The Placer herald., 1872-11-16


No doubt he was treacberous hypocritica
wretch but fair lady or chivalrous gentle
man, don't judge the poor fellow too harshly
until yon have been in precisely the same
circumstances yourself. 1t is just 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 you won't speak to
me; and know deserve it, darling"
There was moments silence, as if Miss
Valentiu had expected some sort of re-
SPONGE to pretty penitence. But she didn't
get any, so, after brief pause she went on !;
''lndeed, Kate, | did not mean to greve
you, and | won't do it again. am sorry
for my ridiculous freak. Do yon suppose
he was very angry, Kate? Do you think
| ought to ask his pardon? But then, you
know, he didn't see me steal around the
lawn, when that odious Aldrch was gone,
and pick up the roses again.
There was strong symptoms of coming
tears-a sort of quivering sob in the voice.
"You won't forgive me, Kate? Not if |
tell you that really do love your tall stern
brother? Only Kate, was silly enough to
want to tease him little, and test my pow
er over his noble heart. love him Katy;
may tell you Of it, dear, without being bold
or unwomanly, because you know we have
often talked about his liking me little
and-oh! Kate! answer me! don't be so cold
and cruel Surely you can't be asleep!'
"Where are your lips cher ami?" she
coaxed playfully. 81 shall soon break the
magic spell Of silence that binds you. You
know you never could keep vexed at me
more than five minutes at time. Why,
where's your hair? Where"
She sprang suddenly to her feet with a
piercing scream-her wandering hand had
touched the dark, heavy .moustache of which
Colonel Mordaunt prided himself SO spe-
cially.
lie srove to catch the hand-to detain
the frightened 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, utterng wild hysteric screams, and
fairly falling into the arms Of the he'd
from the star lighted garden with both hands
full of dewy branches of honeysuckles.
"Va!entn," she exclaimed dropping the
spicy blossoms, "why, what is the matter?
What can have startled You so dreadfully?"
ooh, Katy, KATY sabbed Valentin,
clinging to her friends arm with nervous
vehcmence, there is a man in your room
robber hiding under your cashmere shawl
on the sofa Oh, aEl yearly frightened to
death!'
Katy's serene bright eyes dilated a little,
then frightened into smiling archness.
GA robber!' she repeated with provoking
calmness. Nonsense, Va!entin, you are
mistaken. 1t was only jack saw him go
in there not half an hour ago. The idea of
taking our Jack for a robberl-Katy's laugh
ripple menily at the mere fancy.
Only Jack! In the midst of her terror
the possibility had never once occupied VAL
cnim Bruce's mind. Only Jack The for
ty thieves themselves would have faded into
notbngness before the near idea of Colonel
Mordaunt having heard all these soft plead
ings and unconscious admissions. One mo-
ment Valentin felt as if every vein through
out her whole frame was filled with molten
fire-then she grew white and cold as mar
ble statue. Life and strength seemed ebbing
away from her, and for the first time in her
life, Valentin Bruce tainted away.
Kate Mordaunt quietly sprinkled scented
water on her palied forehead and began to
unlace the white muslin dress. AS she did
so, crushed bunch of flowers fell from Val
entin's bosom, and Katy smiled to herself as
she recognized the moss buds that had been
so haughily thrown ont on the lawn that
very evening.
''I'Il keep them for Jack" she said. "Ah
Valentin, you'll be my sister in-law yet.
How shyly the blue-eyed damsel stole in
to the breakfast room the next morning
She would cheenully have tasted all day long
sooner than enter into the presence of the
tall Colonel, but what was the use? The
dreaded first interview mnst be got over
sooner or later, so here she was, with down
cast lasbes and with cheeks dyed as pink as
the rose-colored wrapper she had on. No
more naughty airs no graces, no more cool
composure. She was at Colonel Mordaunt's
mercy, and she knew it. Mould he take
cruel advantage of her helplessness, Or would
he-But there her cogitations always stop
ped. He was standing at the window look
ing out upon the morning sunshine that
ba'hed the short grass before the piazza.
But he turned quickly as she entered, with
bright, welcoming smile.
"Valentin, was ! dreaming last night, or
did hear you say you loved me? Oh, my
darl nc, say that it was no baseless dream, "
he said gently.
She came shyly to his arms and nestled
there like a auttering fawn, voiceless, yet
happy. Still lie was not contcn;cd.
81 want to hear it from your own lips yet
again, Yalentin. Nay, dearest, don, shrink
away so peadingly, but answer me-
"What shall say?" she murmured, tim
idly raising her soft eyes to his face.
''Tell me that you love me-"
Sweeter than the fall of musical cascades
through groves Of tropical bloom, softer than
the trill Of niyhtingales through Persian val