Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-06-13
1ALENTIN BRUCE.
ny ETA

ny ETA BLANCHARD.
tall. blue-eyed girl, with loose,
n curls floating from her face, like
,reole of amber brightness, and q
Ter throat, white and smooth as
Her of pearl--that was Valentin
ke. as she sat by the open window,
milv watching the sunset flame melt
fbillows of light.
bd Col. Mordaunt smoked his ex-
% cigar in the fragrant shadows of
k6rubbery, and wondered what for
lie mortal might be fated to buy
kntin's wedding-ring, and pay her
nerv bill, and be her humble slave
s~ervitor through life.
ii. Mordaunt tossed his cigar in
10 the rose acacias that skirted the
and began to select a cluster of
hisite moss-roses needless of the
BIS that pierced his unaccustomed
ers.
bhe likes flowers" he soliloquized,
m~oss-roses are certainly the pref
flowers that grow. I will get a
e from those velvet lips of hers
E twisted a blade of plant grass
nd the messy stems, in place of a
on, and sauntered carelessly up the
eled walk. All of q sudden he
ped.
rank Aldrich's voice!" he exclaimed,
10 his lip with vexation. as O peal of
liter tioated through the purling
Fght from the open window beyond.
lat brings that puppy hear, now, of
ines and seasons in the world?"
Halo, Jack!" said Aldrich; "been
imentalizing out in the dew? The
es were just fretting over the chance
our taking cold.'
crdaunt's face frightened up-then
entin did think of him sometimes.
That is" pursued the relentless AL
poor, thoughtful sister Katy said
was afraid you would have a cold,
Miss Bruce said nothing"
b. Mordaunt's countenance elon-
ID again. But he stepped forward
laid the knot of moss-roses on the
5 of Yalentin's white muslin dress,
a few mournful words that nobody
d understand.
Flowers, eh?" said Frank, super
Pusly, upon my word, Jack is get
prodigal!"
alentin looked carelessly down at
cluster of pink buds, then deliber-
y took them up and tossed them out
the lawn.
Explain, if you please" said Frank,
(posedly, while Mordaunt grew
flet and bit his lips until the blood
fed.
lhere was a worm-a horrid green
Pa on one Of the buds" haughtily
Nalentin, shaking off one or two
bson petals that still adhered to her
lin dress. Il bave a perfect horror
all such noxious insects"
% you here that, Jack?" appealed
Aldrich, lazily turning around in
char. Its a pity you were so I'M
nhate in the selection of your floral
ring"
(ut Col. Mordaunt left the room.
ate followed him the next moment.
'earest Jack, are you vexed with
PIX and Valentin? They don't mean
n1noy you, Pm quite sure"
Not vexed, DEAR" said Mordaunt,
y grieved. am sorry Miss Bruce
$ NE so disagreeable."
e went upstairs, while Kate hest
q a moment below.
lie is better by himself" she said,
tally. Poor fellow! he's dread
IN love, and l do wish Valentin
ld tease him So"
,o She went down int the terraced
Zen - gather honey uckle9 or the
or vases. and muse or her brothers,
liold grievances.
Us too bad, SO it is" she murmured,
Eng back the bright drops that
~ sutluse her hazel-brown orbs.
nan talk seriously to Valentin about
Us very evening"
eanwhile, Col. Mordaunt stalked
ny upstairs into his sisters pretty
Slttlng-room, where the muslin
alns We're t~iuttering to and fro in
'ellclous night wind, and the sofa
ufawn into the little recess beside
Oie all Uttered with books, and
azlnes. and needle-cases, and thin
ana the indescribable debris which
girls invariably collect around
aselVes in the course of a June
moon.
.nrew himself recklessly down on
SOFA and drew the soft folds of
> cashmere shawl over him, as if
as TEST the soft eyes of the watch
tEa that were just beginning to
.le heavens. should witness the
SO that convulsed this strong
mat the grief wrought itself into
external signs. No, there was
groan nor motion more than
had been when he had been
. y at Spottsylvania, and rode on
mead OF his regiment as bravely
9susn the red blood was not drip
IRON his arm with slow and deadly
one might almost have fancied
s'eep as he lay there, white and