The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-24

euoSo uOWCiS AWAY huu yVu WOH
speak to me; and know l deserve it,
darling"
There was moments silence, as if
Miss Valentine had expected some sort
of response to her pretty penitence. But
she didn't get any; so, after brief pause,
she went ON:
Mndeed, Kate, I did not mean to
grieve you, and l won't do it again, I am
sorry for my ridiculous freak. Do you
suppose he was very angry, Kates Do
you think l ought to ask his pardon9 But
then, you know, he didn't see me steal
round the lawn, when that odious Aid
rich was gone, and pick up the roses
again"
There were strong symptoms of COM
ing tears--a sort of quivering sob in the
voice.
"You won't forgive me, Kate? Not If
I tell you that l really do love your tall,
stern brothers Only, Katy, l was silly
enough to want to tease him a little, and
test my power over his noble heart. /
love him, Kate, l may tell you of it,
dear, without being bold or unwomanly,
because you know we have often talked
about his liking me little-and--oh,
Kate, answer me!-dOnt be so cold and
cruell Surely you csn't be asleep!"
"Where are your lips, cher amie!" she
coaxed playfully. "I shall soon break
the magic spell of silence that binds
them. You know you never could be
yexed with me more than five minutes
at a time. Why, where's your hair7
Where" ... ..,.
She .sprang suddenly to her feet with q
piercing scream--her wandering hand
had touched the dark, heavy moustache,
on which Colonel Mordaunt prided him
self so specially. :. ii
He strove to catch the hand-to de-
tain the frightened beauty long enough
to plead his cause in earnest, impas-.
stoned words, but in vain. Fear seemed
literally to lend her wings Away, like
h frightened white doxe,she few, utter,
ing wild, hysteric screams, and fairly
falling into the arms ,sof the astonished
Mary Mordaunt, who was just coming
in from the starIighted garden with
both hands full of dewy branches Of
honeysuekles. '-'.'' +
"Valentine," she exclaimed, dropping
the spicy blossoms, ''why what is the
matter? What can have startled you SO
dreadfullyT +. -7''' '' +,
."Oh, Katy! Katyi" sobbed Valentine,
clinging to her friends shoulder with a
nervous vehemence, "there is a man in
your room--a robber-hiding under
your cashmere shawl on the sofa. Oh, l
am nearly frightened to deathr' a
Katy's serene brown eyes dilated a lit
tie, then frightened into alsmiling arch
ness. "a robberw she repeated, with
provoking calmness. Nonsense, Valen-l
tine, you are mistaken. 1t was only
Jack. I saw him go in there half an
hour ago. The idea of taking our Jack
for a robber" Katy's laughter rippled
merrily at the mere fancy.
Only Jack? In the midst of her terror
this possibility had never once occurred
to Valentine Bruce's mind. Only Jackl
The forty Thousand thieves themselves
would avefaded into nothingness before
the mere idea, of Colonel Mordaunt hav-
ing heard all these soft, pleading and un-
conscious. admissions. One moment Val.
entine felt as If every vein throughout
her whole frame we're filled with molten
fre---then she grew white and cold as a
marble statue. Life and strength seemed
ebbing away from her, and for the first
time in her life Valentine Bruce tainted
away.
Katie Mordaunt quietly sprinkled
scented water on the pallid forehead and
began to unlace the white muslin dress.
As she did so faded bunch of flowers
fell from Valentines bosom, and Katy
smiled to herself as she recognized the
moss buds that had been so haughtily
thrown out on the lawn that very even
ing.
"pll keep them for jack" she said.
"Ah, Valentine, you'll be my sister-in-
law yet"
How shyly the blue-eyed damsel stole
into the .breakfast-room the next morn
ing. She would cheerfully have tasted
all day long sooner than enter into the
presence Of the tall colonel; but what was
the use? The dreadful first interview
must be got over sooner or later, so here
she was with downcast lashes and cheeks
dyed as deep pink as the rose-colored
wrapper she had on. Nomo naughty
airs and graces; no more cool eomposure.
She was at Mordaunt's mercy and she
knew it. Now, would. he take cruel
advantage of her .helplessness3 Would
he .a ...l.., ,l
But just there her cogitations always
stopped. $780,
He was standing at the window, look
ing out upon the morning sunshine that
bathed the short, velvety grass before the
house. But he turned quickly as she en-
tered, with a bright, wecoming smile.
valentine" he said, gently, twas I
dreaming last wight, or did 1 hear you
say that you loved me? Oh, my darl-
ing, tell me that it was no baseless
dreamp XIX.
She came slyly to his arms, and nestled
there like a futtering fawn, veiceless, yet
happy. Still he was not contented.
II want to hear it from your own lips
yet again, Valentine. Nay, dearest,
dent shrink away SO pleadingly. but
answer me-" -