Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-10-30

than fiction And who knows! | may
pay of my little debt to you yeti
Old Mrs. Perkins was a tedious octo-
genarian, and it was nearly an hour be-
fore Miss Hyde found herself free again
to return to her friend.
Sara Ponsonby still sat there, swaying
languidly to and fro, with the ease and
grace of tall lily blown by the wind.
The photograph, carefully restored to
its place, still lay among the ribbons and
crewels in the dainty work basket.
"Have you been dreadfully lonesomer
asked Helen, caressing!y.
"Not in the least, darling. l was
only thinking Of the family | am with
down South, and Of poor valda.s love
affair She, too, is engaged Every
body is getting engaged, believe" e"
"valdal Is that the eldest daugh-
teri"
Miss Ponsonby nodded.
"Valda Valdez" said she. "Isnt
that a pretty uamea And she calls her
lover Captain Adonisn"
"But surely that ut his real name3"
mo; only nom d'amour, because
he's so handsome. His real appellation,
however, isn't bad-Captain Reginald
Lascelles.
Helen Hyde started and grew pale, as
/ if a tiny poisoned arrow had sped to her
very heart.
"Impossiblel" she cried.
"why impossibIel" asked Miss Pom
sonby, in her slow, serene way. 81 as
sure you valda is very beautiful They
have been afianced for some time. But
Captain Adonis' has to walk very
straight, for valda, like other creole
beauties, is a genuine daughter of the
sun, and is Jealous of his very shadow"
"valda Valdez" repeated Helen.
Engaged to Captain Lascelles. Does
does he love her very much"
1.-THE most devoted swain ever saw
in nv life," said Sara, earnestly.
"Reginald Lascellesl" said Helen.
at is not a common name. Does he
look like thisl"
She took out the photograph, holding
it up with hand that visibly trembled.
"Why," cried Sara, with well-simu-
lated surprise, sits the very mana Do
YOU know him, dear-this fatal, fascinat-
ing male coquette-this star-eyed
Captain, Adonisl'"
"a little, answered Helen, huskily.
"And is he really such dreadful firt
as they sayl"
81 never thought so before" said
Helen, with quiver in her lip. "Then,
Sara, you have met himl"
"Oh. often' smiled the Greek god
dess. "To tell you the truth, Helen,
would have had sly little Irritation with
him myself, if valda Valdez would have
allowed it. We were posed in tablesu
together. was Cleopatra, and he rep,
resented Mark Antony. OF course 1t was
his cue to be little devoted; but if you
could have seen Valda's facet l really
think she could have murdered me"
aud Miss Pousonby laughed a soft, we'll
bred laugh. "There were no more
tableaux after that! But, Helen, dear,
am talking you to deathl You are SC
palel'
at is very warm, fsltered Miss Hyde,
land Mrs. Perkins's call has wearied me.
| think, if you don't mind, will go and
lie down little while"
"Mayn't come ana Oa'ne your lore
head with cologne, dearl"
$50 kind of you'll" shuddered Helen
'sBut would rather be alone"
, Once in her own room, Helen Hyde
burst into a passion Of tears and sob
that shook her slender frame as if 1t hac
been reed at the mercy of som'
cyclone. And then when the bite
drops had washed away the first helpless
uncertainty, she sat down and wrot
such letter as never in all her life be
fore had she penned.
Captain Adonis" indeed The mar
to whom she entrusted her life should
never be the common property of hand
some governesses and fre-eyed creol
beauties. But oh, if Reginald Lascelle
, were indeed false, then could no man b.
trusted