The Lincoln County herald., 1872-01-04

you thlnk OuSht 10 ask his pardon
But then he didn't SEQ me steal around
the lawn, when that odious Aldrich was
gone, and pick up the roses again"
There was strong symptoms Of coming
tears--a sort Of quivering sob 10 the
voice.
"You won't forgive me, Kate? Not if
l tell you that l really do love your
brother? Only, Katy, I was silly enough
to want to tease him lit:le, and te.t my
power over his heart. love him, may
tell you of 1t, 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 cant be
asleep! Where arc. your lips, cher annie 2"
she coaxed, playfully. II shall soon
break the magic spell that binds them
You know you never could keep vexod
with me more .aan five minutes at a 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 mustache on
which Colonel Mordaunt prided himself
SO specially. .,.' ..a,
He strove to catch the hand-to de
tain the frightened beauty long enou gh
to plead his cause IN earnest, impassio ne d
words, but in vain. Fear seemed literally y
to lend her wings. Away like fright.
ened dove she few, uttering wild, hysteric
screams, aud fairly falling into the arms
of the astonished Katy Mordaunt, who
was just coming in from the star.lighted
garden with both hands full of dewy
branches of honeysuckels.
"Valentine," she exclaimed, dropping
tho spicy blossoms, "why, what i, the
matter? What can have startled you SO
dreadfully?"
"Oh, Katy Katy !" sobbed Vaen.
tine, clinging to her friends shoulder with
a nervous vehemence, "there's q man in
your room--a robber hiding under your
cashmere shawl on the sofa. Oh, au
nearly frightened to death p
Katy's serene, brown brow dilatcd a
little frightened with smiling arch
ness.
"A robber |" she repeated with pro
voking calmness. "Nonsense, Valentine
you arc mistaken. 1t was only Jack.
saw him 60 in there not half hour
ago. The idea of taking our Jack for Il
robber." Katy's laughter ripped mer
rily at the mere fancy.
Only Jack In the midst of her
terror, the possibility had never occurred
to Valentine Bruce's mind. Only Jack
The forty Thieves" themselves would
+, have faded into nothingness before tht
mere idea of Colonel Mordaun. haviu!
heard all those pleadiugs and unconsciou.
i admissions. One moment Valentine fel
as if every vein throughout her whole
I frame were filled with fre-then she grew
white and cold as marble. Life ant
strength seemed ebbing away from her
aud for the first time in her life sh,
tainted.
Katy Mordaunt quietly sprinklee
scented water on her forehead, and begar
to unlacs the white muslin dress. Al
she did 20, a bunch of flowers fell from
Valentines bosom, and Katy smiled t,
herself rs she recognized the moss bud
that had been SO haushtily thrown on
ou the lawn that very evening.
"I'll keep them for Jack" she said
| "Ah, Valentine, you'll be my sister in
law yet"
How shyly the blue eyed damsel stol'
into the breakfast room the next morn
ing. She would cheerfully have faste(
all day long sooner thau enter into tn,
presence of the tall Colonel hut th'
dreaded first interview must be got ovo
sooner or later, SO here she was, will
downcast lashes, and cheeks dyed as dee]
pink as the rose.colored wrapper she ha'
/ on. No more naughty airs and sraces-
no more cool composurc. She was a
Colonel Mordauut's mercy, and she kne,
it.
He was standing at the window, lookinl
out on tho morning sunshine that bathe
, the short, velvety grass before the piazza
But he turned quickly, as she entered
with bright, welcoming smile.
"Vaentine," he said gently, twas
dreaming last night, or did l hear yo'
say that you loved me Oh, my dar
ling, tell me that it was no dream u
5 She came shyly to his arms, aud h
knew that she was his-his forever.
The courtship is drawing to termina
I ton now-the white satin dress is fin
, ished and the wedding cake iced to per
fection, and the white roses are in bu
I that shall soon lie woven into bridal bou
. quets; but Valentine is still extreme
sensitive on the subject Of cashmor
shawls and twilight condolences. An
Katy Mordauut-saucy little elf that sh
, |is-decIares that Mis- Valentine Bruc
took advantage of its being leap year t.
conGde her sentiments to the dark haire
lover whom she delighted to torment
Banner of Liberty.
In the "Life of Catherine NJ. Sedg
wick" recently published by Harper an
Brothers, we find an anecdote, told b
her father with much gusto, Of DIR