The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-02-23
IN THE TWILIGHT.

smooth as mother -ot-pearl, was Val
entin Bruce, as she sat by the open
French window, dreamily watching
the sunset flame melt into open bill
lows of light.
And Colonel Mordaunt smoked his
cigar in the fragrant shadows of the
shrubbery, and wondered what tortu-
nate mortal might be fated. to buy
Valentin's wedding ring, and pay her
millinery bills, and to be her humble
slave and servitor () through life,
Colonel Mordaunt tossed his cigar
in among the rose acacias that skirted
the lawn, and began to select a clus-
ter of exquisite moss roses, needless OF
the thorns that pierced his unaccus-
toned fingers.
''She likes flowers" he soliloquized,
"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
around the messy stems, in place of a
ribbon, and sauntered carelessly up
the gravel walk.
All of a sudden he stopped.
Crank Aldrich's voice." he ex-
claimed, biting his lips with vexation,
as merry peal of laughter floated
through the purpling twilight from
the open meadows beyond. "What
brings that puppy here, now, of all
times and seasons in the world"
"Halloo, Jackm 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
then Nalentin did think of him some
| times.
THAT is" pursued the relentless Al
drich, poor, thoughtful sister Katy
said she was afraid you would have a
cold, and Miss Bruce said nothing"
Colonel Mordaunt stepped forward
and laid the knot of moss roses on
the folds of Valentin's white dress,
with few murmured words that no.
body could understand.
blowers, eh:" said Frank, super
cilliously.
Valentin looked carelessly down at
the cluster of pink buds, and then de-
liberately took them up and tossed
them out upon the lawn.
Explain, if you please" said Frank,
composedly, while Mordaunt grew
scarlet and bit his lips.
There was worm "A horrid, green
worm. on one of the buds haughtily
said Valentin, shaking off one or two
crimson petals that still adhered to
her dress. Il have a perfect horror
of all such noxious insects"
"Do you hear that, jack" appealed
Mr.. Aldrich lazily turning around in
bis chair. sit is pity you were so
unfortunate in the selection of your
floral Offering
But Colonel Mordaunt had left the
room. Kate followed him the next
minute.
Dearest Jack, are you vexed with
Valentin and Frank? They don't
mean to annoy you, I'm sure"
"Not vexed, dear" said Mordaunt,
''only grieved. / am sorry Miss Bruce
finds me SO disagreeable."
He went upstairs, while Kate hesi.
tated a moment below.
'He is better by himself" she said
mentally. poor fellow, he's dread.
fully in love, and l wish Valentin and
Frank wouldn't tease him So"
And she went down in the ter,
raced garden to gather honeysuckles
for the parlor vases, and muse on hel
brothers manifold grievances.
"It's too bad, so it is" she murmur-
ed. Il shall talk seriously to Valen
tin about it this very evening""
Meanwhile, Colonel AIordaunt stalk
ed sulkily upstairs, into his sister.
pretty little sitting-room, where the
muslin curtains were futtering to and
fro in the night wind, and the sofs
was drawn into little recess beside
table all Uttered with books ant
magazines, and the indescribable de
bris which two girls invariably collcct
around themselves in the course OF {
June afternoon.
He threw himself recklessly dowr
on the sofa, and drew the soft folds O
Kate's cashmere shawl over him..
"Katyl"
Like the tremulous COO of the wood
pigeon, Valentin's voice murmuret
the two soft syllables with the coax
ing accent of a child. And in thu
same instant she knelt down besid,
the sofa, her white dress sweeping
over the crimson carpet, and one arm
thrown carelessly over the folds o
the deceitful cashmere shawl.
Colonel Mordaunt's first impuls
was to spring up and declare his indi
viduality-his second was to lie still
and let fate manage the matter to sui
her capricious self. So he lay stiI
accordingly, experiencing very sir
gular and not at all disagreeable ser
sation, from the contact of the caress
ing arm.
No doubt, he was a treacherou
hypoeritical wretch-but, fair lady, O
chivalrous gentleman, don't Judge tn
poor fellow too harshly. 1t is jus
! possible-only possible, you know
that you might do the same thing.
"Now you are angry with me, Kate
! pleaded the soft Voice, because
threw those flowers away! And yo
: won't speak to me; and l know l d.
: serve it, darling.''
) There was a moments silence, as
Miss Valentin had expected some sol
of a response to her pretty penitenc
But she didn't get any, SO after bril-
pause, she went on:
a i l. 81 4