The Beaufort tribune and Port Royal commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1877-1879, 1877-05-10
VELORE WERE.

A dazzle of golden hair, the gleam OF
eyes heavenly blue, sweeping lengths OF
pale, lustrous silk, and smile that was the
very radiance of all beauty; this is what
illuminated, for an instant, the dark old
hall of the hotel at Westwold. hurriedly
touched Sloewick's arm, and the vision
passed.
at is Miss Vere," he said.
"And is she stopping here?"
"They came in the stage this morning
Miss We're and her father"
took turn upon the piazza and came
back again.
"Why does woman like that come here,
Sloewick?"
ats quiet, healthy, and out of the way
of all excitement. The old gentleman has
been i'll, and Miss Velore is devoted to her
father"
>"'You know them, then?"
"Not much nowadays. We used to 60
to dancing school together when we were
children"
"Sloewick," exclaimed, you don't say
you are a dancing man.
Not eminently," he replied, with a
sufile and frown.
He didn't look like it, certainly, with his
gloomy black eyes, his neglected black
hair, and his rusty dress. had been told
at the commencement of my acquaintance
with Sloewick that he used to be great
beau, but since my association with him ne
had been so taciturn, unchivalrous, and
negligent OF his toilet, that | had quite Tor
gotten the rnmor.
At sunset that evening, Miss We're sat on
the piazza with her father. Sloewick gave
me an introduction, and went away. l
wondered at his declining the seat she
kindly offered him, yet he looked very
shabby and uninviting in aspect, going
away through the trees.
"Poor fellow" / thought, something
has happened to mar his fortunes. Miss
We're looks after him with glance of per-
plexity. l presume she used to find him
agreeable. Well, let him keep his secret.
He has trouble enough, dare say. 1t must
be modification that gives him such savage
moods"
And so l dismissed the subject, and turn
ed to Miss Vere's sapphire eyes.
Owe will stay all summer, if papa's
health improves" she said.
Her father was fond of her. She seemed
the light of his life. She read to him, sang
10 him, walked with him, drove with him.
AT table she prepared his food, while he
waited like child. She arranged his
diet, superntended his toilet, tyrannized
over him with fairy willfulness that was
vet beautiful and tender.
Like all other men, l loved her. Like all
womanly women. she was kind to me.
She did not coquette with me. She neither
scorned nor encouraged me. She thought
that by-and-by would understand that it
was impossible.
We were walking in the fields one eve
ming, Mr. We're, his daughter and /. The
sun was going down, and cast red shadows
on the river, the little brown boats rocking
on its bosom, the children playing on its
banks and among the trees.
"Now, papa" said Velore, "isn't this a
thousand times nicer than Long Branch ~
Her father smiled and nodded satisfied
with anything that pleased her.
at is so pleasant, papa" she continued,
"that think Helen had better come UP
for her vacation"
Every well, my dear"
"Helen," said beautiful Velore, turning
TO me; is my little adopted sister. She is
sixteen. row, but little thing---a mere
child---and is vet at school. She will like
Westwold, Iksow."
"Ihope she will come, them" said; but
! wondered, little uneasily, how her ap,
pearance would affect my relations with
Nelore. Would she devote herself to the
invalid, leaving Eelore more open to my
attentions ? or would she appropriate hel
to my exclusion?
"Therew exclaimed VelUe, suddenly
al see a white azalia in flower" And be-
fore could anticipate the movement she
had fed across the road and plunged to the
.recesses of the dark wood there.
"Shall stay with you, Mr.. We're, or had
/ best follow herr" ! asked, turning to the
aged man at my side.
"I think she had rather you would re-
main with me-" he answered, glancing ner
vously at heavy country wagon that wat
then approaching the bridge. "She will
take care of herself; but 60, if you like"
"No," l said, giving him the support o
my arm, as the wagon thundered over
"She is coming back already added, a
the dust fell, and showed Velore, in her pic
turesque dress, emerging from the twinklins
birch shrubbery. She came up---pale, agi
tated, dtStralt.
"Velore, what is the matter !" asked he
father.
"Has anything happened to alarm you
Miss We're ?" l questioned, hurriedly.
Il am not frightened" she answered
hastily drawing her fathers hand within
her arm. "Come, We must 60. 1t is get
ting far too late for you to be out, dea
papa"
And you did not get your szalia," h
said.
"No," she replied; aba: never mind.
can get it another time"
Mentally making note of the spot, i re
solved to see her safely home with he
father, and then return for the flowers
The moon was in the right quarter to com
up brilliantly at eight o'clock. l coul'
gather the large white clusters of bloom
easily by its light.
As we came in sight OF the hotel, Velor
said in thoughtful tone: