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

go ready to declare she would do under
any circumstances Then the thought
that he had secret with Mrs. Matt
land, which was unshared by her, ob
truded itself, and she grew obdurate
again.
She remained in her room until
summoned by the breakfast bell, and
then slipped into q 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 Iangu1d
S eepy look in them very well suited tc
his style. For all that, he was observ.
ant, 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 per.
ceiVed something was seriously wrong
between his brother and his betrothed
Breakfast over he approached Val
and said with a smile wonderfully like
! Vernon's:
Come for stroll with me, will youi
As We are soon to be related 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 a shady bench,
and the former said without further
preface:
"What is there wrong between yon
and Vermont
Val flushed crimson. 81 don't un-
derstand YOU" she said.
Don't yon?" answered Hubert, in
bis lazy tones. 81 should have thought
my meaning pretty clear. Pm not a
very clever fellow, Miss Charters, but
it did not 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 d pity for people to fall
out about tri1es," proceeded Hubert,
''for knowing Vernon as do, can't
believe he can have given you any real
cause for complaint, There's not y
better fellow breathing than he; I, as
brother, ought to be able to give an
opinion on that subject"
Still Val sSt silent; she felt half in
clined to be angry with this offcious
young man for his interference in her
private affairs, but somehow, in spite of
all, it was sweet to hear Vernon
praised.
"You won't be offended with me, I
hope, if I tell you think you are very
lucky to have won his love-" continued
Mr.. Dalrymple, in no way discomposed
at having all the talk to himself
Vernon is rot like me, you know.
can't help spooning every pretty gi1l I
come across; but with him, you are
just the first woman he has ever loved
or spoken to of love-"
Val turned to him eagerly. care you
sure-qnite ssre?"
Mr.. Dalrymple laid his handsome
head back against the tree, and sur
veyed her from under his half-closed
lids with an expression of amusement
'I think I see light at last" he unused.
THE little girl is jealous fancy l
know Of whom"
"Quite sure" he said aloud; "but
that has not prevented many women
being in love with him. There is d
certain lady, not a dozen miles from
here, who tried very hard to win him.,
"Do you mean Mrs. Maitland?"
asked Val in low, hurried tone.
"What makes you guess that?
"Because-oh, because I have been
very unhappy through her." said Val,
clasping her hsnds together with a pa
thetic little gesture, her gray eyes foil
of tears.
"Tell me about it," responded Hu
bert tenderly, and to Vals surprise she
found herself detailing her grievances
to this young man, who an hour ago
had been unknown TO her. AS she
concluded she was somewhat taken
aback at Mr.. Dalr! mple's giving
vent to hearty fit of Laughter.
Chow deep the little widow is" he
said, "but see her game. She
thought to make a quarrel between
you and Vernon and perhaps gain his
heart in the rebound. Valerie, you
really deserve to know the truth, espe-
cially after confding in me. Listen to
me. A year ago, Mrs. Maitland, re-
versing the general order of things,
made an offer to Vernon of her hand,
hear and very ample fortune
"Impossible!" calculated VA.
"Not mpossible-unusual if you
like" answered Hubert, dryly. 1--WE
have known her for years, and she
was always awfully sweet on Vernon.
When she became her own mistress
again she began running alter him IL
the old fashion, and last year-we were
al staying together at some house-she
spoke out pretty plainly"
"However do you know" asked Val.
Because |, by chance, interrupted
| the interesting tete-a-tete, and guessed
from the lady's agitation what had TAX
en- place. When taxed Vernon with
| it afterwards he could not deny it, but
naturally, on her account, he would
think himself in honor bound never to
mention it, for she must have been
very genuinely in love with him to go
to such lengths. Wasn't it awkward
for him?" wound up Hubert. "If 1t
had happened to me, should have
accepted her, for I can never refuse a
woman anything"
Val caught bis hands imp tuously in
hers.
"Eow can thank you" she said, the
ha ppy smiles playing around her lips.
was so angry, so miserable, did
not know what to think, and now ev-
erytbing is delightful again. Vernon
said / should like you, and [ Go, tre-
mendousiy."