Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-02-26

$50 do l." she said, "and I said it, as
| well as S0ae it first SO the whole fault ot
this is mine-kiss me, Mary. There
Now, no morer'
And so we did not speak of it just then
any more. But before the day was ended
we had both laughed heartily over the
| Valentine, the Yexation and the adYen.
| ture. We called the sketcher "the Valen-
tine; we wondered about him little
and finished the day by c0loring up our
morning walk till it glowed as good sto
/ ry, when we told it at "little tea," to nv
mother. There it seemed to end. But,
again and again, as weeks passed by, felt
an unaccountable vexation rise in nv
breast because Lady Margaret had seen
"the Valentine" At last, when June was
come, there was something else to think
about. The return of the old public days
was announced. The people were to have
their ill of pleasure, and once more they
might go home tired, loyal and satisfied,
if they would. The day fixed upon was
the 2oth of June, and erybody said that
they should SNAKE it a point to go."A
Then everybody wondered if Lady Mar
garet would leave off her mourning on
that day--if she would really wear colors.
| was very slave in my love for Lady
| Margaret. did not wish her to be
gay after that fashion. hoped, feared,
wondered. When the day came she kissed
me lovingly, and was dressed in rich-fow-
ing, soft shining gray, with white bon
net, and delicate marabout feathers in 1t
| and the blessedness of her presence seemed
| to wrap me round like garment.
Such day it was such lights and shad-
ows, such warmth and gladness such a
| NnnfI1cinn nf ONr1r,da Tho xuh hNl
| park, except where the deer were en-
closed, was alive with moving multitude,
enjoying the glad fellowship Of those holi-
day hours. Suddenly Lady Margaret came
up to me. a.
"Mary," she said" the Yalentine!"
thought she looked odd and excited. /
suppose seemedvery stupid, for she went
on with strange earnestpess-
Have you heard of 6 mana young
man, a gentleman, mean-who has been
lodging with Mrs. Bond, by the river side
| he is the Valentine'-he is herep
"Do you mean the man who came there,
| fishing? l heard that some youth came
there on foot with his fishing-rod. He has
been ILL., My mother sens him strawber-
| ries week ago. have never. seen him.
"That talking Miss Nancy Bennett says
| he has often asked about me-"
There was something just little less
than perfect in Lady! !Margaret's manner, I
| thought; and the thought troubled and
vexed me.
"Come with me now," she said. -
So we walked across the park together,
to where people were collected under the
shade Of some stately oaks But I could
think only of the beautiful morning in
February, and that dreadfM Valentine
for so called the man in my heart.
Chow do you do, Mrs. ,Bond?". said
Lady Margaret, walking straight up to the
mistress of the little inn. Mrs Bond cour-
tested and congratulated herself on being
there. mot but that it was hard to come"
she said. $ for l have a ledger, now, my
lady, whose fishing is well nigh forever
over. l could not leave him at home. He
vowed like willful child that I should
bring him. I had q world of difficulty to
settle it." -p
"And how was it arranged ?"
"Why, with two poles and an armchair;
and there he Isl He is one of those who
always have their own way; and such
don't last long" Il.
We looked in the direction pointed out
by Mrs. Bond, and saw figure wrapped
up in cloaks, sittingin chair in the shade.
81 heard" said Lady Margaret, "that a
sick man had been brought here; thought
Iwould ask about him."
| f"Thank you, my lady; just like youj I
wish you would speak to him. There, he
looks this way-you may almost see his
eyes fash"
"He is prodigious handsome" said a
voice close by; and Lady Margaret a lit
tie shrunk aside from the touch of Miss
Nancy Bennett "Prodigious handsome
My sister and make him often an object
for a walk-pleasant to have an=object,"
said Miss Nancy. Mrs. Bond seems to take
great care of him; sets him outside to
watch the river, and he admires the river,
and talks of your ladyship-talks vastly
of your ladyship," giggledg Miss Nancy ;
and though the poor creature ment no
more, am sure, than to do honor to Lady
Margaret's perfection, I yet felt I could
have strangled her for her manner of do
ing it,
| speak to him, if she will be 50 kind, said
Mrs. Bond, angrily. "He wants friends
people as can be friends;'' with fiery
flash of her eyes on Miss Nancy. "When
asked him the other day who I should
send to if anything happened, he said,
please; and if that is not, enough to
break the heart of any woman who has
been wife and, mother, I don't know
what ISL Fi Y07R1f0A nA
"What is his name ?" asked Lady Mar
garet. ~ g37o " iliw scidoam m
"That he don't tell" said Mrs. Bond.
"But he pays his way, and he had got
that natural to me, that if he didn't pay
could not turn him out He amt like
other people. He's got wonderful way
with him ; why, my old man is just like
his servant, and my grandchildren-they
adores himr' n l3w iE9Y f.jw ;adT.
Nevertheless" said Miss Nancy, spite
fully, "you will get into trouble if you let
him die in your house without doctor"
Then trouble may come, and welcome.
A doctor he won't have, and not all the
doctors that ever were made would keep
him here; for he is dying, though slow,
and Tam doctor enough to know that"
"Very mysterious!" exclaimed Miss
Nancy.
(which never denied" responded Mrs.
Bond. "But still know something,
Gentleman be is ); i'll he is dying he is ]
wish, my lady, you would go and speak
@Good day, Mrs. Bond" o's said Lady
| Margaret, with one of her quiet, penetrat,
ing smiles which went to the heart direct.
| ly, and then, with her hand within my
arm, she walked up to the languid figure
| in the chair under the trees. ,,,,.,
| : He took off his hat as she came near
| Miss Nancy Rouuat had L. rarfaip1u N ~