Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-11-26

ou Will leave WloermarF' She IalnUly asked.
 "Why, yes," he said, passing his hand over his mouth to hide it's twitching muscles. My work here is done. I must seek new fields, new home. l am not apprehen- siven
 ''It seems not" she said, little distract edly. ''Neither about yourself nor about me But 1 am not competent to manage the estate nor have I the inclination. The re- sponsibility is too great Care is irksome to me. MT. Grant, why can you not staya Why can you not continue to managea What ever compensationn-
 "No Valeria," he interrupted, almost with Sternness.
 ''Oh, since it isn't agreeable to you will 1ot insist" she said in strident tone, O look of vexation on her face.
 ''Valeria, that wasn't kind in you" he re- proachfully said Ut has been agreeable to me, and it still would be. But, for reasons best known to myself, I must decline to oblige you"
 Always remember" she rejoined, her tears very near, ''that I have been grateful for all you ever did for me"
 ''Why to be sure, child," he said.
 The word ''child" brought an angry sparkle to her eyes. He saw it, but failed to divine the cause.
 'I merely did my duty," John Grant re- sumed. "The court fixed the compensation and I thought it sufficient. MT. Delisle will help you t. ranage the farm, for no doubt you will shortly be married to him. You are pretty, intelligent, wealthy"-
 ''Mr. Delisle has no designs upon my wealth." she interrupted.
 "Why, of course not, John Grant replied, the color mounting to his cheeks. II believe him to be the soul of honor. 1 never knew
 
 sistency."
 "Have you anything more to say to me, MT. Grant?' she asked, after a pause.
 The voice did not sound like hers. He was used to her abrupt ways, and yet he found himself keenly scanning her.
 He had thought at times, that she lacked womanly dignity, but he did not think so then. In spite of her young face and innocent girlish ways there was an unmistakable at mosphere of high breeding about her, and certain royalty of look and attitude.
 II believe that have nothing more to say at present" he slowly replied. "To-morrow can explain the accounts, especially those which refer to uncompleted operations"
 She rose to her feet, and their eyes met. ' There was a yearning, wistful look in hers | that he had never seen there before.
 "He cares little for Wildermar, and less for me-" she thought as she left the library, her lips quivering, a throb of pain at her heart. | An, she didn't know! It was hard to John | Grant to leave Wildermar, with its extensive | grounds, its lordly mansion, and its luxuri- antly furnished rooms, and it was harder still to leave the sweet, bright young girl whom he loved with a fervor that had some thing of idolatry i'll it.
 q offended her in some way" he thought, his brows knit, the lines around his mouth growing stern ''She does not seem very exuberant now that she is in possession of Wild mar. The sense of proprietorship does not overwhelm her. l never saw such a dissatisfied look on her face. 1 don't under stand her, and I'm afraid MT. Delisle doesn't. She tempted me fearfully, but cannot stay No, I cannot stayl I must go where can forget!"
 That night he was awakened by the sound of wheels upon the drive. He looked out of his bedroom window. It was moonlight, and he saw, much to his astonishment, the family carriage standing under the trees
 The horses were paving restlessly, the stableman was talking to them now and tber in an undertone, while another male servant staggered into sight with a large trunk which John Grant recognized as his wards.
 "Why, what does this mean2" he asked himself, puzzled and alarmed, and hurriedly dressed himself. As he stepped into the wide hall he saw the dim outline of a shrinking form, and heard repressed breathing. , ''Is that you, Valeria?' he demanded, in al , authoritative tone ! :Yes," she answered in dismay, her voic' scarcely louder than whisper. John Grant struck match, and lit tn chandelier. There stood his ward, equipped , for travel, Hurried in her manner, her fac D eSpreSSing yeXatiOn and cha9rin This is strange proceeding" John Gran said, fixedly regarding her. Goodness, yo, ,, were not going to run away with Mr. De
 lssle2"
 "No," she simply said, swift pallor cross
 ing her face.
 ''Nor can you possibly be running fror
 him"
 ''No," she said, with an appealing gesture
 one hand pressed against her heart. II ar running away from myself. am runnin
 away from you, John Grant. That is th l. truth, however much it humiliates me say it."
 u She shrank closer to the wall. Her hI J. were tightly drawn. Her hands wer . clenched in a spasm. There was a movemen u in her throat like the struggle of imprisone words. A gleam of intense yearnjng shon
 in her eyes, and then the lids fell modestl o over them.
 - John Grant was daZeO. lie ruDDed n e temples, as if to aid himself to think wit Is clearness. The light that broke across h
 face was like the play of light upon dusk II cloud He took her hand and led her to or l. of the easy chairs in the hall II ''Valeria," he chokingly said as he stoo t ,t over her, his gaunt frame trembling, "d ~ your words admit of more than one interpr tationP
 ~ For reply she buried her face in her han' and burst into tears. sr s Don't dear," he gently said. "1t di u, tresses me very much. Can it be possib es that have been so blinda Valeria, ha' " loved you for years-devotedly, passionatel IS wildly I was afraid to tell you-afra
 even to have you suspect it. I supposed u y, knowledge would have made you miserabl LII you are so sympathetic in your nature. 1T
 difference in our years, your wealth, and { er that, sealed my lips; and now that kno that my love is returned. my joy robs Il io ,sl speech of its fuency; blurt out just wh ayues first to my mind. And are you n a' aond of MT. Delislea"
 ''Mr DelisleI" she repeated between h