Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-07-17
LAUREL WALES LOVER.

IAlbFli NhIE y lION EIl'
There were only few people at the
Dolphin House 81 it was late in the seal
son. The maple woods made n low
line of deep red against the autumn
SKY: the ladies, too, mulllcd scarlet
shawls over their white dresses as they
sat on the piazza Of the hotel over
looking the surf, listening to the band
which still played jubilantly in the
sunny afternoons.
The hcircsS, Miss Vale, who had
come late, remained later She liked
the cold breath which crispcd the surf,
turned the naples rcd and made her
horses dance over the smooth floor of
yellow sand which stretched for miles
along the bay.
Her faultlcssly beautiful face, and
the more wOrld-lOving one of craunt,
daily met the view of the loungcrs as
her sleek bays champcd their silver
bits down the shore road. She was
more often seen abroad in her carriage,
but, being an old traveller, She was Il
rood walker, and often came into tea
with Il dash of red in her smooth
check, her brown hair, damp with
spray, curling closely about her tenn
pie. She had been on foot TO Grape
Point or the Shoals-favOrite retreats
accompanied only by her great
white hound, Peri. Miss Vale was Il
little peculiar, people said.
Certainly, she did us she pleased,
with an unobtrusiyc independence
which hardly need 10 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 shonc brilliantly
on its dancing white caps rs they set
tied gradually into calm.
She had sat " long while on the
rocks, her great dog at her feet. She
was long way from her hotel; but
Juba waited down the beach with hcl
carriage, and her aunt sal among the
cushions and read.
There was no one hut Peri to SET
how beautiful Laurel Vale was as she
sat against the ragged black rocks, hcl
dress Of stccl-gray kirtlcd from her
slight feet, her graceful shoulders and
arms huddlcd in Il soft crimson shawl
The sunshine struck hcrpcr(cct pro
file under Il black soft-plumcd hat,
warming her check, and bringing into
relief the firm dimplcd chin; and thosC
who had called her cold would moi
have accused her thus then, 50 happy
the smile of her red lips, so warm the
light of her brown eyes.
She loved the sca-thrircd upon it:
breath delighted to be quite alone
with it. So she did not mind how tn,
hours went, though Aunt Pardon turn
ed her hundrcdth page, and yawnct
among the purple cushions.
Come here, Sinbad!'
A mellow masculine voice came from
among the rocks-too pleasant and
manly voice TO whitcn Miss Nalc''
check with fear, certainly; but will
one swift silent motion she rose to he
feet, pale rs if she had seen ghost.
She glanced around. A little be
hind and Just below her stood Il gentle
man-a bluc.cycd man with II fai
beard, great tawny dog fawning Il
his feet.
He met her startled gaze with on
equally startlcd-thcn inStinctivcl,
raised his hat. After an instant HI
came slowly up the rocks, almost rc
luctantly it seemed, lie, too, was pal
now.
Laurel" he said gently.
You might have understood thcl
why people called Mi $ Vale cold.
Her fair mobile countcnancc seemed
to harden over her spirit like mask
She had but one thought-that aftc
five years suffering she had come T.
be happy, when here, before hcrasain
stood the destroyer of her peace.
She made u swift, involuntary ges
turc, rs if to keep him of. A quick
pathetic sadness swept across his fac
as he saw it.
) "And so you hate me- he said
slowly.
5 She caught her breath.
: 81 do not know she gaspcd.
The great tawny dog smiled Mt tn
hem of her steel-grav dress, and the
looked up in her face, wagging his tai
His master motioned him away.
: "Nom she cried, bending over tn
D handsome creature. "He used to lov
me-
Baron Alverton looked at her wit
, his blue eyes and groancd.
"Laurel," said he, with Il fine AZ
pealing gesture. 81 used to love yor
Yet to-day you would not touch IN
with your beautiful hand rs you touc
, that brute! And deserve it!'
She seemed to look at him then fo
0 the first time, though only for an il
slant. If she saw how his face ha
changed in five years and was stirrc
J to pity, she gave no sign. She turne
her head aside and seemed to waite
J., the two dogs frolicking down tn
: beach.
v mo excuse could be invented fc
me-" he went on. "YOu were one {
the sweetest, trucst women that eve
: brcathed, and my promised wife. M
u a shadow stood between us when
S met Nellie Dimpleton. But l kne'
i less of women than l do now. coul
O not measure you, appreciate you as
:, have done since. was fool to !
!, won from you by II pretty face, thong
that face had SET the artists Graz,
= All, we'll, youdo not oven care to listc
TO mevn