The Coconino weekly sun. [volume] (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1891-1896, 1895-10-10
A LITTLE RIFT.
BY T. T.. DESCOURS.

Am to send Valerie's breakfast up,
Rex, or will she join us this morning.
Yes, she'll be down directly, Kate;
she's got II new gown or something,
and she is delighted with herself and
everyone else"
Mr.. Hamblin took up pile of letters
beside his plate and began examining
their contents; one in a delicate fem
mime handwriting caught his eye; it
had been left by hand at the club, and
sent on Immediately by the hall porter.
An exclamation of annoyance escaped
him as he cut open the envelopes; his
sister, however, was busy with the dis
position of the breakfast cups and did
not notice it.
Was the party success?' she
asked; did Valerie enjoy herself?'
"A success? Yes, suppose so,' he
answered without looking up; there
was a terrible crush, and the air was
positively suffocating with the scent
OF the flowers, and the heat of the
lights, SO of course, Valerie enjoyed
herself!'
vi COurSC Suc uiu8 Sdiu NoiCc
from the door, and Rex hastily put
down his letter, while Miss Hamblin
looked up expectantly.
Valerie came slowly forward, un-
willing to lose any Of the effect of her
dainty costume even on this family
audience.
How lovely!' cried Miss Hamblin
with real enthusiasm as her sister-in-
law drew near her.
Tall, dark, with her soft hair fam
tastically caught on the crown of her
head by silver dagger, while stray
curls escaped in all directions, with
her tilmy muslin gown clinging round
her in its studiously simple elegance,
she looked like some delicate pastel
which had just stepped from its frame.
Isn't it charming?" she said, with q
laugh, as she suddenly dropped into
her chair at the table. Don't you
like it, Rex?" she asked coquettishly
of her husband; and then, without
waiting for his answer, she addressed
herself to Miss Hamblin: You should
have come with us, Kate; it was de-
hghtful. Oh, did not think you Eng
ash could say so many pretty things
as heard last night"
Miss Hamblin laughed.
"a don't suppose many would have
come to my ears, dear, if had been
there"
Valerie glanced half involuntarily at
her sister-in-law, and could scarcely
suppress a smile at the notion of those
mlddle-aged ears being the recipients
OF such compliments as had reached
hers last night. Had anybody ever
made love to Kate, she wondered?
Kate could never have been pretty;
even when she was young, ever so long
ago. Rex was not handsome, either,
ana he was fifteen years younger than
MS sister, but he had certain dis
Unique air about him which had fasci-
mated her the very first evening she
saw him at the British embassy ball
at Rome. 1t had soon been all over
and done; in just six weeks from that
nrst meeting the Signorina Valerie del
Lucia had become plain Mrs. Hamblin.
'alerie's thoughts were apt to run
on by leaps and bounds, and, while
Miss Hamblin poured out her coffee,
she reflected with some complacency
mat there were advantages in the mar
RED state, when it implied dainty
morning gowns like this, and dreams
vi Ioveliness from Worth's, in place of
'ne one party frock per season, to
winch all the ingenuity of clever
maid could not always impart a look OF
absolute freshness; besides, of course,
mere was Rex, who was charming
"ho- But she had arrived at this
s'aSe OF her reflections when she be-
zane aware that her coffee cup was
De'hg handed to her, and Immediately
que returned to the exigencies of the
moment and set about discussing her
2eSt
10 You know, Rex" she said, "you
, n me of last night without Civ
,G Gs me he, time to say good night to