The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-03-14
do so, / would Willingly explain all, but

] explanation, ana VIII accept tnaJ OF
nOne.n Saying which she reared her
left Capt. Dalrymple alone to ponder
over the unforeseen dilemma in which
he found himself placed.
Val awoke the next morning with a
duh aching pain nc her heart, the cause
! of which she only too soon remembered.
or trouble of any kind she had hitherto
had no experience, and she felt quite
overwhelmed at the dreary prospect be-
fore her should she continue her quar-
rel with Vernon. Why not put an end
to IL, she asked herself, and trust him,
as she had been so ready to declare she
could do under any clrcumstances2
Then the thought that he had secret
with Mrs. Maitland, which was un-
| shared by her, obtruded itself, and she
| grew obdurate again.
! She remained in her room till sum-
moned by the breakfast bell, and then
slipped into place at table which hid
her from Vernon's sight.
Hubert Dalrymple was of the party.
| lie was certainly very handsome, with
dark eyes, which wore languid, sleepy
look in them very well suited to his
style.
Breakfast over, he approached Val
and said with smile wonderfully like
Vernons:
Come for a stroll with me, will your
AS we are so soon to be related, it is
only natural should wish to be better
acquainted with you"
After wandering about for awhile,
Hubert making vain attempts to amuse
Val with his light talk, they seated
themselves on n shady bench, and the
former said without further preface:
what is there wrong between vol
and Vernon"
Val flushed crimson. ~ don't under
stand you" she said.
Don't youY" answered Hubert in his
lazy tones. 81 should have thought my
meaning pretty clear. I'm not very
clever fellow, Miss Charters, but II did
not require very bright wits to discover
there was something amiss."
~ think it such pity for people to
fall out about triiies," proceeded HUI
bert, "for, knowing Vernon as | do,
can't believe he can have given you any
real cause for complaint. There's not
a better fellow breathing than he; |, as
his brother, ought to be able to give an
opinion on the subject
Sthl Val sat silent; in spite of all it
was sweet to her to hear Vernon
praised.
"You won't be offended with me,
h1pe. If 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's not like me, you know.
can't help spooning every pretty girl |
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 "Are you
sure-quite sure?"
Mr.. Dalrymple lisd his handsome
head back against the tree and surveyed
her from under his half-closed lids with
an expression of amusement. ~ think
see light at last, he unused; 1.-THE lit
Tie girl is jealous-1 fancy | know of
whom"
"Quite sure" he said aloud; "but
that has not prevented many women
being in love with him. There's a GER
tain lady. not dozen miles from here,
who tried very hard to win him."
do you mean Mrs. Maitlandp"
asked Val in low hurried tone.
What makes you guess that?"
"Because-oh, because | have been
very unhappy through her." said Val,
clasping her hands together with pa
thetic little gesture, her gray eyes full
of tears.
TEL me all about il. responded IIu-
bert, tenderly, and to Val's surprise she
found herself detailing her grievance
to this young man, who an hour ago
had been unknown to her.
"Ilow deep the little widow is" he
said; but | see her game. Valerie
you really deserve to know the truth,
especially after cOnliding in me. List
en- to me. A year ago Mrs. Maitland,
reversing the general order of things,
made an offer to Vernon of her hand,
heart, and very ample fortune"
'lmpOssible!" calculated Val.
Not impossible-unusual, if you
like answered Hubert, dryly.
However do you knowYn asked Val.
because |, by chance, interrupted
the interesting tete-a-tete, and guessed
from the lady's agitation what had TAX
en- place. Wasn't il awkward for
himy" wound up Hubert IF it had
happened to me should have accepted
her. for | can never refuse woman
anything"
Val caught his hands impetuously
in hers.
How can thank you?n she said, the
happy smiles playing again round her
lips. u was SO angry, so miserable,
did not know what to think, and now
everything is delightful again. Vernon
said | should like you, and l do, ire
mendously."
"Thanks," returned Hubert, laugh
ing. 81 am glad to be able to return
the compliment"
a few minutes later Vernon, sitting
alone in the library, felt two soft arms
steal round his neck, and Walls sweet
voice said in his ear:
Can you ever forgive me, dear, for
being such u horrid suspicious wretch?
was so wrong, so very wrong. but |
punished myself more than any One.r
You have made up your mind to
trust me in spite Of appearances, Valp"
he asked.
81 must tell you all, she whispered;
"and don't despise me very much,
dear" And she proceeded to recount
her conversation with Hubert.
TO cOnprondre, c'eSt tout lI1rdOnner
-eh, Val?" he said with slight smile;
but there, won't tease you, dear. II
was hardly surprising you were vexed,
and wanted to know all and | think |
need not ask you to keep silent on the
score OF what you have heard"
81 promise, said Val, feeling in her
newly rccovered happiness that she
could pardon Mrs. Maitland and all her
misdoings, since il was love for Yer
non which had prompted her to them
Ill he Year RoHnd.
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