Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-11-09

it all! This thought revived her spirits, and
when few minutes later, the party was
sWeiled by some other guests staying at the
hall, she was the gayest of the gay, enjoying
the delightful little asides with Capt Dalrym-
pie, which enabled her totally to forget the
| existence of Mrs. Maitland
Meet me in the drawing room before any
| one Is down." she whispered to him as they
| separated to dress for dinner.
! "All right darling" he replied, as he smiled
down on her with those eloquent dark eyes
| that had won her hearts allegiance.
Capt Dalrymple performed his toilet in a
very short space OF time, and repaired at once
| to the drawng-ro there to await Val. He
wandered into the conservatory and paced
! about restlessly. One of the glass doors OPEN
| ing close by him caused him to turn quickly
with smile of welcome on his lips, when, to
| his utter surprise, he found himself confronted
by Mrs. Maitland
She came quickly forward with the quiet
| gliding walk which was peculiar tn her, but
her habitual self-possession' seemed strangely
rutfied
Il must apologize for thus intruding upon
you," she said, ''but there was something I
| wished particularly to ask you"
| Indeed" returned Capt Dalrymple His
voice had taken lis coolest information, his face
wore its gravest aspect
| Don't look at me like that, Vernon, as
though my presence were so utterly distaste-
full to you," she went on with some agitation
whether real or feigned he could not deter
| mine. Il shall not detaln you long. What l
want to ask of you is that you will not men,
ton 10 Miss Charteris what took place between
US year ago"
| DO you think it likely, Mrs Maitland
| should mention the subject?"
| MOT Intentionally, perhaps, but these things
CONS out sometimes unawares, and could not
bear to be subjected TO Miss Charterin' ridicule
| and scorn."
You need, assure you, have no fear.
| shall be silent OF that score"
You will give me your sacred promise to
that effect, will you not?" She said eagerly.
He Looked at her in surpcise. Il fail to I'M
derstand You, Mrs. Maitland, but since my
| simple assurance does not satisfy you, am
| quite willing TO pledge you my word"
| As he spoke the drawing room door opened
softly, and Val appeared on the threshold.
The room was very long one, and Dalrymple,
standing in the conservatory with his back
turned that way, did not see or hear her. Not
so Mrs. Maitland. True she did not glance
| in the direction, but she knew perfectly we'll
who mad entered.
She dropped her voice, but advanced few
steps nearer to him.
| Il cannot thank you sufficiently" she said
| looking at him most eloquently; you do not
know whot \ weight you have lifted from my
mind"
As she spake she took both his hands in
| hers, and giving them tender pressure,
| turned and disappeared through the door by
which she had entered, leaving Capt. Dal-
rynple gazing after her with very perplexed
| counteusnce
What is the meaning of this?" he pondered.
| Il never could fathom that woman How uH-
| fortunate she should be here now"
| Ere he turned to re-enter the drawingroo m,
| Val, who Lad stood at the open door motion
| less during these few minutes, slowly drew it
to after her, and crept upstairs again with a
| strange chill at her heart
Mrs Maitland also hastened to regain her
| room
Chow we'll Calculated" she murmured to
| herself, a triumphant light shining in her cold
| blue eyes; 'that was good move of mine. I
| knew she would want some explanation with
! her lover relative to our meeting She will be
| still more anxious for it now, and he will refuse
| to give i, for he has promised, and Vernon
| DalrympIe never goes back on his word How
l hate that girl, and her confidence aud pride in
| his love! Let US see if her trust of which she
boasts will stand her now in good stead Who
knows but what may win him yet? At any
rate, shall make her suffer"
! Meanwhile Vernon, as yet in happy ignorance
of the trouble fats was preparing for him, had
given up all hope of his tete-a-tete with Val,
as one after another the guests assembled in
the drawing room, she only making her ap-
pearance few minutes before dinner was an
| nOunCed At the list touch of her fingers on
his arm as they went IN to dinner, he felt that
| something was wrong He glanced at her
| earnestly, but her face was averted
| what made you forget your appointment
| with me, dear?' he asked in low tones, as they
| seated themselves al the table.
| Il did not forget" answered Val. scorning to
| make an excuse.
MOP in some surprise. Il suppose some
| thing detained you then. will forgive YOU
| this time, but l don't know that l shall be so
| lenlent again" and he smiled tenderly down on
her. To his dismay it won no response.
Val had not yet recovered from the unpleas-
ant shock her feelings had received but she
u-aS ton rnn 1a1 Ia.
her thoughts; she was chiefly conscious of an
| intense hatred and jealousy of Mrs Maitland.
1t was scarcely wonderful that she should be
silent and distracted during dinner, but the
| party was too large and too animated for this
| to be noticed save by one or two of its men,
| bers.
''Dalrymple," said Sir Harry Marchmont,
| claiming that genteman's attention, II was
introduced to-day to a brother of yours. Did
you know he was in these parts?"
| My brother Hubert, l suppose? I remem-
| Der now his telling me he going to STAY
with some friends of his, the Sinclairs, but 1
| did not know that their place was near here. {"
''Only half an hours drive" returned Sir
| Harry. Hes a cOnfOundediy handsome fell
| low-I should say a great favorite with the fair
| sex. asked him over to breakfast to morrow
and to spend the day. He told me he had not
| yet made the acquaintance 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. II think you will like him. He's an aw-
fully good-natured fellow, little spoiled, per-
haps, but, according to Sir Harry, that is hard
| ly to be wondered at"
| Vaps face, however, plainly expressed entire
indifference to Hubert Dslrymple's merits or
| dement's
| When the gentlemen returned to tho draw
| ing room Dalrymple made his way at once to
Val, who was sitting somewhat apart aud bend
ing over her, said in a low tone:
| what is amiss with YOU dear? You ID not
seem yourself this evening""
II was likely, Val thought that she should be
| herself when she had seen that creature az
| she lnwardiy designated Mrs. Maitland stand
| ing by mis- side holding his hands and making
| eyes at him positively as though che had the
| right to do go. She could bear it no longer;
| she must have an explanation at once, she
resolved.
Come out on the terrace" che said, rising
impetuousy; 81 want to speak to you. !" .....~
He followed her obedientiy, and when they
were beyond sight or hearing of any one said
gently:
'sWell, what is troubling you, dear?"
What Is there between you and Mrs. Matt
iand?" asked Val, fixing her clear glance on
hlm as she abruptly plunged in medals res.
astonishment What is there between Mrs.
Maitland and me?" he reaeated slowly. INV
dear Val, don't understand YOU"
''And l don't understand you" hotly respond
ed the young lady You cannot deny, Yer
non, that when you met Mrs. Maitland YOU
looked very-very taken aback"
81 have no wish to deny anything, VAL" he
answered; sit is true I was somewhat sur
prised to see Mrs. Maitland"
but why should you be more surprised to
see her than any other acquaintance"
Dalrymple heaved faint sIgh; matters were
getting serious.
my dear Val, )" he said half playfully, "you
are surely not going to quarrel with me on &C.
count of Mrs. Maitland. did not think you
were given to jealousy"
rapootoJ vi ,;z;.z