The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-10-30
A MANS MISTAKE.


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, muf1lei scarlet
shawls over their white dresses as
they sat on the piazza of the hotel
overlooking 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 for 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
er, 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 temples. She had been on
foot to Grape Point or the Shoals ia.
vorite retreats accompanied only by
her great white hound, Peri. Miss
Vale was little peculiar, people said
ortainly, she did as she pleased
with an unobtrusive independence
which hardly need to have troubled
any one.
She had gone out that day after the
storm to see the sea dash and roll in
its strength. The sun shone brilliant
ly on its dancing white caps as they
settled gradually into calm.
She had sat long while on the
rocks, her great dog at her feet. She
was long way from the hotel, but
JuDa waited down the beach with hel
carriage, and her aunt sat among thu
cushions and read.
There was no one but Peri to see how
beautiful Laurel Vale was as she sal
against the ragged black rocks, he
dress of steel-gray kirtled from hel
slight feet, her graceful shoulders ant
arms huddled in a soft crimson shawl
The sunshine struck her perfecr
profile under black soft-plumed hat
warming her check, and bringing int
relief the firm dimpled chin, and thost
who had called her cold would no
have accused her thus then, so happl
the smile of her red lips, so warm th,
light of her brown eyes.
She loved the -thrived upon it
breath-delighted to be quite alon,
with it. So she did not mind how th
hours went, though Aunt Pardon
turned her hundreth page, and yawne,
among the purple cushions.
"Come here, Sinbadl'
A mellow masculine voice cam
from among the rochs-too pleasan
and manly voice to whiten Mis-
Vale's cheek with fear, certainly; bu
with one swift silent motion she ros
to her feet, pale as if she had seen
ghost.
She glanced around. A little be
hind and just below her stood a gen
tleman- blue-eyed man with fai
beard and a great tawny dog fawnin,
at his feet.
He met her startled gaze with on
equally startled then instinctiYel
lifted his hat After an instant h
came slowly up the rocks, almost re
luctantly it seemed. He, too, wa
pale now.
Laurel" he said gently.
You might have understood the
why people called Miss Vale cold.
Her fair mobile countenance SCENE
to harden over her spirit like a masl
She had but one thought-that aftt
five years suffering she had come to b
happy, when here. before her agaiI
stood the destroyer of her peace.
She MADE swift involuntary ges
ure. as if to keep him of. 4 quic
pathetic sadness swept across his fac
as he saw it.
"And SO you hate me?" he sait
slowly.
She caught her breath.
81 do not know" size casneJ.