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

to stay with some friends of his, the Sin.
clairs, but did not know their place was
near here"
SONY half an hours drive" returned
Sir Harry. "He's a confoundedly hand
some fellow-I would say great favorite
with the fair sex. / asked him ever to
breakfast tomorrow and to spend the day.
He told me he had not yet made the &C.
quaintance of his future sister. in. law"
'No, to be sure. Hubert is the only
one of US you don't know" said Vernon,
turning to Val. 81 think you will like
him. He's an awfully good natsred fellow,
little spoilt, perhaps, but, according to
Sir Harry, that is hardly to be wondered
at"
Vals face, however, plainly expressed
entire indifference to Hubert Dairy rnple's
merits or dement's.
When the gentlemen returned to the
drawing.room, Dalrymple made his way at
once to Val, who was sitting somewhat
apart, and, bending over her, said in
low lone:
What is amiss with you, dear? You
do not seem yourself this evening"
1t was not likely, Val thought, tina. she
should be herself when she had seen that
creature, as she inwardly designated Mrs.
Maitland, standing by MS side, holding his
haLds, and making eyes at him positively
as though she had the right to DO so. She
could bear it no longer she must have an
explanation at once, she resolved.
"Come out on the terrace" she said,
rising impetueusly, 81 want to speak to
You."
He followed her obediently, and when
they were beyond sight or hearing of any
one said gently:
well, what is troubling you, dear ?"
"What is there between you and Mrs.
Maitland ?" asked Val, fixing her clear
glance on him, as she abruptly plunged
IN medals res.
Captain Dalrymple regarded her ia uu.
feigned astonishment. "What is there
between Mrs. Maitland and me ?" he re-
peated slowly. My dear VAL l don't IN.
desVsnd you"
land | don't understand you, hotly
responded the young lady. "You cannot
deny Vernon, that when you met Mrs.
Maitland you looked very-very taken
aback."
81 have no wish to deny anything, Val,
he answered i" it is true that was some.
what surprised to see Mrs. Maitland"
81 But why should you be more surprised
to see her than any other acquaintance p
Dalrymple heaved faint sigh; matters
were getting serious.
"My dear Val" he answered half play
fully, your re not going to quarrel with
me on account of Mrs. Maitland l did
not think you were given TO jealousy"
Jealousy" repeated Val, giving her
disturbed feelings vent, 81 have a right to
be jealous, think, when ] see another
! woman, whom | do not know to be even
acquainted with you, holding sn interview
with you of apparently the most intimate
nature"
SO here was the explanation OF Vars con-
duct Dalrymple looked what he felt,
thoroughly aghast.
- see," he said, after moments pause,
that you have more cause for annoyance
than l imagined. If l csnnot give you a
very full explanation of what | am aware
must appear strange in your eyes, | am
sure your confidence in me will enable you
to accept without hesitation what | am
going to say. have known Mrs. Matt.
land for years, and she wished to speak to
me alone on a matter that concerns her
self"
"Aud it was necessary TO the communi.
cation that she should mold your hands 2"
asked Val sarcasticaIly.
Dalrymple looked at her with his search,
ing eyes.
81 see what is in your mind, VAL" he
answered quietly, but l can hardly be.
lieve that you can mistrust me thus-that
you can wrong yourself and insult me by
such suspicious. Were l free to do so
would willingly explain all, but, unfortu-
nately, am not.
Because you have promised her not to
do so, suppose {? " returned Val, her eyes
flashing . and promise to her is to rank
before consideration for my feelings. After
what l witnessed this evening | have 4
right to demand a fall explanation, and l
will accept that or none. Saying which
she reared her head with the dignity of a
queen and left Captain Dalrymple alone to
ponder over the unforeseen dilemma in
which he found himself placed.
The flush of anger still fingered on Walls
cheek as she re-entered the room, and Mrs.
Maitland, noting it with her watchful
eyes, smiled maliciously as she said to her
self: :" score the first points in the
game"
Val awoke the next morning with dull.
aching pain at the heart, the cause of
which she only too soon remembered. OF
trouble OF any kind she had hitherto had
no experience and she felt quite over
whelmed at the dreary prospect before her
should she continue her quarrel with
Vernon. Why not put an end to it, she
asked herself, and trust him, as she had
been 80 ready to declare she could do under
any circumstances Then the thought
that he had secret with Mrs. Maitland.
which was unshared by her, ebtruded
itself, and she grew obdurate again.
She remained in her room till summoned
by the breakfast bell, and then slipped into
place at table which hid her from YER
mons sight.
Hubert Dalrymple was of the party. He
was certainly very handsome, with dark
eyes, which wore a languid, sleepy look i'll
them very well suited to his style. For all
that, he was observant, and could see as
much with MS half. closed eyes as most
people with theirs wide open, and he had
not been many minutes at table ere he per
ceived something was seriously wrong be.
tween his brother and his betrothed.
Breakfast over, he approached Val, and
said with smile wonderfully like Yer
mons:
"Come for a stroll with me, will you !?
As we are so soon to be related, it is only
natural l should wish to be better &C.
qusinted with you"
Val was fam to consent. She was only
too anxious to escape from Vernon's pres
ence the misery of being with him and
yet estranged from him was more than she
could bear.
After wandering about for 4 while, HUI
bert making vain attempts to. amuse Val
with his light talk, they seated themselves
on shady bench. and the former said
without further preface:
What is there wrong between you and
Vernon ?"
Val flushed crimson. &C. dor't under
stand you" she said.
Don't you, answered Hubert in his
lazy tones. 81 should have thought my
meaning pretty clear. I'm not a very