Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-04-24

corning W iCl 4lSuics NSAl eSAN-
her, presenting herwith a mourning out
fit to take the place of the poor childs
scart and rusty black.
i" She is very pretty" she said to
herself, the first time that the girl APP
peared in one Of these pla n, neatly-ht-
ting gowns" very. wonder if Hugh
noticed it?" :,
Upon the whole sne was Just as well
pleased that Hugh had gone back to
Germany.
Lucille had begged, from the first day,
to be allowed to take charge of the little
boys, and, as the latter took to her very
kindly, there was no objection to her
doing so.
And gradually she pleaded to have
sundry other duties assigned her, until
! Mrs. Valentine had perforce to ac-
| knowledge that she was most willing.
most anxious not to eat the bread OF
charity, and. that which was certainly
not the least good thing about her, con-
siderably useful to herself.
The little Partisan household had,
| therefore, settled down upon calm and
comfortable basis when Beverley, with
the suddenness which usually charac-
terized his movements, reappeared.
He never came to Paris at this season
Of the year, and Mrs. Valentine reminded
him Of the fact with some sharp
ness.
"Oh, I thought I would try it," he
said carelessly. And he remained on
without any definite purpose that Mrs.
Valentine could see, day after day and
week after week.
Mrs. Valentines temper began to grow
very uncertain as time went by. Her
brother did not, perhaps, notice the
fact, but others did, and Lucille chief
among the number.
One day the gathering storm broke
loose. Beverley was sitting unconcern-
edly in his sisters pretty boudoir when
the latter asked him how much longer
he thought he should keep Miss Vent
nor.
why" qucried Beverley, looking
upquickly, has she shown any desire
to gO?"
"She? Nov' cried Mrs Valentine, i'm
patiently. But you don't expect the
girl to go on living in perpetuity this
way, do you? l understand, Of course,
that you thought we might give her a
home until other arrangements could
| be made for her. She must have some
| one-friend or relation-some kith
or kin to whom she can turn for protec-
| tion!
"She has no one, Clara" said Bev-
erley coldly, &" and you know it. She is
earning her living with you, as the poor
| girl would have to do elsewhere. You
need a nursery-govcrness for the
| boys"
q Let her be nursery-g some
where else" cried Mrs. Valentine
You have taken a dislike to Miss
Ventnor, Clara" said her brother slowly.
Why2"
1t is you who have taken an unac-
countable liking to her. believe you're
in love with the girl!'
Clara
Beverley's face contained a note of
warning. He had turned pale But
Mrs. Valentines prudence had forsaken
her.
Yes, indeed, do think 50. Blanche
Conway is forgotten at last, it seems"
The words were scarcely spoken be-
fore Mrs. Valentine could have bitten
her tongue out for uttering them.
She was frightened and sorry. 1t was
a very sore spot in her brothers mem
DRY that she had touched. She was
going to make such laundering amends
as she could when the pOtiere was
hastily drawn aside, md they both saw
Lucille Ventnor on the threshold.
have heard every word" the girl
in her face but her voice was steady, and
her gaze brave ana ,direct. al did not
mean to; but l was going through the
next room, and l stopped before knew
1t. Forgive me, and let me go. You
have been very, very kind to me. l
shall never forget it. But l must not
be the cause of misunderstanding.
see now that | should not have stayed
50 long"
She paused suddenly and put her
hand to her head.
Never mind, child-nevef mind"
said Mrs. Valentine soothingly.
But Beverley said very quietly:
" Enough, Clara. Let Miss Ventnor
do as she thinks fit"
And Lucille turned and left the room.
" Perhaps it is just as we'll that she
did hear, Mrs. Valentine reflected when
her brother, too, had gone, leaving her
alone. IL l can only get her away
quietly now, and before anything hap
pens! OF course it would be extremely
trying to have Hugh at this late day
marrying an obscure >and penniless girl
twenty years his junior"
Meanwhile Beverley had gone to the
ante-room which led into his little
nephews' school-room, and taking a book
sat down in the window.
very short time passed before
Lucille came hastily through.
She started on seeing him, and made a
motion as though to escape. Her eyes
were red with weeping.
Beverley quickly laid a firm OBTAINING
hand upon her arm.
II don't want you to go, Miss
Ventnor want you to stay-as my
wife,
The words were spoken. For min
ute they both looked in silence into each
others eyes.
Oh, no, mol" cried Lucille then.
That can't be. Let me gow
But Beverley in that one moment,
had learned her secret too. He smiled
and gently took her hand.
My child, l have loved you from
the very first, since you looked at me
with those pathetic eyes the day your
mother died. Ny poor lost lamb, left
alone in this bleak world! Do / seem
too old for you, Lucille? Believe me,
dear, will cherish you as the apple OF
my eye"
What other fond nonsense he whis-
pcrcd over tho dark head pillowed on his
breast it behooves US not to know.