Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-02-25

could desire. She had got beyond me now, b
rough patch up the steep bank, and she stoe
waiting.
30, Mary it is delicious, Sopeaceful, SO pretty
1t seems odd to think of SO much beauty goin
, on, whether or not there be any to look at it,
Nature is prodigal. Here we are quite alone
not a creature have we seen-not a Valentine (!
And then she laughed like a girl. She tool
one or two steps more, SO as to command tn
other side of q granite rock, and then she cam
back quickly to me.
go hope he did not hear. There Is q mai
there, sitting down, drawing in wster colors:-
what shall we do:
go home,"I said.
81 don't know. The place is my own. shall
speak TO him.
She went up the bank once more. keeping mi
by her side. Bnt as we neared the highest poin
of the intervening wall of stone, the man ap
peared on the top. He took of cloth Scotch
cap that he wore and bowed to us. We wer'
both struck by the extreme picturesqueness o
his position, attitude, and general appearance
and it was with peculiarly sweet voice that ht
| said
At know 1 am on Lady Margaret Caryll,
grounds. But hope have not trespassed toe
far-too near the house. mean"
| "You are nearly mile from my house." said
Lady Margaret. The stranger again gave a Lit.
tie bow. "Do not leave your sketch unfinished
The scenery here is very fine. and you will not
often get so good day at this time of the year. "
I Thank you r. he said. And once more touch
| ing his hat ne turned away, as If to go back TO
where Lady Margaret had seen him. We, too,
turned away, and thought Lady Margaret
looked disturbed.
| I'VE will come some other time then she
added, after pause, with an odd, short laugh.
as if vexed at being disappointed of our sketch
ing hour-"when there are no Valentines
about; and 1, a little chafed, perhaps, by hei
manner-for the first time in my life it vexsd
| me-said quickly
notIr'
"ChiIdr'
1 started; stood still; took her hand, and
kissedit.
81 wish had never uttered the word, :" cried
$50 do l." she said, "and said 1t, as well as
sow it first; SO the whole fault ofthis is mine
kiss me, Mary. There! Now no morer'
And SO we did not speak of 1t just then any
more. But before the day was ended we had
both laughed heartily over the Valentine, the
vexation and the adventure. We called the
sketcher " the Valentine; we wondered about
him a little, and finished the day by coloring I'D
our morning walk till it glowed as q good story
when we told 1t at Z" little tea" !" to my mother
There it seemed to end. Yet, again and again,
as weeks passed by, 1 felt an unaccountable
vexation rise in my breast because Lady Mar
garet had seen Z" the Valentine" At last, when
June was come, these was something else TO
think about. The return to the old pnblic days
was announced. Tue people were to have their
I'LL of pleasure, and once more they might 20
home tired, loyal and satisfied, fthey WOULD
The day fixed upon wss the 10Th of June, and
everybody said that they should make II q
point to CO." l--e
Then everybody wondered II Lady Margaret
would leave off her morning on that day-ifsh
would really wear colors. was a 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 flowing soft
shining gray, with q white bonnet, and delicate
inarabout feathers in it; and the blessedness Of
her presence seemed TO wrap. me round like
garment.
Such day it was! such lights and shadows
such warmth and gladness! such confusion of
happy sounds! The whole park, except whore
the deer were kept enclosed, was alive with
moving multitude, enjoying the glad fellowship
OF those holiday hours. Suddenly Lady Mar
garet came up to me.
Mary" she said" the Valentinev'
thought she looked odd and excited. l sup
pose seemed very stupid for she went on with
strange earnestness-
" Have you heard ofa mana young man, q
gentleman, mean-who has been lodging with |
Mrs. Bond, by the river-side-hei is the ysIen-
tine '-he is herer'
Do you mean the man who came there fish, |
ing? heard that some youth came there on |
foot, with his fishing-rod. He has been ILL., NV |
mother sent him strawberries q week ago. |
have never seen him."
THAT talking Miss Nancy Bennett says he has
often sked about me-" |
There was something just a little less than
perfect in Lady Margaret's manner 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 could think only Of
the brilliant morning. in February, and that
dreadful valentine-fer so called the man in
my heart.
How do YOU do, Mrs. Bond ?" said Lady Mar
garet, walking straight up to the mistress OF the
little inn. Mrs. Bond courtesied and congratu-
lated herself on being there. mot but that 1t
was hard to come" she said, "for have .
odger now. my lady, whose fishing is wellnigh
forever over. could not leave him at home
He vowed like a wilful child that should bring
him. had "a world of difficulty to settle it,
And how was it arranged:"
why, with two poles and an armchair; and
here he is! He is one of those who always have
heir own way, and such don't last long,
We looked in the direction pointed out by Mrs.
Bond, and saw figure wrapped up in cloaks,
sitting in a chair. in the shade.
ri I.dy Mor
nan had been brought here; / thought would
lsk about him. a-nI
" Thank you, my lady; just like you. / wish
Tou would speak to him. There, he looks this
yay-you may almost see his eyes fiash."
!" He is prodigious handsome" said . voice
lose by; and Lady Margaret little shrunk
Lside from the touch of Miss Nancy Bennet.-
Prodigious handsome! My sister and make
lin often an object for walk-pleasantt to have
IN object" said Miss Nancy. MRS. Bond seems
o take great care of him; sets him outside to
watch the river, and he admires the river and
alks of your ladyship-talks vastly Of your
gigled Miss Nancy; and though the
'oor creature meant no more, am sure, than
o do honor to Lady Margarets perfection, yet !
elt L could have strangled her for her manner I
" doing it."
"well. and wish her Iadyship would speak to :
i'm, If she will be SO kind" said Mrs Bond,
ngrily. "He wants friends-people as can be
riends;' with a fiery flash of her eyes on Miss {
Iancy. when asked him the other day who I
should send to If fanything happened, he said.
The doctor or the ecoroner-which you please;
nd If that is not enough TO break the heart of !
ny woman who has been wife and mother. 1 J
ont know what is.
What is his name?" asked Lady Margaret. I
That he don't tell, - said Mrs. Bond. "But he l
ays his way, and he had got that natural to me,
hat if he don't pay could not turn him out
lie amt like other people. He's got wonder 1
ul way with him; why, my old man is Just like ,
lis servant and my grandchildren-they adores ,
im"