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

land believes is all he should be
| And with this Val turned her bac
on her antagonist, and dropping ir
to an easy chair, gave herself up I
a mental revision of the virtues {
her chevalier sans peur ct sans r,
lproche.
What sweet smiles circled he
lips, what happy light shown il
her eyes as she lived over again tn
brief period OF wooing, when the oil
story, that is ever SO new in the tell
ling, was whispered into her willin,
ears.
! Oh, bright time of youth and Low
that comes but once to all, that pass
es all too quickly, but which in al
ter years has still the power to kin
die a flame in our worn out, wear,
| hearts
"Val." said Lady Marchmont
breaking into the reverie, as she ben
over and spoke in a low tone
where are your thoughts ? 1 heal
the dog cart going round to the from
door,"
Val brought herself back from {
delightful past to a still more de
lightfnl present, and sat up in ar
expectant attitude with sparkling
eyes and flushed cheeks.
In a few minutes the door was
flung open and Captain Dalrymple
was announced.
He was tall soldierly-lookine
man, with grave, serious face, and
dark, earnest eyes, which, when he
smiled, softened and lit upin won
derfully attractive manner.
In the presence of the two ladies
Valerie's greeting with him was nee.
essarily restrained, silent, but ex-
pressive pressure of the hands, and
Captain Dalrymple turned to Lady
Marchmont:
81 have to thank you for your
great kindness in extending to me
your invitation to VAL"
Il am too delighted to see you,"
answered Lady Marehmont heartily,
'and for the rest, you know Val
would not have consented to come if
you had not also favored US with
your company"
AS she spoke she half turned to-
ward Mrs. Maitland with the inten-
ton of introducing her, when to
Val's astonishment, that lady came
forward, holding out her hand, as
she said with her most fascinating
smile:
There's no need for an introduc-
ton, Lady Marchmont; Captain
Dalrymple and l are old friends"
Val turned her gaze to her lovers
face, and saw there all expression
that she could not exactly fathom.
Was it surprise, annoyance or embar-
rassment? He seemed for a mo-
ment somewhat at a loss for a re-
ply.
Il did not expect to meet you" )"
he said at length.
"The unexpected always happens,
you know" replied Mrs. Maitland,
laughing.
What did it mean ? Val asked
herself. That they should be &C.
quainted with each other was not
wonderful, but why had Mrs. Matt
land been silent on the point toward
her, and above all, why should her
presence apparently disconcert Ver-
non in some way?
She had no time to ponder further
on the subject, for the next moment
Captain Dalrymple turned to her
with his attractive smile, under the
influence of which Walls disquietude
melted instantly.
How absurd to worry about such
a thing, when of course at the first
opportunity Vernon would explain
it all This thought revived her
spirits, and when few moments la
ter the party was swelled by some
other guests staying at the Hall. she
was the gayest of the gay, enjoying
delightful little asides with Captain
Dalrymple, which enabled her total
ly to forget the existence of Mrs.
Maitland.
"Meet me in the drawing room be-
fore any one is down." she Whisper-
ed 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.
Captain Dalrymple performed his
toilet in very short space of time.
and repaired at once to the drawing
room, there to await Val. He wan
dered into the conservatory and
paced about restlessly. One of the
glass doors opening close by him
caused him to turn quickly with a
smile of welcome on his lips, when
to his utter surprise he found him
self confronted by Mrs. Maitland.
She came quickly forward with
the quiet gliding walk which was
peculiar to her, but her habitual
fed
Il must apologize for thus intrud-
ing on ycu," she said. "but there is
something | wish particularly to ask
you"
"Indeed?" returned Captain Dali
rvmple. His voice had taken the
coldest intonation, his face wore its
gravest aspect.
Don't look at me like that, Vern-
on, as though my presence were SO
utterly distasteful to you," she went
on with some agitation, whether real
or feigned he could not determine.
l shall not detain you long. What
/ want to ask of you is that you will
not mention to Miss Charters what
took place between US a year ago. y
do you think it likely, Mrs. Matt.
land, / should mention the sub.
ject?"
'Not Intentionally, perhaps, but
these things come out sometimes
unawares, and l could not bear to be
subjected to Miss Charteris' ridicule
and scorn."
"You need, / assure you, have nc
fear. l shall be silent on that score.
"You will give me your sacred