Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1889-01-10

Yes assented she.
"Didn't he ask you to take a drive'"
"oh, yes. He is very thoughtful'
"Aud you declinedSn
"Yes, grady"
"But-Shy?'
'Out of pure contreriness, maybe.
Perhaps, because preferred 70 go with
you. Plsase don't question me so per
sistently.n
The color came aud went in her face,
and a girlish pout hung on her red lips
for moment.
"All right John Grant said, ss he put
aside his books. 81 appreciate the pre-.
ference"
The reply would have delighted her
had his tone been less even aud his air
less serene.
The drive was pleasant one, ard the
ranble about he old fort and its enyirons
more pleasant still.
She charmed him With her smiles, her
gargHng laughter, her sellies of wit, her
oonfeseions of ignorance, her thorough
abandonment TO the enjoyment of the
hour. he said to himself, as he sat alone
in his room that evening;
81 live in two atmospheres. One is
evolved from my books, musty, abstruse,
oircumscribing, yet satisfactory and rest
ful. The other comes from the compan-
ionship of my ward, is,bright, healthiul,
sympathetic, yet leaves mo dissatisfied,
miserable, wretched. Ah-it is because
the books are nine, while she is not"
A year went by. Valeria grew more
lovely, Mr.. Delisle grew more persistent,
John Grant grew more mofose.
''Valeris, you are of age TO day" the
latter said.
Ha had asked for business interview
and she was seated opposite his desk.
She abhorred business details, but she
knew that the occasion demanded her
attention.
The afternoon was dying away. The
red sunset shone againet the windows.
Some of the rays fell upon Valeria,
Tightening the sheen Of her dress, reveal
ing the transparency of her com plexiou,
and adding a shade of burnt gold to her
beautiful hair.
MY stewaI dship is closed ohm Grant
continued, a faint regretfulne5s in his
tone. "rhe court has approved my ac-
counts. You are in cole possession of
this vast estate. Wildemar ia yours"
She watched MIN covertly, her hands
folded in her lap, her face strangely
sober.
81 tried my best 10 discharge my duty
faithfully" he added.
eyes" answered she with little gasp.
you found me selfish and willful."
mo, Valerie," promptly protested he.
gGI D.. r,ttI ry,l ealHGh ~
A painful silence eneued. Her eyes
were bent to the floor in intense, half
painful thoughtfulness. She was review
ing the past.-she was thinking of the flu
ture.
"You will leave Wildermar?" she family
asked.
"Wty, yes" he said, passing his hand
over his mouth to hide its twitching
muscles. my work here is done. | must
seek new fields, new home: | am not
apprehensive."
sit seems not" she said, little alb
strsetedIy. "Neither about yourself nor
about me. But am not com petant to
manage the estate, nor have | the incli-
nation. The responsibility is too great.
Care is irksome to me. Mr.. Grant, why
can't you stay! Why can you not con
tipue to manage? Whatever compensa-
ton"
"No, valeria," he interrupted, almost
with sternness.
"Oh, since il is not agreeable to you, l
will not insist" she said in strident
tone, look of vexation on her face.
"Valeria, that wasn't kind of you" he
reproachfully said. at has been agree.
able TO me, and it still would be But
for reasons beat known to myself, must
decline to oblige you"
always remember" che reioined,
"that l have been grateful for all you
ever did for me-"
"Why, to be cure, Child" he said.
The word "child" brought an angry
sparkle to her eyes. lie saw it but failed
to divine the cause.
81 merely did my duty" John Grant
resumed. "The court fixed the com
pensation and thought it Sc ifi sient. Mr..
Delisle will help you to maDege 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" he replied, the
color mounting to his cheeks. Il believe
him to be the soul OF honor. | never
knew you to mislnterpret ny words with
such persistenoy."
"Have you anything more 20 say TO me-
Mr.. Grant?" she asked, after pause.
The voice did not soSnd like hers. He
was used 10 her abrupt WAYS, aud yet he
found himself keenly scanning her.
He had thought, at times, that she
lacked woman dignity, but he did not
think 20 then. In spite of her young face
and innocent girlish ways there wss an
unmistakable atmos phere of high breed
ing about her, and certain royalty OF
look and attitude.
81 believe that ! have nothing more to
say at present" He slowly replied. ITO
morrow | can explain the accounts, es-
pecially those which refer to incomplete
operations"
She rose to her feet, and their eyes
met. There was yesrning wistful looh
ia hers that he bad never seen there be
fore.
He cares little for Wildemar, and less
for me,n she thought as she left the IL
brary, her lios quivering, throb of pair
at ner heart.
Alb, she didn't know 1t was hard FOL
John Grant to leave Wildemar, with it,
extensive grounds, its lordly mansion