Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-16

land. He pressed il between both his own
How lovely she looked, standing behind the old
ssptain's chair, her damp hair clnging to her
white threat, her violet eyes shining through the
duski
"You can never hide 20 far, or no securely,
but that will follow and find you," answered.
Lutell, passionately. PRAY where is Daws7"
"Gone of down the beach," she replied.
hattening her blonde face against the pane to
stare after the tall figure disappearing now in
"Didn't you find it .omewha. damp sailing
with him in this fog?' lueried Lutrell, jeal-
ously.
"what brings him here this Summer? You
told me the place was quite unknown
at was sunshine when we started-one can
never rely on the weather here. He Is stopping
at an inn near by, hunting subjects for sea-
sketches, think he said.o
And paying court to Miss May in the inter
yals," added Lutrell, growing green.
The color leaped smartly into her pretty face.
Really, is not that remark quite uncalled
IorI she said, and turned from the window like
Lutrell stood gazing gloomily down the rocks,
ms race flushed to an unbecoming red. She let
him remain there for awhile chewing the bitter
end OF reflection, then went and touched his
Have you come all this way to quarrel with
me-: she demanded, an arch smile breaking
into her soft eyes.
"Quarrel with goa, he echoed, and looked as
IL about to snatch her to his heart. al cannot
conceive Of anything so monstrous; but would
is TO your"
She put on q quick alarmed look
:, DO not be so violent. This old Triton behind
us has ears. Mr.. DAVIS, sir, is a sort OF cousin,
two or three times removed. and blood is thicker
than water, especially in place like this
COUSIN! never heard of it before!" said
LutreIi, dryly. =" Laura, Laura, how you do
trifie with me. Don't you kaoc why couldn't
stay in town after you left? Don't you kaOw
what brings me here tonight seeking you?'
"Oh, hush!' she cried, breathlessly. "See
4 Al a
subject for Arthur's pencil-the daughter of the
house-I must ask him to make a sketch Of her
some day."
Up the rocks Val Kilburn came Icaping, her
oars on her shoulder, the scarlet handkerchief
that bound her head fallen on her neck, and all
her tar-black banner of hair floating loose be-
hind her.
"a handsome girl, - muttered Lutrell, in spite
Of himself.
"And something of a heroine, too in her way"
added Laura, glad to turn the conversation from
ite perilous drift even at the expense of another
woman's praise; ''that is, she saves vessels from
wreck, and peoples lives, and all that. Mr..
DAVIS admires her greatly
The keeper of the hight passed the window,
cast one careless glance upward at the two
faces watching her therefrom, and then went on,
ana vanished out OF the prospect, like some
Lutrell remained to tea in the cottage. He
sat with Laura over the drift-wood fire far into
the evening, tangling his great foolish heart
deeper and DEEPER in the meshes she had
thrown about him. He was not brilliant COM
pamon, as her smOthered yawns and covert
glances at the clock on the mantel testified.
Men in love are prone to be tiresome, and his
signs and soft looks and general redness of face
bored her greatly. Why, she wondered with an
injured feeling. must the richest man in her set
IL shall take quarters at the inn with DAVIS
he mentioned.
"Then We shall be neighbors," answered
Laura, ''and you will come to the light some
times"
Every hour in the day. if you will see me as
often, said poor Lntrell, bluntly. II have
mare you admired at Long Branch last SUM-
mer. Will you ride with me in the morning."
III manage to awake early enough" yawned
Laura. You really have no idea how one can
He was not so stupid but that he understood
this hint. and he took his leave Of her, and step
The fog was lifting in great ghostly masses
through the clouds overhead. RLike a great en-
Der, burned the lamp in the tall tower;
stopping to light cigar. In her heart, don't
ts,ieve she carestwo s,rawsf for me. By Heaven!
Laura, putting her blonde hair into crimps be-
fore her mirror, little later, unused thus, vexed
tears rising the while to her eyes.
1T Is so hard to chose! have next to moth
ing. Must marry Lutrell!-the great awkward
lobster? I'm afraid twill come to that In the
end. Dear me! why was he born 50 absurdly
rich, Il is hard, certainly, both for me and
Her sleep that night was greatly disturbed
She arose early, 1nadei q ravishing morning
toilet, and wandered, fair and pensive, about
the cottage, awaiting Lutrel. Suddenlya step
crunehed down the sands outside. Into the
porch stepped a handsome debonair figure, end
confronted her with his heart in his eyes-Ar-
ON boat is on the shore )" he said, "the air is
sweeter than ambrosia, the water without rip
pie. Come, Laura!'
Being holder than his rival, he gathered her
hands into his, and carried them TO his lips.
4" i cannot" she sighed, stunning his pas
sionate look, al have promised to ride with
Lutrell."
"what, that dolt.' cried DAVIS, his dusk mel
a a1cy eyes piercing her heart like a two;
drown myself at once! Laura, did you pray
last night, "lead us not into temptation p"
"How cruel you are!" she murmured, wink
ing hard to keep back her tears.
AT least, put on your hat and walk down to
the boat with me-"
"will you promise not to carry me off?~
"Ah," he answers glOomily, ~ will promise
nothing but.to love you"
"That is pity, for We shall be back before
that Jack Pudding puts in his appearance"
You are very rude, :" she Pouts; then goes for
her hat, slips her white hand through his arm,
and they depart down the rocks, and are seen no
more
Half an hour after, Jack Lutrell arrived. He
was splendidly mounted, ana attended by q
groom leading the black Kentucky mare, ca
| parisoned as II for q princess Empty and de-.
serted stood the cottage. He entered. but found
| no Laura. Before the door sat the old captain,
| and flung down beside him on the rocks was
! that brown girl Val. with needle and mesh
block, mendiDg q fishing net.
Scan yen tell me what has become of Miss
May?" said Lutrell, advancing toward them.
"She has gone across the bay with Mr.. DAVIS, -
| Val answered, never raising her black eyes
| from her work.
He stood stark and stiff
"Pardon me-are you quite sure? Is not
| there some mistake"
IL saw them myself"
Lutrell turned on his heel.
"Take back the horses to the inn,' he said to
the groom, in a harsh, strained voice; then flung
himself down on the rocks, and with his back to
| his two companions, stared of on the sea.
He's sore cut up" thought the old captain.
Val worked silently. Presently he raised him
| self-bis long shadow stretched across her. His
| face was quite cool and composed again.
| pardon me, !" he said, abruptly, ''but why
\ do they call you Val? An odd name, Is it not?''
IL was born in Valencia, Spain," she an
swered. somewhat CURLY, ''and chrstened in
| memory OF my birthplace"
"You need bat niantilla and a fan to trans
| form you into a genuine daughter of the
| country" said Lutreu, and stood and looked
| down on heron her supple figure, in its pink
! futtering dress, on the black hair blowing loose
arH i,,t ~ u-ir 4 v;cLa a.