Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-18
4 PASSING CLOUD.

Val, will you take my advice"
- IL depends on whether it suits my
fancy, dear. Did you ever know anyone
to take advice otherwise ,"
Lady MaTchmont laughed. I" am
afraid mine will hardly do so in this in
stance. l would suggest that you take a
book and try to read, as the time would
pass much quicker if you did not study the
clock every five minutes. There is one on
that table that could not fail to interest
you-it is the story of fair maid who suf.
fered all the 'pangs, the agonies, the
doubts of a true love that did not, like
yours, run smooth
/" | should probably throw it to the other
end of the room after FIVE miputes."
And to think, sEid Lady Marchmont,
meditatively, to think that six months
ago y0u did not know this hero who is now
making such havoc in your peace of mind.
Valerie rose impatiently from her seat,
and walked across to the window. frown
rutiiIng the serenity OF her white forehead,
and vexed look in her pretty gray eyes.
She was tall, slender girl, with more
claims to besuty than are accorded from
the mere possession of regular features and
faultless complexion, which good points
many girls will own and yet be highly
uniDteTesting and unattractive. Walls
chief charm lay in her entire unconscious.
ness of self, In the animated play OF her
mobile, sensitive face, in which, as in her
clear gray eyes, was reflected every motion
OF her sympathetic nature. She was
girl who, from impulse, might probably act
hastily or thoughtlessly, but who would be
only too ready to own her error if once con-
WINGED OF 1t; rare virtue, indeed, for
surely the hardest of all concessions Is that
which avows, s. was wrong"
Walls abrupt movement caused Lady
Marchnont to lock up inquiringly, and
she OWNED the cause of her displeasure.
The young lady had certain peculiar no.
tions of her own, and did not like being
ioked about her love and her lover, es-
pecially before a third person. Ere Lady
Marchmont, however, could atone for her
indiscretion, another lady present looked
up from her lace-work and said, quietly
' Is it not wonderful how ready we
women are to trust our happiness and our
future in the hands of men, of whom for
the most part we know little ;"
The speaker was a slight, fair woman,
whose age it would be difficult to guess.
She was one of those persons whom one
would at first declare to be quite unat-
tractive and shortly discover that they
possess strange fascination. Whether it
was her peculiarly clear, low-toned voice,
or 2 certain air Of quiet self. possession
which nothing seemed to ruffie, 1t was I'M
deniable that Mrs. Maitland had had her
share of admirers, and in this, her third
year of widowbood, was said to have re-
ceived more than one offer to change her
apparently not inconsolable state.
Val glanced at her with slightly con.
temptuous look in her eyes.
Your remark has no significance for
me. Mrs. Maitland, for l know Captain
Dalrymple thoroughly" she said with
happy confidence in her tone. A slight
smile played for moment around Mrs
Msitland's thin lips, and she dropped her
eyes again over her work.
oh, you think you d." she answered
IN her quiet tones, which somehow or other
generally had the effect of irritating Val,
g which does as well-nay, better, for few
of US would benefit by an intimate knowl-
edge of the lives of most men"
- The life of every honorable man is the
same, returned VAL Indignantly. L" Your
experience of the other sex must have been
unfortunate, Mrs. Maitland"
There was slight accession of color in
the widows usually impressive cheek as she
replied, in somewhat sarcastic tone, q
admire, If do not emulate, your charming
confidence, Miss Charters. | hope you
may never have cause to regret it, but
think when you are few years older you
will acknowledge that men are all alike,
and that self is the guiding star of their
existence.
al refuse to believe it" said VAL "You
are welcome to your opinion, Mrs. Matt
land leave me in the enjoyment of NINE
There are bad alike in both sexes but
what does it matter if there are worthless
men, when one in whom one trusts and be-
lieves is all be should be ~ And with this
Val turned her back on her antagonist,
and dropping into an easy chair, gave her
self UP 10 a mental revision of the virtues
of her ''chevaher sans peur ct sans re-
proche.
What sweet smiles circled her lips, what
a happy light shone in her eyes, as she
lived over again that brief period of Woo
ing. when the old story, that is ever so
new in thestelling, was whispered into her
willing ears. On, bright time Of youth
and love, that comes but once to all, that
passes all too swiftly, bat which, years
after, has still the power to kindle fame
our w0rn-out, weary hearts