Daily Republican., 1880-02-20
BETWEEN GHE LIGHTS

Bruce, as she sat by the open Frenc
window, dreamily watching the sunst
flame melt into opea pillows Of light.
And Col. Mordaunt smoked his de-
spairing cigar in the fragrant shadow
OF the shrubbery, and wondered wha
fortunate mortal might be fated to bu
Valentines wedding ring, and pay he
millinery bills, aud be her humbl
slave and servitor through lie.
Col. Mordaunt tossed his ciga
among the accacias that skirted tn
lawn, and began to select cluster o
moss roses, needless Of the tborns tha
pierced his unaccustomed fingers.
"She likes flowers," h9 soh!oquized
and moss roJes are certainly the pretti
est flowers that grow. | will win
smile from those velvet lips Of hers, b.
jovs.
He twisted a blade of plant gras
around the messy stems, in place OF I
ribbon, aud sauntsred carelessly up tn
gravel walk.
All Of a sudden he stopped.
Frank Aldrich's voice." he ex
claimed, biting his lip with vexation
as a merry peal of laughter floatec
through the purpling twilight frcm thi
open meadows beyond.
"What brings the puppy here, now
of all the times and seasors in th,
worldH"
"Hallo, jack" said Aldricb, beer
sentimentalizing cut in the dewi The
ladies were just fretting over the
chances OF your taking cold.'
Mordauuts face frightened up-ther
Valentine did think of him sometimes
perhaps.
THAT is" pursued the relentless
Aldrich, "poor, thoughtful sister Katy
said that she was afraid you would
have cold, and Miss Bruce said moth
ing"
Mordaunt's countenanee elongated
again. But he stepped forward ana laid
the kno. of moss roses on the folds OF
Valentines white muslin dress, with a
few murmured words that nobody could
understand.
"Flowers yet ?" said Frank, super
ciliously "upon my word, JACK is get
ting prodigal."
Valentine looked carelessly down at
the cluster Of pink buds, aad then took
them up and deliberately tossed them
out upon the lawn.
Explain, If fyou please" said Frank,
composedly, while Mordaunt grew scar
let and bit his lips until the blood
started.
"There was worm---a hOrrid green
worm-on one of the buds" haughtily
said Valentine, shaking one or two
crimson petals that still adhered.to. her
d.ess. | have a perfect horror Of all
such noxious insects"
"Do you hear that JackH" appealed
Mr.. Aldrich, lazily turning round in
his chair. 'It is pity you were so
in the selection of your
floral Offering"
But Mordaunt had left the room.
Kate followed him the next minute.
"Dearest Jack, are you vexed with
Valentine and Franki They don't
mean to annoy you Pm sure"
"Not vexed, DEAR" said Mordaunt,
'peaking slowly and sadly - 'only
yrieved. am sorry Miss Bruce finds
ne 80 disagreeable."
He went up stairs, while Kate hes
ated a moment below.
"He is better by himself" she said
"Poor fellow, he's dread
ully in love, and | wish Valentine and
frank wouldn't tease him 3d."
And she went down to gather honey
uckles for the parlor vases, and muse
N her brothers. manifold grievances.
"It's too bad, so it is I" she murmur-
d winking back to the bright drops
hat would suffuse her hazel brown
RIBS. 81 shall talk seriously to Valen-
inc about it this very evening"
Meanwhile, Mourdant stalked sulki-
? up stairs into his sisters pretty lit.
IL sitting room, where the muslin cur
aims were futtering to and fro in the
elicious night wind, and the sofa was
rawn into little recess beside table
Ii Uttered with books and magazines,
eedle-cases and thimbles, and the IN
escribable debris which two girls in
ariably collect around themselves in
le course of June afternoon.
lie threw himself recklesely down on
10 sofa and drew the soft folds Of Kate's
ashmere shawl over him, as if jealous
,st the soft eyes of the watching stars,
lat were just beginning to gem the
eavens, would witness the struggle
lat convulsed the strong mans heart.
Not that his grief wrought itself into
ny external signs. No, there was
either groan nor motion, more than
lere had been when he was wounded
/ battle, and rode at the head of his
,giment as bravely as though the red
lood had not been dripping from his
rm with slow and deadly drain. One
light almost have fancied him asleep
, he lay there white and silent, with
le curtain sweeping down about his
otionless head.
"Katy !"
Like the tremulous COO of the wood |,
geon, Valentines voice murmursd
~ two soft syllables with the coaxing
cent of child. And in the same :
slant she knelt down beside the sofa,
Or white dress sweeping over the
imson carpet in tides of translucent
'ril, and one arm thrown carelessly J
'er the folds of the decietful cashmere
lawl. Mordaunt's first impulse was
spring up and declare his individ-
llty his second lie still and let