The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-07-18
M / S C elan g ou 8.
IN THE TWILIGHT!
A PROUD GIRLS MIsTAKE-AND IT'S HAP
Ply RESULT.

Ply RESULT.
A tall, bluecyed girl, with loose, brown
curls flowing from her face like an aureole
of amber brightness and slender throat
white and smooth as mother of pearl,
that was Valentin Bruce, as she sat by the
open French window, dreamily watching
the sunset flame melt into pillows of light.
And Colonel Mordaunt smoked his des-
pairing cigar in the fragrant shadows of
shrubbery, and wondered what fortunate
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 acacas that skirted the
lawn, and began to select cluster of cX-
quisite moss roses, needless of the thorns
that pierced his unaccustomed fingers.
"She likes flowers" he soliloquiZed, and
moss roses are certainly the prettiest flow
ers 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 rib
bon, and sauntered carelessly up the gray
ell walk.
All uf 4 sudden lie stopped.
Frank Aldrick's voice." he exclaimed,
biting his lips with veXation, as merry
peal Of laughter tloated through the pur-
ping twilight from the open meadows be-
You'd. "What brings that puppy here,
now of all times and seasons in the world"
"Hello jack" said Aldrick. "Been SEN
timentalizing out in the dew2 The ladies
were.j just fretting over the chance Of your
taking cold"
Mordaunt's face frightened up-then
Valentin did think Of him sometimes.
"That is" pursued the relentless Aid
rick, "poor, thoughtful sister Katy said she
was afraid you would have a cold, and
Miss Bruce said nothing"
Colonel Mordaunt's cOuntenance elOnga-
ted again. But he stepped forward and
laid the knot of moss roses on the folds of
Valentin's white dress, with a few muir.
INJURED words that nobody could under
stand.
"Flowers, eh1" said Frank, supercilious
ly, upon my word, Jack is getting prodi
gall"
Valentin looked carclessly down on thu
cluster of pink buds, and then deliberate
ly took them up and tossed them out OF
the lawn.
explain, if you please" said Frank
composedly, while Mordaunt grew scarle
and bit his lips until the blood started.
"There was worm-a horrid greer
worm, on one of the buds" haughtily said
Valentin, shaking off one or two crimson
petals that still adhered to her dress 81
have u perfect horror of all such noxiou:
insects"
"Do you hear that, JACKIE" appealed Mr.
Aldrick, lazily turning around his chair
at is pity you were so unfortunate il
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
Valentn and Frank? They don't mean tc
annoy you, I'm sure"
"Not vexed, DEAR" said Mordaunt
speaking slowly and sadly-"only grieved
l am sorry Miss Bruce finds me so disa
greeable."
He went up stairs, while Kate hesitatet
a moment below.
"He is better by himself" she said men
tally.
"Poor fellow, he's dreadfully in love
| and wish Valentin and Frank wouldn'
tease him So"
And she went down in the terraccd gar
den to gather honeysuckles for the parlo
vases, and muse on her brothers manifold
grievances.
at is too bad, so it is !" she murmured
winking back the bright drops that woult
suffuse her hazel brown orbs. II shall tall
seriously to Valentin about it this YER
evening"
Meanwhile, Colonel Mordaunt stalket
sulkily up stairs, into his sisters pretty lit
tie sitting-roc@ where the muslin curtain
were futtering to and fro, in the deliciou
night wind, and the sofa was drawn into
little recess beside a table Uttered wit
books and magazines, needle cases an,
thimbles, and Understandable debris whic
two girls invariably collect around them
selves in the course of o June after
noon.
He threw himself recklessly down O
the sofa and drew the soft folds of Kate
cashmere shawl over him, as if jealous les
the soft eyes of the watching stars, tina
were just beginning to gem the heavens
should witness the struggle that convulset
the strong mans heart.
Not that the grief wrought itself int
any external signs. No, there was neithe
groan nor motion more than there hat
been when he was wounded at Spottsylva
mia, and rode on at the head of his reg
ment as bravely as though the red bloc
had not been dripping from his arm wit
slow and deadly drain. One might almo'
have fancied him asleep as he lay Their
white and silent, with the curtain sweep
ing down around his motionless head.
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