Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-05-03
A PASSING CLOUD.
A STORY.

1T depends whether it suits my
fancy, dear. Did you ever know any
one to take advice otherwise ?"
Lady Marcbmont laughed. | am
afraid NINE will hardly do SO in this
instance. would suggest that you take
a book and try to read, as the time
would pass much quicker if you did
not study the clock every five minutes.
There is one on that table that could
not fail to interest you; it is the story
of fair maid who suffered all the
pangs, the agonies, the doubts of q
true love that did not, like yours, run
smooth"
Il should probably throw it to the
other end of the room after five min
utes."
"And to think" said Lady March
mont, meditatively, Ito think that six
months ago you did not know this hero
who is now making such havoc in your
peace of mind"
Valerie arose impatiently from her
seat, and walked across to the window,
frown ruffiing the serenity Of her
white forehead and o vexed look in
er pretty gray eyes.
She was tall, slender girl, with more
claims to beauty than are accorded
from the mere possession of regular
features and faultless complexion,
which good points many girls will own,
and yet be highly uninteresting and
unattractive. Walls chief charm lay
in her entire Inconsistencies of self,
and the animated play of her mobile,
sensitive face, in which, as In her clear
gray eyes. was reflected every emotion
of her sympathetic nature. She was a
girl who, from impulse, might probably
act hastily or thoughtlessly, but who
would be only too read y to own her
error, if once convinced of it; q rare
virtue indeed, for surely the hardest OF
II was wrong"
Walls abrupt movement caused Lady
Marchmont to look up inquiringly, and
she OWNED the cause of her displeas-
ure. The young lady had certain pc
culiar notions of her own, and did not
like being ioked about her love and
her lover, especially before 81 third
person. Ere Lady Marchmont, how
ever, could atone for her indiscretion,
another lady present looked up from
ner lace work and said quietly:
us it not wonderful nov ready we
women are to trust our happiness and
our future in the hands of men of
whom, for the most part, we know but
little ~
The speaker was slight, fair woman
whose age it would be difficalt TO
guess. She was one of those persons
CA n - I,
unattractive, and shortly discover that
they possess d strange fascination.
Whether it was her peculiarly clear,
iow-toned voice or a certain air OF
self-possession which nothing seemed
to rut1e, it was undepiable that Mrs.
Maitland had had her share of admir-.
srs, and in this, her third year of wild
owhood, was said to have received
more than one offer tc change her ap-
parently not inconsolable state.
Val glanced at her with a slightly
contemptuOus look in her eyes.
'Your remark has no significance
for me, Mrs Maitland, for know Cap
tain Dalrymple thoroughly" she said
with happy confidence in her tone.
A slight smile played for d moment
round Mrs. Maitland's thin lips, and
she dropped her eyes again over hel
work.
ooh, you think you d." she answer
IN her quiet tones, which, somehow OF
other, generally had the effect of irri
tatiGg Val, (which does as well-nay
better, for few of us would benefit by
an intimate knowledge of the lives o.
most men,"
"The life of every honorable man is
the same returned Val Indignantly
"Your experience Of the other sex
must have been unfortunate, Mrs
Maitland"
There was slight accession of color
in the widows usually passive cheek
as she replied in a somewhat sarcastic
tone: II admire, if / do not emulate
your charming confidence, Miss Char
teais. | hope you may never have
cause to regret it, but | think when yor
are few years older, you will acBnowl
edge that men are all alike, and tina
self is the guiding star of their exist
ence."
II refuse to believe it." said Val
"You are welcome to your opinion
Mrs. Maitland; leave me to the enjoy
ment OF mine. There are bad alike il
both sexes, but what does it matter i
there are worthless men, when the ont
in whom one trusts and believes is al
he should be?" and with this Va
turned her back on her antagonist, ane