Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-04-12
SELECTED STORY
In THE TWILIGHT.

In THE TWILIGHT.
A tall, blus.eyed girl, with loose, brown
curls flowing from her face. like an aureole
of amber brightness. and slender throat,
white and smooth ~ mother OF pearl, that
was Valentin Bruce. IS she sat by the open
French window, dreamily watching the sun
set fame melt into open pillows Of light.
And Colonel Mordaunt smoked bis dos.
pairing cigar in the fragrant shadows of the
shrubbery, and wondered what fortunate
mortal might be fatsd 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 acaciss that skirted the lawn.
and began to select cluster of exquisite
moss roses, needless Of the thorns that pierced
his unaccustomed fingers.
she likes flowers" he soliloquised, "and
moss roses are certainly the prettiest flowers
that grow. 1 will win a smile from those
velvet lips Of hers" .s
He twisted blade Of plant grass around
the messy stems. in place Of ribbon. and
sauptered carelessly up the gravel walk.
All Of sudden be stopped.
Frank Alirich's voice. he exclaimed,
biting bis lips with vexation, as merry
peal Of laughter Aoated through the purpling
twilight from the open meadows beyond.
"Wh.t brings the puppy here. now, Of
all times and eeasons in the world"
Hello. Jack !" said Aldricb. "Been
sentimentalizipg out in the dew. The la
dies were just fretting over the chance Of
your taking cold.'
Mordaunt's face frightened up-then
Vslentin did think of him sometimes.
"That u.s." pursued the relentless Aldrich,
''poor. thoughtful sister Katy said she was
afraid you would have cold, and Miss
Bruce said nothing"
Colonel Mordaunt's countenance elonga-
ted again. But be stepped forward and
laid the knot Of mos. roses on the folds of
Valentin's white muslin dress, with few
murmured words that nobody could under
stand.
FLOWERS ye 2 said Frank, superciliously,
upon my word, Jack is getting pro1igal."
Valsntin looked carelessly down at the
cluster of pink buds, and then deliberately
took them up and tossed them out upon the
lawn.
Explain, if You please, said Frank. com.
posedly, while Mordaunt grew scarlet and
bit bis lips until the blood started.
''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. II
have perfect horror Of all such noxious in
seets"
do you hear that Jack ?" appealed Mr..
Aldrich, lazily turning around in bis chair.
1T 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 VAL
sntin and Frank? They don't mean to an
uoy you, I'm cure,
"Not vexed. DEAR" said Mordaunt, speak.
ing slowly and sadly-sonly grieved. lam
sorry Miss Bruce finds me so disagrceable -
He went up stairs, while Kate hesitated
a moment below.
"He is better by himself" she said men.
tally.
'.Poor fellow, he's drsadfully in love,
and I wish Valentin and Frank wouldn't
tease him So"
And she went down in the terraced gar.
den to gather honeysuckles for the parlor
vases. and muse on her brothers. manifold
grievances.
"It's too bad. so it is! p she murmured,
vinkipg back the bright drops that would
sufuse her hazel brown orbs. II shall talk
seriously to Valentin about it this very eve
ming"
Meanwhile, Colonel MorJaunt stalked
sulkily up stairs, into his sisters pretty lit
tie sitting room, where the muslin curtains
were Huttering to and fro, In the delicious
night wind, and the sofa was drawn
into little recess beside table all Uttered
with books and magazines, needle cases and
thimbles, and the indescribable debris which
two girls invariably COLLECT around them
selves in the course of june afternoon.
He threw himself recklessly down on the
sofa and drew the soft fold of Rates cash.
mere shawl over him. as if jealous lest the
soft eyes Of the watching stars, that were
just beginning to gem the heavens, should
witness the struggle that coDvulsed the
strong mans heart
Not that big grief wrought itself into any
external sigbs. No, there was neither
groan nor motion more than there had been
whom be was wounded at Spotslyvanis. and
rode on at the head of his regiment as brave
~ Is though the red blood had not beer
" drain. One might almost have fancie'
him asleep a. he lay there, white and silent
with the curtain sweeping down around hi
motionless head.
katy"
Like the tremulous COO Of the wood pig
con. Valentin's voice murmured the tw
soft syllables with the coaxing accent Of
child. And in the same instant she knee
down beside the sofa, her white dress SWEEP