The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-07-24
1 LOVE YOU.

I
Dolphin. House-it was late in the sea-
son. The maple. woods made low
line of deep red against the autumn
sky-the ladies, too, mutlied scarlet
shawls over their white dresses as they
sat on the long piazza of the hotel over
| looking the surf, listening to the band
which still played jubilantly in the
sunny afternoons.
The heiress, Miss Vale, who had
come late, remained later. She liked
the cold breath which crisped the surf,
turned the naples red, and made her
horses dance over the smooth floor of
| yellow sand which stretched fo- miles
along the bay.
Her faultlessly beautiful face, and
the more world-loving one of her aunt,
daily met the view of the loungers as
her sleek bays champed their silver
| bits down the shore road.
She was more often seen abroad in
her carriage, but being an old travel
Ter, she was a good walker, and often
came in to tea with dash of red in her
smooth cheek, her brown hair, damp
with spray. curling closely about her
temple. She had been on foot to Grape
| Point or the Shoals-favorite retreats
accompanied only bv her great white
| hound, Peri Miss Vale was a little
peculiar, people said.
Certainly, she did as she pleased,
with an unobtrusive independence
which hardly need to he7e troubled
anyone.
She had gone out that day, after the
storm, to see the sea dash and roll in
| its strength. The sun shone brilliantly
on its dancing white caps as they set
tied gradually into calm.
She had sat a long while on the
rocks, her great dog at her feet. She
was a long way from her hotel; but
Juba waited down the beach with her
carriage, and her aunt sat among the
cushions and read.
There was no one but Peri to see how
beautiful Laurel Vale was rs she sat
against the ragged black rocks, her
dress of steel-gray hirtled from her
slight feet. her graceful shoulders and
arms huddled in soft crimson shawl.
The sunshine struck her perfect pro-
| file under a black soft-plumed hat,
warming her cheek, and bringing into
relief the firm dimpled chin; and those
who had called her cold would not
have accused her thus then, so happy
the smile of her red lips, SO warm the
| light of her brown eyes.
| She loved the sea-thri ved upon its
breath-delighted to be quite alone
with it. So she did not mind how the
hours went, though Aunt Pardon turned
her hundredth page, and yawned
among the purple cushions.
! Come here, Sindbadn'
A mellow masculine voice came from
among the rocks-too pleasant and
manly voice to whiten Miss Wales
cheek with fear, certainly; but, with
one swift silent motion, she rose to her
feet, pale as if she had seen a ghost.
She glanced around. A little be-
hind, and just below her, stood a gen
tleman-a blue-eyed man with fair
beard, great tawny dog fawning at
! his feet.
He met her startled gaze with one
| equally startled - then instinctively
lifted his hat. After an instant he
cane slowly up the rocks, almost re-
| luctantly il seemed. He too was pale
now.
Laurel" he said gently.
You might have understood then
why people called Miss Vale cold.
Her fair mobile countenance seemed
to harden over her spirit like mask.
She had but one thought-that after
five years suffering she had come to be
happy, when here, before her again,
stood the destroyer of her peace.
She made swift involuntary ges-
ture, as if to keep him off A quick
pathetic sadness swept across his face
as he saw it.
And so you hate me?' he said
slowly.
She caught her breath.
Il do not know" she gasped.
The great tawny dog shifted at the
hem of her steel-grey dress, and then
looked up in her face, wagging his tail.
His master motioned him away.
MOI she cried, bending over the
handsome creature. He used to love
mel"
Baron Alverton looked at her with
his blue eyes and groaned.
Laurel" he said with fine appeal
| ing gesture. Il used to love you. Yet
to-day you would not touch me with
your beautiful hand as you touch that
brute! And deserve it!''
She seemed to look at him then for
the first time. though only for an in
slant. If she saw how his face had
changed in five years, and was stirred
to pity, she gave no sign. She turned
her head aside and seemed to watch
the two dogs frolicking down the
beach.
mo excuse could be invented for
me-" he went on. ''You were one of
the sweetest, truest women that ever
breathed, and my promised wife. Not
a shadow stood between US when / met
Nellie Dimpleton. But knew less of
women than do now. l. could not
measure you. appreciate you as L have