The Placer herald., 1872-11-16
LEAP YEAR,
IN THE TWILIGHT.

curls flowing from her face like an aureole OF
amber brig ghiness, and slender throat white
and smooth as mother of pearl, that was
Valentine Bruce, as she sat by the open
French window, dreamily watching the sun
set flame melt into open pillows of light.
And Colonel Mordaunt smoked his de-
sparing cigar in the fragrant shadows OF
sh-ubbery and wondered what fortunate NOR
tai might be fated to buy Vaentin's wedding
ring and pay her millinery bills and to be her
humble slave and serviior through life.
COL Mordaunt tossed his cigar ia among
the rose acacias that skired the lawn, and
began to select cluster of moss, heed
less of the thorns that pierced his uuaccus-
toned fingers.
"She liked flowers" he soflloquized,
"and moss roses are certainly the pretiiest
flowers that grow. will win a smile from
those velvet lips of hers
He twisted blade of plant grass around
the messy stems, in place of ribon and
sauntered careessly up the gravel walk.
All Of a sudden he stopped.
"brapk Aldrich's voice." he exclaimed, ,
biting his lips with vexation, as merry peal
of laughter broke through the purplns twi-
light from the open meadows beyond Sc" hat
brings that puppy here now, of all times and
seasons in the world -
"Helow, Jack?" said Aldrich ''Been
sentimentalizing out in TIL, dew? The ladies
were Just fretting over the chance Of your
taking cold"
Mordaunt's face Enlightened up-then Val
entin did think of him sometimes.
"That is" pursued the relentless Aldrch,
poor, thoughtful sister Katy said she was
afraid you would have a cold, and Miss
Bruce said nothing
Colonel Morduant's couptcpance elongated
again. But he stepped forward and laid the
knot of moss roses on the folds of Nalentin s
white dress, with few murmured words
that nobody could understand.
Flowers, eh?' said Frank superciliously
"upon my word Jack is getting prodigal." "
Valentine looked carelessly down on the
cluster of green buds, and then deliberately
took them up and tossed them out upon the
lawn.
"Explain, if you please, said Frank COM
poscdly, while Mordaunt bit his lip until the
blood started.
"ihere was a worm-a horrd green worm
on one of the buds" hautly said Valentin,
shaking off one or Two crimson petals that
still adhered to her dress. 81 have per-
feet horror of all such noxious Insects
"Do you hear that, JackP' appeale Mr.
Aldrich, lazly turning around i'll his chair
"lt is pity you were so unfortunate in your
floral Offering
But Colonel Mordaunt had left the room.
Kate follomed him the next minute.
dearest Jack, are you vexed with Val
en'in and Frank? They don't mean to an
noy you I'm sure"
"Not vexed, DEAR" said Mordaunt,
speaking slowly and sadly "only grieved.
| | am sorry hat Miss Bruce finds me so dis
agreeable y
He went up stairs, while Kate hesitated a
moment below
"He is better by himself" she said men
tally.
Poor fellow, he's drcadfully in love, and
| wish Valentin and Frank wouldn't tease
him so.
And so she went down the teraced gar
den to gather honeysuckles for the parlor
vases. and muse on her brothers manifold
grievances.
at is too bad, so it isl" she murnured,
win king back the bright drops that would
suffuse her hazel brown orbs. 81 shall talk
seriously 10 Vaentin about it this vary even
ing"
Meanwhile Colonel Mordaunt stalked sui
kily up stains, into his sisters pretty little
sitting room where the muslin curtns were
futiering to and fro, in the delicious night
wind, and the sofa was drawn into little
recess beside table all ltered with books
and magazines, needle cases and thimbles,
and the indescribable debris which two girls
Invariably collect around themselves in the
course OF June afternoon.
lie threw himself recklessly down on the
sofa and drew the soft folds of Kate's cash
mere shawl over him as if jealous lest the
soft eyes of the watching stars, which were
just beginning to jem the heavens, should
witness the struggle that convulsed the strong
mans heart.
Not that the grief wrought itself into any
external signs. No, there was neither grone
nor motion more than there had been when
he was wounded at Spottsylvania, and rode
on at the head of his regiment, as bravey as
though the red blood had not been dripping
from his arm with slow and deadly drain.
One might almost have fancied him asleep
as he lay there, white and silent, with the
curtain sweeping down around his motionless
head
"Katy."
Like the tremuous cooling Of wood pig
con, Valentin's voice murmured the two soft
syllables with the coaxing accent of child.
And in the same instant ,hc knelt down be-
side the sofa, her white dress sweeping over
the crimson carpet in tides of translucent
pearl, and one arm thrown carelessly over
the deceitful folds of the cashmere shawl.
Colonel Mordaunt's first impulse was to
spring up and declare his individuality, the
second to lie still and let fate manage the
matter to suit her capricous self. Sohe lay
still accordingly, experiencing a very singular