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

val, VIII you take my adVlce!
at depends on whether it suits nv fancy,
dear. Did you ever know anyone to take ad-
vice oherwise?"
Lady Mare hmont laughed. Il am afraid
mine will hardly do so in this instance 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 min
utes. There is one on that table that could not
fail to interest vou-it is the story of fair
maid who suffered all the 'pangs, the agonies,
the doubts Of true love that did not, like
yours run smooth"
''I should probably throw it to the other end
of the room after five minutes"
"Aud to Think" said Lady Marchmont
meditativeEy, ito think that six months ago
you did not know this hero who is now making
such havoc in your peace of mind"
Valerie rose lmpauently from her seat and
walked across TO the window, a frown rufiing
the serenity of her white forehead and yexed
look i'll her pretty gray eyes.
She was tall, slender girl, with more claims
to beauty than are accorded from the mere
possession of regular features and a faultless
complexion, which good points many girls will
own and yet be highly uuinteresting and unat-
tractive. Walls chief charm lay in her entire
Inconsistencies Of self, in the animated play
of her mobile, sensitive face, in which, as in
her clear gray eyes, was reflected every emo
ton of her sympathetic nature. She was a
girl who from impulse might probably act
hastily or thoUgGtleSsly, but who would be
only too ready 70 own her error if once con-
vincgd Of it-a rare virtue, indeed for surely
the hardest of all concessions is that which
avogs. II was wrong"
/. Walls ABRUPT movement caused Lady March
mont TO look up i1quiringlv, and she OWNED
the cause Of her di~pieasure. The young lady
. had certain peculiar notions of her Own, and
did nOr like being lOked about her love and her
lOyer pSNpt,Ia & II before third Fra
Ladr NarGnnlOHt, however, cOu.G atone for her
indiscretiOD alOther lady present looked up
from Aer lace work, and said quietly:
is it not WONDERFUL how ready we women
are 10 trust our happiness and our future in
the hands of men, Of whom for the most part
we know little?'
The speaker was slight, fair woman, whose
age it would be difficult TO guess. She was
on Of those persons whom one would at first
declare 10 be quite unattYactive, and shortly
dscover tina, they possess strange fascina
ton. Whether it was her peculiarly clear low
toned voice, or q certain air of quiet self pos
session which nothing seemed 10 ruff1e. it was
undenilble that Mrs. Maitland had had her
share o. admirers and in this, her third year
of widowbood, was said to have received more
than one offer 20 change her apparently not in
constable state.
Val glanced at her with slightly contempt
uous look in her eyes
''YOur remark has no significance for me-
Mrs Maitland. Cor l know Capt Dalrymple
thoroughly" she said with happy confidence
In her tone. A slight smile played for mo-
ment round Mrs. Maitland's thin lips, aud she
dropped her eyes again over her work
''Oh YOU think you do" she answered in
her quiet tones which somehow or other gen.
orally had the effect of irritating Val (which
does as well-nay, better, for few of US would
benefit BY an intimate knowledge of the lives
Of most men"
The life of every honorable man is the
same" returned VAL Indignantly Your ex-
perience OF the other sex must have been I'M
fortunate Mrs. Maitland"
There a slight accession of color in the
widows usually impassive cheek as she re-
piled. in a somewhat sarcastic tone: II ad-
mire, if do not emulate, your charming con-
fdence Miss Charters Hope you may never
have cause to regret it, but think when YOU
are few years older you will acknowledge
that are all alike, and that self is the guild
ing-star of their existence"
81 refuse to believe" said Val s'You are
welcome to your opinion, Mrs. Maitland; leave
me in the ENJOYMENT of mine There are bad
alike in both se1es, but what does it matter if
there are worthless men, when one in whom
one trusts and believes is all he should be?n
And with this Val turned her back on her an
tagonist, and dropping into an easy chair gave
herself up te a mental revision of the virtues
of her 'chevalier sans peur ct sans reproche :"
What sweet smiles circled her lips; what
happy light shone in her eyes, as she lived
over again that brief period of wooing when
the old story, that is ever so new in the telling
was whispered into her willing ears On.
bright time Of youth and love, that comes but
once to all, that passes all too swiftly, but
which years after, has stIll the power to re-
k1ndIe flame in our worn-out, weary hearts
wal" said Lady Marchmont, breaking in
on her revere, as she bent over her and spoke
In low tone, where are your rhoughtss I
hear the dog cart going round to the front
door"
Val brought herself back from a delightful
past to still more delightful present and sat
up in an eIpeCtant attitude with sparkling eyes
and flushed cheeks.
In few minutes the door was flung open
and Capt. Dalrymple was announced He was
tall, soldicrly-loOking man, with grave. Sc
Hious face and dark, earnest eyes, which, when
he smiled, softened and up in a wonderfully
attractive manner
In the presence of the two ladies', Valeries
greeting with him was necessarily restrained:
silent but expressive pressure of the hands
and Capt. DatrympIe turned to Lady March,
mont Il have TO thank you for your great
Val"
81 ana only too delighted to see you,n an
swered Lady Marchmont heartily "and for the
rest, you know Val would hot have consented
to come II you had not also favored Us with
your company"
AS she spoke, she half turned toward Mrs.
Maitland with the intention of introducing her
when, to Yal's astonishment, that lady came
forward, holding out her hand, as she said
with her most fascinating smile:
There Is no need for an introduction, Lady
Marchmont; Capt Dalrymple and are old
friends".
Val turned her gaze to her lovers face, and
saw there an expression that she could not ex
actly fathom. Was it surprise, annoyance or
embarrassment? He seemed for a moment
somewhat at loss for a reply
Il did not expect to meet you," he said at
length.
1.-THE unexpected always happens, you
know" said Mrs. Maitland, laughing
What did it mean? Val asked herself. That
they should be acquainted with each other was
not wonderful, but why had Mrs Maitland
been silent on the point toward her, and above
ell why should her presence apparently discon
cert Vernon In some way?
She had not time to ponder further on the
subject, for the next moment Capt Dalrymple
Surned to her with his attractive smile
under the influence Of which Vars
atsquietude melted instantly. How absurd
70 worry about such thing, when, of course,