend her wings.
Away, like frightened white dove
she flew, uttering some wild, hystoric
screams, and fairly falling into the
arms of the astonished Katy Mourd-
aunt who was just coming in from the
starlighted garden with both hands
full of dewy branches of honeysuckle.
"Valentin % she exclaimed, drop
ping the spicy blossoms, "Why what
is the matter ? what can have startled
you so dreadfully?"
"Oh, Katy Katy sobbed Valen-
tin, clinging to her friends shoulder
with nervous vehemance, "there's a
man in your room--a robber, hiding
~i,ivt , ouI vasIiIuoio snuwi on the
sofa. Oh, / am nearly frightened to
death ~
Katy's serene brown eyes dilated a
little--and then frightened into smi.-
ing archness.
"a robber ?" she repeated with
provoking calmness. "Nonsense, VAL
entin, you are mistaken. 1t was only
Jack 1 saw him 60 in there not half
an hour ago. The idea of taking our
Jack for a robber ~
Katy's laughter rippled merily out
at the mere fancy.
Only Jack In the midst of her ter
ror, this possibility had never once oc-
Cured to Valentin Bruce's mind
Only Jack The Forty Thieves them
selves would have faded into nothing
ness before the mere idea Of Colonel
Mourdaunt having heard all those
soft pleadings and unconscious admis-
sions. One minute Valentin felt as if
every vein throughout her whole
frame was filled with molten fire -
then she grew white and cold as a
marble statue. Life and strength
seemed ebbing away from her--and
for the first time in her life Valentin
Bruce tainted away.
Katy Mourdaunt quietly sprinkled
scented waters on the pallid forehead,
and began to unlace the white muslin
dress. AS she did so, faded bunch
of flowers fell from Valentin's bosom,
and Katy smiled to herself as she re-
cognized the moss-buds that had been
so haughtily thrown out upon the
lawn that very evening.
"Pll keep them for Jack" she said
in her inmost mind. "Ah, Valentin,
you'll be my sister-in-law yet"
How slyly the blue-eyed damsel
stole into the breakfast room the next
morning. She would cheerfuily have
tasted all day long sooner than enter
the presence Of the tall colonel but
what was tho usep The dreaded first
interview must be got over, sooner OF
latter, so here she was, with downcast
lashes, and cheeks dyed as deep @
pink as the rose colored wrapper she
had on. No more naughty airs and
graces--no more cool composure.--
She was at Colonel Mordaunt's mercy
and she knew it. Would he take
cruel advantage of her helplessness
Or would he
But there her cogltatlons generally
stopped. "
He was standing at the window
looking out upon the level morning
sunshine that bathed the short vel
vetry grass before the piazza. But h
turned quickly as she entered, with I
bright, welcoming smile.
"yalentin % he said, gently, eva
dreaming last night, or did 1 hea
you say that you loved me2 Oh, m.
darling, tell me that it was no base
less dream
J She came shyly to his arms ant
nestled there like a fluttering fawn
voiceless, yet happy. Still he was no
: contented.
81 want to hear it from your owl
! lips yet again, Valentin. Nay, dear
] est. don't shrink away SO pleadingly
I.,4 ~