The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-06-25
Laura of Armorica, will give her hear

she is worthy of his homage"
Everybody looked at him with surprise ;
l felt, l admit it, painful impression.
You see, then that he does not love me
since he said openly that was right to
prefer another to him.
"He only meant to JEST" said Alice,
''or otherwise don't understand anything
about it,
Let us pass that, my dear friend, we
have time enough to dream of serious mat
tiers. Here are our guests arriving the
weather is superb, our walk will be very
pleasant.
Some hours later they were gathered in
the park for rustic lunch. The inter-
laced branches formed over the feasters a
canopy of verdure the rays of the sun,
traversing furtiyely the thick foliage,
sparkletl ON the moss and gilded the young
leaves of the trees /; the air was sweet and
fragrant; at the bottom of the little val
ley water course rolled noiselessly over
a rocky bed.
The most downright gaiety reigned in
the party. Alice, amiable and full OF spir-
its, animated all with her witty sallies.
Many toasts were drunk.
A young man, addressing the company,
said
ss'' Let us drink to Madame de Tillac,
whose gracious hospitality brings US to-
gether here"
All the feasters applauded, and he
added:
'.And to Miss de Tellac.'
s'Hail to the queen of beauty" cried
the young men.
''HaiI to the Knight of Hope z" cried
Alice.
The glasses FLASHED gally.
Laura, blushing and disturbed, was ST.
lent. Franz, placed near her, said to her !:
''Only the name of the Knight moves
you. See the influence of a splendid deed
on the heart of women. Happy Knight
What can simple mortals do after that ?"
The young man attended these words
with smile, in tone which he did not
succeed in making sad. Laura would not
have been sorry to see him little jealous
of the happiness of the unknown; his en-
barrassed accent made her believe that
Franz felt for her only brotherly affec-
tion.
CASTOR did net hear without displeasure
these illusions to his rival. He saw es-
pecially with spiteful feelings Franz with
his cousin. Despite the GOODNESS of the
latter, he had the presentment that his
real danger was there.
Laura had in many ways made her
cousin feel that his attentions annoyed
her The night before she had SO openly
repulsed him that CASTOR cherished a
sense of rancor toward her and did not
spare her cutting remarks.
The young man did not seriously love
his cousin. His was blase nature which
interest governed beyond all else he found
Laura very beautiful; he was proud of
her she pleased him but genuine love
rarely blossoms except in a pure heart.
CASTOR asked himself if he would not do
better to leave his cousin to her disdain
and devote himself to some other rich
heiress. Laura and some guests had gone
down to the verge of the water course,
very large in that place some rocks stood
above the water on little floating islet a
superb water-lily displayed its satin faced
corolla.
II wish to gather that, said Laura.
Alice observed to her friend that this
would be dangerous the wet moss made
the rocks slippery, the water was deep and
the current rapid.
Laura persisted.
sit is not the first time that | have
stepped on these rocks, said she.
''My cousin,' said CASTOR. II advise
you to give up that whim.''
Il thank you" responded Laura coldly,
eff it is within sha'n't give it up"
She held up her dress and placed her foot
on the first rock.
ut is foolishness, resumed the young
man.
mo matter, will go.'
'sStop, Laura, !" said he approaching his
cousin, ''take this heather which l have
gathered for you.''
II don't want it, said the young girl
turning away her head.
CASTOR contracted his brows, a deep red
covered his face he turned aside.
go Laura, take your own way but be
careful, the Knight of Hope is not here to
fly to the aid of his beauty
Franz, who was present. could not re-
frain from smiling at these words and the
smile nett Il the young girl.
She cleared with great agility the rocks
and reached the floating islet ; she plucked
the flower, and turning towards her cousin
said with irony:
II have it, CASTOR come rejOin me.'
ssYou know that l don It like to wet my
feet"
Are you afraid of taking cold.''
Yes, my cousin"
'sCome CASTOR / will give you the lily. ;
mo, / don't wish to encourage you
| follies,'' said the young man who cherished
| his rancor,
"M i'll you give it to me ?' asked Franz
II promise it to the first who comes"
In an instant the young man travers et
the space which separated him from
Laura and presented himself to receive
the flower.
| II thank you, said he in a low voice
''now permit me to offer you my hand"
The influence which Franz exercise
over the young girl was strange, sh
struggled in vain to escape from it; with
out resisting, she placed her hand in his
Supported by him it seemed to her that n
danger could reach her.
CASTOR, his face contracted with spite
strove to prove himself Indifferent an
bantering.
bravo, my cousin,n said he "that
an ingenious way of procuring support TO
the return. Ali truly women have ad
Dress
He burst into laughter, rubbing hi
hands. Laura was hurt at this raillery
which she ought to have despised throug
foolish amore-propre, she wished t
prove that she was not afraid.
s'You think then, CASTOR, that l can
do second time what did the first.