Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-06-13
silent, with the curtain sweepino down
around his motionless head.

a.ioas' Mi.n tile curtain sweeping down
around his m%otionless head. ~
"kate!"
Like the tremulous COO of the wood
pigeon, Nalentin's voice murmnred tina
two soft syllables with the coaxinp &C.
cents of q child. And in the same in
slant she knelt down beside the sofa
her white dress sweeping over the Grim.
son carpet like tides Of translucent
pearl. and one arm thrown over tha do.
ceitful cashmere shall!
Col, Mordaunt's first impulse was to
sprlng up and declare his individuality
his second to lie still and let fate
manage the matter to suit herself. So
he lay stiil accordingly. experiencing a
very singular and not at all disugreeable
sensation from the contact of the caress
ing arm.
No doub the was a t]reachero1ls. hvpo-
critical wretch--but, fair lady. or chiy-
alrous gentleman, don't Judge the poor
fellow too harshly until YOU have been
IN precisely the same circumstance
yourself. 1t is just possible, YOU know.
that You might do the same thing.
NOW you are angry with me, Kate"
pleaded a soft voice, because L threw
those flowers away! and you won't speak
to me: and l know | deserve it. dar-
ling!"
There was a moments silence. as if
Miss Valentin had expected some sort
OF response to her pretty penitence,
But sine did not get any, so, after a
brief pause, she went on:
Indeed, Kate, 1 didn't mean to
grieve you, and l won't do it again. L
am so sorry for my ridiculous freak,
DO you suppose he was very angry,
Kate? DO you think 1 ought to ask his
pardon? But then, you know, he
didn'ts see me steal around the lawn,
when that odious Aldrich was gone, and
pick up those roses again."
There was a strong symptom of COM
ing tears-a sort of %quivering sob in the
voice.
You won't forgive me, Kate? Not
if I tell you hat l do really love your
tall, stern brother? Only, Kate, l was
silly enough to want to tease him a
little and test my power over his noble
heart. L love him, Kate-I may tell
you Of it, dear, without being bold or
unwomanly, because you know, we have
so often talked about his liking me a
little, and-and-oh, Kate, answer me!
don't be so cold and cruel! Surely you
can't be asleep. Where are your lips,
cher amie?' she coaxed playfully. 81
shall O o break the magnet spell of
silence that binds them. You know
that you e keep vexed with me
more than five minutes at a time. Why
where's your hair? Where is" She
sprang suddenly to her feet with a
piercing scream-her wandering hand
had touched the dark, heavy mustache
on which Col. Mordaunt prided himself
so specially.
He strove to catch the hand-to de-
tain the frightened beauty long enough
to plead his cause in earnest, impas-
stoned words, but in vain. Fear seemed
literally to lend her wings. Away like
a frightened white dove she flew, utter
ing wild, hysteric screams, and fairly
falling into the arms Of the astonished
Kate Mordaunt, who was just coming
in from the starlighted garden with both
hands full Of dewy branches of honey
suckles.
"Valentin!" she exclaimed, dropping
the spicy blossoms. why, what is the
matter? what can have startled you SO
dreadfully?"
80 Katy! Katy!' sobbed Valentin,
clinging to her friends shoulder with
ervou vehemence, "there is a man in
your room--a robber hiding under your
cashmere shawl on the sofa! Oh, I'm
nearly frightened to death!'
Katy's serene brown eyes dilated q
little-then frightened into a smiling
archness.
"A robber!" she repeated, with pro-
voking calmness. Nonsense, Nalentin,
you are mistaken. 1t was only Jack
l saw him go in there not half an hour
ago. The idea of taking our Jack for a
robber!'
Hates laughter rippled merrily out at
the mere fancy.
Only Jack! In the midst Of her ter
ror, the possibility had never once &C.
Cured to Valentin Bruce's mind. Only
Jack! The Forty Thieves themselves
would have faded into mere nothing
ness before the mere idea Of Col. Nor
daunt having heard all those soft plead
ings and unconscious admissions. One
minute Valentin felt as if every vein
we're filled with molten fire, then she
grew white and cold as marble statue.
Life and strength seemed ebbing away
from her, and for the first time in her
life Valentin Bruce tainted away.
Katy Mordaunt quietly sprinkled
scented water on the pallid forehead,
and began to unlace the white muslin
dress. As she did so a bunch of faded
flowers fell from Valentin's bosom, and
Katy smiled to herself as she recognized
the moss buds that had been so haugh-
thy thrown at her on the lawn that very
evening.
''lll keep them for jack" she said.
An, VaIentin, you'll be my sister-in-
law yet,
How s1lyly tie blns-eyed damse( stole
into the oreahias> room next morning!
She would chcerfully have tasted all
the day long sooner than enter the
presence of the tall Colonel. But what
was the use? The dreadful first inter-
view must be got over, sooner or later,
so here she was with downcast lashes,
and cheeks dyed as deep pink as the
,.,ca.coloro1 wr9Dper she had on, NO