Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-04-27

yet made the acquaintance of his flu
ture sister-in-,aw."
mo, to be sure. Hubert is the only
one of us yeu don't know, said Vernon
turning to Val. IL think you will like
him. He's an awfullv good patur d
fellow, lite spoiled, perhaps, tut ac-
colding to Sir Harry that is hardly to
be wondered at"
Vaps face, however, plainly express-
ed entire indifference to Hubert Dali
rymple's merits or dement's.
WheR the gentlemen returned to the
drawing-rocm, Dalrym9le made his
way at once to Val, who was sitting
somewhat apart, and, bending over her,
said in low tone:
"What is amiss with you. dear? You
do not seem yourself this evening"
1t was likely, Val thought, that she
should be herself when she had seen
that creature, as she inwardly designa-
ted Mrs. Maitland, standing by his
side, holding his hands and making eyes
at him positively, as thought she had
the right to do SO. She could bear it
no longer; she must have aexplana-
ton at once, che resolved.
Come out On the terrace" she said,
rising impetuously. Il want to speak
10 you"
He followed her obediently, and
when they were beyond sight or hear
ing of any one, said gently:
well, what is troubling you, dear ?"
"Nhat is there between you and Mrs.
Maitland ? asked Val, fixing her clear
glance on him, as che abruptly plunged
''m medals res"
Captain Dalrymple regarded her in
| unfeigned establishment. "What is
there between Mrs. Maitland and me?"
he repeated slowly. "My dear Val, 1
don't understand you"
"And don't understand you," hotly
responded the young lady. "You can
not deny, Vernon, that when you met
Mrs. Maitland you looked erv. very
taken aback."
II have no wish to deny anything,
VAL" he answered; cit is true was
somewhat surprised to see Mrs. Matt
land"
But why should you be more sur
prised to see her than any otker &C
| quaintance?"
Dairy mple heaved faint sigh; mat
ters were getting serious.
"My dear VAL" he said half playful
ly, you are surely not going to quarrel
with me on account of Maitland. Ibid
not think you were given up to jeal-
ousy."
Jealousy" repeated Val, giving her
disturbed feelings full vent. 81 have a
right to be jealous, l think, when see
another woman whom / did not even
know to be acquainted with you, hold
ing an Interview with you OF apparent
| ly most intimate nature"
So here was the explanation of Val's
conduct. Dalrymple looked what he
felt-thoroughly aghast.
81 see," he said after moment s
pause. "That you have more cause
for annoyance than imagined. If l
cannot give you a very full explanation
of what am aware must appear strange
in your eyes. l am sure your conf
| dence in me will enable you to accept
without hesitation what I am going to
say. have known Mrs. Maitland for
| years, and she wished to speak to me
| alone On matter that concerns her
self"
And was it necessary to the com
munlcation that she should hold your
| hands?" asked Val sarcastically.
Dalrymple looked at her with his
searching eyes.
81 see what is in your mind, VAL" he
answered quietly, "but 1 can hardly be-
lleve that you Can mistrust me thus,
that you can wrong yourself ami insult
me by such suspicious. Were l free
to do so would willingly explain al,
but unfortunately am not.
Because you have promised her
not to do so, l SUPPOSED" returned Val,
her eyes flashing; "and q promise to
her is to rank before consideration of
my feelings. After what witnessed
this evening l have right to demand
full ext !anation, and l will accept
that Or none" Saying which she rear
ed her head with the dignity of queen
and left Captain Dalrymple alone to
ponder over the unforeseen dilemma In
which he found himself placed.
The flush of anger still fingered on
Walls checks as she re-entered the
room, and Mrs. Maitland, noting it with
her walciful eyes, smiled maliciously
dS sic 5dlu W nGIS6u. Il score the urSt
points in the game"
Val awoke the next morning with q
dull, aching pain at her heart, the
cause of which she only too we'll re-
membered. OF trouble of any kind
she had hitherto had no experience,
and she felt quite overwhelmed a. the
dreary prospect before her should she
continue her quarrel with Vernon.
Why net put an end to it, she asked
herself, and trust him, as she had been
SO ready to declare she would do under
any circumstances? Then the thought
that he had a secret with Mrs. Matt.
land, WHICH was unshared by her, OBJ
truded itself, and she grew obdurate
again.
She remained in her room until
summoned by the breakfast bell, and
then slipped into place at the table
which hid her from Vernon's sight.
Hubert Dalrymple was of the party.
He WAS certainly very handsome, with
dark eyes, which wore a Ianguld,
eepy look in them very well suited to
his style. For all that, he was observ,
ant, and could see as much with his
half closed eyes Us most people with
theirs wide open, and he had not been
many minutes at the table ere he per-
ceived something was seriously wrong
between his brother and his betroth ed.
Breakfast over he approached Val,
and said with a smile wonderfully like
Vernon's:
Come for stroll with me, will your
As we are soon to be relsted it is only
natural | should wish to become better
acquainted with you"
Val was fain to consent. She was
only too anxious to escape from Yer
mons presence; the misery of being
with him, and yet estrauged from him
was more than she could bear.
After wandering about for awhile,
Hubert making vain endeavors to
amuse Val with his light talk, they
seated themselves on shady bench,
and the former said without further
preface:
"What is there wrong between you
and Vermont"
Val flushed crimson. 81 don't un-
derstand you," she said.
Don't your" answered Hubert, in
his lazy tones. ~ should have thought
my meaning pretty clear. Pm not a
very clever fellow, Miss Charters, bat
it did not require very bright wits to
discover there was something smiss."
Val made no rejoinder. In truth she