The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-03-28

!, SerVdtory, WIN MS DacK turned tn:
: way, did not see or hear her. NJ
| so with Mrs. Maitland. True, st
} did not glance in that direction, br
+, she knew perfectly well who had er
, tered.
She dropped her voice, but ad
vanced few steps nearer to him.
Il cannot thank you sufficiently,
she said, looking at him most elt
quently, "you do not know what
weight you have lifted from m,
mind"
AS she spoke she took both hi
hands in hers, and giving them
, tender pressure turned and disaI
peared through the door by whic
she had entered, leaving Captai
Dalrymple gazing after her with
very perplexed countenance.
What is the meaning of this" h
pondered. II never could iathon
that woman. How unfortunate sh
should be here now. !"
Ere he turned to re-enter th
drawing room, Val, who stood at th,
open door motionless during thes
few minutes, slowly drew it afte
her, and crept up stairs again, with
strange chill at her heart.
Mrs. Maitland likewise hastenet
to regain her room.
"How we'll / calculated, she mur
INJURED to herself, a triumphant ligh
shining in her cold, blue eyes 'tha
was good move of mine; l knew
she would want some explanation
with her lover relative to our meet
ing; she will be still more anxious
for it now, and he will refuse to
give it, for be has promised, anC
Vernon Dalrymple never goes bach
from his word. How 1 hate that CIR
with her confidence and pride in hi:
love. Let US see if her trust of which
she boasts will stand her now in
good stead. Who knows but wha,
l may win him yet? At any rate,
shall make her suffer"
Meanwhile Vernon, as yet in hap
py ignorance of the trouble fate was
preparing for him, had given up all
hope of his tete-a-tete with Val, as
one after another the guests assem-
bled in the drawing room, she only
making her appearance few min
utes before dinner was announced.
At the first touch of her fingers on
his arm as they wentin to dinner he
felt that something was wrong. He
glanced at her earnestly. but her
face was averted.
'Wbat made you forget your APP
peintment with me, dear?" he asked
in low tones as they seated them
selves at the table.
Il did not forget" answered Val,
scorning to make an excuse.
"No?" in some surprise. II sup
pose something detained you, then.
| will forgive you this time, but /
don't know that l shall be so lenient
again." and hesrniled tenderlv down
on he.
To his dismay it won no response.
Val had not yet recovered from
the unpleasant shock her feelings
had received, but she was too angry,
too puzzled to clearly define her
thoughts; she was chiefly conscious
of an intense hatred and jealousy OF
Mrs. Maitland. II was scarcely won
derful that she should be silent and
abstracted during dinner, but the
party was too large and too anima-
ted for this to be noticed save by two
of its members.
'Dalrymple," said Sir Harry
Marchmont, claiming that gentle
mans attention, Il was introduced
to-day to brother of yours. Did
you know he was in these parts ?"
"My brother Hubert, 1 suppose?
I repember now his telling me he
was going to stay with some friends
of his, the Sinclairs, but l did not
know their place was near here"
"Only halt an hours drive" re-
turned Sir Harry. Hes a confound-
edly handsome fellow should say
a great favorite with the fair sex. l
asked him over to breakfast to-mor-
row and to spend the day. He told
me he had not yet made the ac-
quaintance of his future sister-in-
law"
"No, to be sure. Hubert is the
only one of us you do not know"
said Vernon. turning to Val. Il
think you will like him. He's an
awfully good natured fellow, little
spoiled, perhaps, but, according to
Sir Harry, that is hardly to be won
dered at"
Val's face, however, plainly ex-
pressed entire indifferenceto to Hubert
Dalrymple's merits or dement's.
When the gentlemen returned to
the drawing room Dalrymple made
his way at once to Val, who was sit
ting somewhat apart. and, bending
over her. said in low tone:
"What is amiss with you, dear !?
You do not seem yourself this even
ing"
1t is not likely, Val thought, that
she should be herself, when she had
seen that creature, as she inwardly
designated Mrs. Maitland, standing
by his side, holding his hands. 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 an once,
she resolved.
"Come out on the terrace" she
said, rising impetuously. II 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 abb
ruptly plunged "in medias res"
Captain Dalrymple regarded her
in unfeigned astonishment:
"What is there between Mrs. Matt
land and me?" he repeated slowly.
my dear Val, / don't understand
you"
"And l don't understand you" !"
| hofly resnnnded the Young lady.