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

t when L see another woman, whom
t did not even know to be acquainted
e with you, holding an interview with
t you of apparently a most intimate
: nature"
So here was the explanation of
: Val's conduct. Dalrymple looked
what he felt-thoroughly aghast.
II see," he said, after a moments
: pause, that you have more cause
/ for annoyance than / imagined. II
l cannot give you very full expla-
nation of what | am aware must
J seem strange in your eyes, lam sure
! your confidence in me will enable
you to accept without hesitation
| what l am going to cay. / have
known Mrs. Maitland for years, and
she wished to speak to me alone on
a matter that concerns herself"
, And it was necessary to the COM
munication that she should hold
, your hands ?n asked Val, sarcastic
ally.
Dalrymple looked at her with his
searchlng eyes.
Il see what is in your mind, VAL"
be answered quietly, "but | can
hardly believe thaty you can mistrust
me thus, that you can wrong your
self and insult me by such suspic-
iors. Were | free to do so | would
willingly explain all, but unfortun-
ately | am not"
Because you have promised her
not to do 80, l suppose ?" returned
Val, her eyes flashing; "and prom
Use to her is to rank before consider
alton of my feelings. After what |
witnessed this evening | have a
right to demand full explanation,
and | will accept that or none"
Saying this, she reared 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 Val's cheeks as she re-entered the
room, and Mrs. Maitland noticing
it with her watchful eyes, smiled
maliciously as she said to herself;
II score the first points in the
game"
Val awoke the next morning with
dull aching pain at the heart, the
cause of which she only too soon re-
membered.
OF trouble of any kind she had
hitherto had no experience, and she
felt quite overwhelmed at the dreary
prospect before her should she contin-
ue he rquarrel with Vernon. Why not
put an end to it, she asked herself, |
and trust to him, as she had been so
ready to declare she could do under
any circumstances.
Then the thought that he had a |
secret with Mrs. Maitland, which |
was unshared by her, obtruded itself
and she grew obdurate again.
She remained in her room until |
summoned by the breakfast bell, |
and then slipped into a place at the
table which hid her from Vernon's
sight.
Hubert Dalrymple was one of the
party. He was certainly very hand
some, with dark eyes, which wore a
languid, sleepy look in them very
well suited to his style.
For all that he was observant, and
could see as much with his half
closed eyes as most people with |
theirs wide open, and he had not
been many minutes at the table ere
he perceived something was serious
ly wrong between his brother and his
betrothed.
Breakfast over he approached Val
and said with a smile wonderfully |
like Vernon's:
"Come for a stroll with me. will
you? As we are soon to be related,
it is only natural | should wish to
be 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 estranged from
him was more than she could
bear
After walking for awhile, Hubert
making vain attempts to amuse Val
with his light talk, they seated them
selves on shady bench, the former
said without further preface:
What is there wrong with you
and Vernon ?"
Val flushed crimson.
II don't understand you"
Don't your" answered Hubert in
his lazy tones. II should have
thought my meaning pretty clear. |
| am not very clever fellow, Miss
Charters, but it don't require very |
bright wits to discover there was
something amiss."
Val made no rejoinder, in truth |
she was experiencing some difficulty
in keeping from tears.
81 think it such pity for people
to fall out about trifies," proceeded
Hubert, ''for knowing Vernon as l
do. | can't believe he can have given
you any real cause for complaint.
There's not better fellow breathing
than he. l, as his brother, ought to
be able to give an opinion on the
subject"
Still Val sat silent; and felt half
inclined to be angry with this Off
cious 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,
1 hope, if tell you you are very
lucky to have won his love" contin-
ued Mr.. Dalrymple, in no way dis
composed at having all the talk to
himself. "Vernon's not like me, you
know. I can't help spooning every
pretty girl / come across, but with
him, you are the first woman he has j
ever loved or spoken to of flove."
Val turned to him eagerly.
"Are you sure-quite sure?"
Mr.. Dalrymple laid his handsome |
head back against the tree and sur
veyed her from under his half clos
ed lids with an expression of amuse-
ment.
'"I think I see light at last" he
nused ssthe little 0irl ia iealous-Il |