Daily Republican., 1885-08-14

L..
No answer. b
She stands with her head bowed, her h
hands clasped loosely before her she b
1as stood thus while he repeats the a
,ruel story which is rending her heart '
IN twain. is
She raises her head at lepcth, and
points one slim hand toward the 7
smooth white road lying across the
sands.
go I" her pale lips falter.
For Gods sake, say you forgive| u
me, Valerie 20 he pants passionately. a
cay that you do not quite hate me, or ;
deem me wretch too vile for Kindly ,
thought. Oh, Val-little Val"
"Go."
She is breaking down, and in her
stern, fierce pride, this poor young crea-
ture would sooner die than allow him
to suspect what she is suffering.
There is nothing left but to obey. He
ssoops and crushos her hand against his
parched lips for IN instant then ha
strides away ami is socn out of sight.
i She stands still in that same hope
less attitude for minute then sud
denly her strength gives way, and she
crouches down beneath the oak tree,
and buries her face in her hands. Not
u tcaEp uOJ . VI Nhiy 'hS AZ. 80
shakes, with q storm Of fearless sobs,
which seem to rend h r heart.
The moments pass, 1t is growing gray
with gathering twilight before she
arises and goes home.
| Upon the threshold of the pretty sea-
side cottage her father was awaiting
er, his face pale and excited, In his
| wrinkled hand an open letter.
my child - he cries, when Valerie
approaches, "I have news for yon. Mr..
Dayton has gone away-I suppose he IS
tired of country life, boarding al our
simple home and he had not long been
lgone when the evening mail arrived,
bringing me letter. Listen, Val, my
lonly relative ia dead, and am the uex,
lUf kin. Valerie We're, we are rich
very rich-you and / What is the
matter with the child ~
For Valerie, totteripg to seat upon
the broad, viue- colored gallery, bursts
into flood of tears. He is gone-hope,
love, aud trust are gone, end all tht
! gold of Midas will not fill tho blank
But memory comes TO sting her, and sht
rises and dries her tears, turning 6
, proud, pale face toward her wondering
/ father.
"Let us go away, papa !" she erie
D wGdElly, Wo EhNC hCdL . AOV
3 let us travel in foreign lands. IL an
= 80 tired"
3 If he suspects the truth he Is too wis
4 to bint it but he acquiesces in her pre-
Q posal, and 30 one day sees the old hous
lon the beach deserted and Valerie an
:, lher father en- route for Europe. Fo
4 two years they tarry abroad, and tlos
r two years do wonders for Valerie. Sh
s develops in'o rare beauty. The httl
= angular, sallow faced child has becom
l.. a belle and heiress. Time drags by, u
r months come aud 90, and she is at hon
y once more.
lS
y Valerie! Miss Verel"
81 The long giittering room seems
llgrow dark for an instant. Bsrnar
'r Dayton puts out one shapely hand
et steady himself as the dazzling visic
be fore him In white brocade and pear
Q, bends stately little head In recogn
re ton. Only to day arrived from Europ
Id and being due at Mrs. Chalaron's T
n ceptiou, these two have met once NOR
OF and across the sea of faces, the glitte
ing CLEAN of silks and satins and jey
g. els, their eyes have sought each othe
gel Once more no hears the murmur
N, the ocean, and above the sweet perfui
- OF DQ6 I1O WoEb Ill tikho
re dra " ing room aries the faint bri
III odor of the sea, and sweet voice wi
La ring Of au guish in it hurls at hi
nd 1.-THE singing word coward"
IN catches his breath, and then-then
ut scarcely knows now-htr hand is
he his arm, and they are wandering dov
of the glittering rooFas,. the cynosure
er; ad miring eyes. He gets her ale
az, somehow, and once away from pryi
,he eyes the mask falls from his facs-.frt
ZEN his heart.
10 valerie! valerie!'' he is pauti
he breathlessly, " thank God! oh, tina
God! Darling-darliDg, there is no
ing ling to separate us now! She Is de-
" a and am free. oh, my little love,
ce one shall ever part us-never
ian more'' -.
b ! She wheels about with swift III
do motion and holds up one white hs
from which she has drawn the pea
ook glove. He falls back with mad
hat OF anguish. Upon one email WI
; 1t finger he sees the gold On glimmer {
,rse wedding ring. For a long, long y
rill he has known and realized the trutl
,ns, that he loves her-loves her with
whole heart.
her And 1t is too late.
o is A footstep Fastening nearer ma
: es, Valerie's cheek flush; tall, soldie
my figure crosses the threshold OF the ro'
at aud q man with q grave though not
do all handsome face, comes to her Z
you and draws her little hald through
IL arm
uld Tired, darling?" no asks tende
ger not observing the presence of IL
the party. She smiles into his facs, {
you, the smile maidens Bernard Dayton
ablei Then she flashes about and her e
n |" meet his own, and he thinks bitt,
her how lovely she is, and how cold
" q self possessd-a thorough woman
10 is the world-this little Val, whose b
RI in had once lain on his shoulder vi
lark che listened to his words of love.
she'd "Mr Dayton, allow me to pre-
my husband, Captain Varian,
says proudly.
ke a Then, leaning upon her husbal
arm with that same hall lt-mocl
than smile In her lustrous eyes, she 81
into away and leaves him standing .
trea- alone. He bows his head, ant
that strange, wisttul light comes into
my eyes.
ind. The past is dead, he murmur;
n gretf,illy. '' She has had her reveI
but, oh, Val, Val you might have
,rily, less cruel ~
a thei Less cruel And had he shown
ut Of cruelty to her A swift, sudden par
memory strikes to bis heart-he t
veiy, away.
;. at is retributiye justice" he I
ut of Imurs brokeply. Even as he utters
m Der words a mad cry arises above the 81
again of the music, the gay laughter and IN
cross ment.
Val There is wild rushing to and