The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1882-11-03

tureS ---'S =
So here was the explanation of Vars con-
duct! Dalrymple looked what he felt, thor
oughly aghast
Il see" he said after moments pause
tnae you have more cause for annoyance
than imagined. If cannot give you very
1uH explanation Of what l am aware must
appear strange in your eyes, am sure your
confidence IN me will enable you Co accept
without hesitation what I am going to say
nave known Mrs Maitland for years, and
she wished to speak 60 me alone on g matter
that concerns herself
s'And it was necessary to the communica-
ton that she should hold your handsY'
asked Val sarcastically.
Dalrymple looked at her with his searching
eyes
81 see what is in your mind. Val" he an
swereu quietly, .Dut l can hardly believe
that you can mistrust me thus-that Won
can wrong yourself and insult me by such
suspicious We're free to 90 so I would
willingly explain al, but unfortunately, 1
am not"
Because you have promised her not to do
so, suppose?" returned Val, her eyes fash
ing; and promise to her is to rank before
consideration for my feelings After what
witnessed this evening have right 10 de-
Lnano fuil explanation, ana Will accept
Gns5 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 him
self placed.
The flush of anger still fingered on Vars
cneek as she re-entered the room. and Mrs.
Maitland, noting it with her watchful eyes,
smiled msllclously as she said to herself:
Il score the first points in the game"
val aWoke the next morning with a dull,
achlng pain at her heart, the cause of which
she only too soon remembered. OF trouble
of any kind she had hitherto had no exper-
ence, and she felt quite overwhelmed at the
dreary prospect before her should she con-
tinue her quarrel with Vernon. Why not
put an end TO it, she asked herself, and trust
him, as she had been SO ready to declare she
could do under any circumstances? Then
the thought that he had secret with Mrs
Maitland, which was unsharcd by her, OBJ
truded itself, and she grew obdurate again
She remained in her room till summoned
by the breakfast bell, ana then slipped into
place at table which hid her from Vernons
sight
Hubert Dalrymple was of the party. He
was certainly very handsome, with dark
eyes, which wore languid, sleepy look in
them very well suited to his style For al
that. he was observant, and could see as
much with his half closed eyes as most peo-
pie with theirs wide open, and he had not
been many minutes at table ere he perceived
something was seriously wrong between his
brother and his betrothed
BreakfasT over, he approached val, ana
said with smile wonderfully like Yer
mons:
'C6me for stroll with me, will you? AS
we are SO soon to be related, il is only natu-
raj l should wish TO be better acquainted
with YOU"
Val was fain to consent She was only too
anxious to escape from Vernon's presence;
the misery of being with MIN and yet es-
tranged from him was more than she could
bear
After wandering about for q while, HUI
bert, <inO Tn Val
With his light talk, they seated themselves
on shady bench, and the former said with
out further preface:
What is there wrong between you and
Vermont"
Val flushed crimson IT don't understand
you" she said.
Don't you, " answered Hubert in his lazy
tones. Il should have thought my meaning
pretty clear. Pm not very clever fellow,
Miss Charlotte, but it did not require very
bright wits TO discover there was something
amss"
Val made no reioinder; in truth she was
| experiencing some difficulty In keeping from
tears
Il think it such a pity for people to fall
out about trities " proceeded Hubert, "for,
knowing Vernon as do, can't believe he
| can have given you any real cause for com
plant There's not better fellow breath
ing than he; I, as his brother, ought to be
able to give an opinion on the subject
Still Val sat silent; she felt half inclined to
be angry with this oficious young man for
his interference in her private affairs, but
somehow, in spite of all, it was SO sweet to
hear Vernon, praised.
'You won't be offended with me, hope, if
/ tell you think you are very lucky to have
won his love-" continued Mr.. Dalrymple, in
no way diseomposed at having all the talk
to himself. s'Vernon's not like me, you know.
/ can't help spooning every pretty girl l
come across, but with him you are just the
first woman he has ever loved or spoken to
OF love"
Val turned to him eagerly. ''Are you sure
quite sure? ~
Mr.. DalrympIe laid his handsome head
back against the tree, and surveyed her
from under his haif-closed lids with an ex-
preston of amusement. 81 think see light
at last, he unused; 1.-The little girl 8 jealous
Il fancy I know of whom"
quite sure" he said aloud; ''but that has
not prevented many women being in love
with him. There's certain lady, not
dozen miles from here who tried very hard
to win him"
'Do you mean Mrs Maitland?" asked Val
in low hurried tone.
What makes you guess thatY
',Because-oh, because l have been very
unhappy through her," said Val, claspIng
her hands together with pathetic little
gesture her gray eyes full of tears
"Tell me all about it, ;" responded Hubert
tenderly, and to Val's surprise she found her
self detailing her grievance to this young
man, who an hour ago had been unknown to
her AS she concluded she was somewhat
taken aback at Mr.. Dalrymple's giving vent
TO a hearty fit of laughter.
How deep the little widow is" he said,
shut see her game. She thought to make
quarrel between you and Vernon, and per-
haps gain his heart in the rebound. Valerie,
you really deserve to know the truth, espe-
cialIy after confding in me. Listen to me.
year ago Mrs. Maitland, reversing the gen.
eral order of things, made an offer to Vernon
of her Land, heart. and very ample for
tune"
''Impossible!" calculated Val
mot mpossible-unusual If you like"
answered Hubert dryly. I'VE nave known
her for years and she was always awfully
sweet on Vernon. When she became her own
mistress again she began running after him
in the old fashion, and last year-we were all
staying together at some house-she spoke
out pretty plainly"
How ever do you knoW?" asked Val
because /, by chance, interrupted the in
teresting tete-a-tete, and guessed from the
lady's agitation what had taken place. When
taxed Vernon with it afterward, he could
not deny it. but naturally, on her account, he
would think himself In honor bound never to
mention it, for she must have been very
genuine in love with him to go to such
lengths. Wasn't it awkward for him?"
wound up Hubert IF it had happened to
me, l should nave accepted her, as l can
never refuse a woman anything.
Val caught his hand impetuously in hers
s'How can l thank your she said, the
happy smiles playing again around her lips
II was so angry, so miserable, did not
know what to THINK ana now everything is