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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times, 1884-8-7, Page 2• LOST FOR A WOMAN.' ]J1" AN A NES li"'LEMINele Ae sole OF SitArtt an' 7ru .'• " Mad, Mar. ridge," One 1:iaht'a 3fy.etcr;y." ue.. ,ke., &c. x ..prr I. In mine eyes she is the sweetest lady that I ever looted tel." neve lien ABORT nonose-' uiit�with the fall of a foautain in its mrlelale basin. The tall, green fronds heti to her as else passes. Dolores' hand 1 errs book the heavy certain, while she takes a preparatory peep, but a pair of lynx eves note even that, iu a moment her lusballe Amide before her, his hath"} hard on bee wrist, and sho is drat\•ii backward into the fernery, and Sir ',ranee dark, hard fro ks down upon her, d: rher, harder, n ever. " Weil !" lb, says, .^„rat} his voice rasps every rerve ;ri the girl'e body, "- what have eel to say for ye ereelf, how r sho ttl. ! :.; two blue, pleading oyt"s to Iris, eyes. s o innoXNft, so vontliner, that. flet"y might, have moved el7ve. him. But Sir Vane 1';;lentsne is. licit earthy mewed. "• urn yea kuo\s yen have b::ou missed --- your eingul:ur abseece ceenmented on, your long, lonely ritlee wondered at? De you know I ani looked up* with suspicion because of them ? Do you know cpeople say you tars uuliappy_- Fia c nl tll n„ on your r:isiti-� tluat it is 13eenee y tali ;iro wretched as tray wife, that you g•.> careering over the country line a mast woman? Do you know you nereleet everts social and heuseliald duty for these !menet rides?" She is in for iii with tt vengeance, and her siennt ri•:.e tt> r.. t the :.i;..iult• " Sexaal and neteeehol 1 duty!" she re peat. "I did not ksiuw I bad any. I am relieved from all cares of thst sort, iu tens house." "Du suet knots, in a word, that year conduct is disgraceful --disgraceful ?" ;nes eu Sir V;hre, twisting itis moue - tache with drone long, lean, nervous, brown finger' of his;. The color Amities up in Delores" face. "Disinan ful !•' elle repeats, the slender figure very -.tc;tigiht, the white throat held very hi ie " that is a strong word, Sir Vane Valentine. Since wLien has my conduct been disgraeefal ?" "Since I have known you! In Rome you spent halt your time in the work Amp of that hnaride cutter d tcdonald-- a fellow in love with you, as you very w,:ll Luew—ite he took care to let you know, no doubt. And you --how was it withyou in thoso days? Here, you Contemn my Sister, ignore my cousin, Set at nought my wishes, slight my guests, spend your time in the saddle, or by the side of that atrooions Yankee woman, the very sight of whom I !have always detested. "You slofy me and public opinion by galloping breakneck Scions the country, heaven knows where, w ithotit two niuch ne a groom. By wlhat ureic arc wo to call suoh conduct as. tide?" The flush has fatted from her face, faded and lett her strangely pallid and still. She stands, her hands clasped loosely before her, leer steadfast, scorn- ful faze ;still fixed upon him. " You snake out a strong case ;" thorn is a quick catch in her breath, but her voice is quiet. "Is the indictment all read, Sir Vane, qr is there more to come ?" "Your bravado will not avail you. Lady Valentine. It is time all this ceased. It shall cease from tonight, or I shall know the reason why." She bows. "As the king wills 1 What aro your wishes ? It is not in form to lose your temper, is it? 33e good enough to signify what youu, desire—no, command—me to do, distinctly, and I will endeavor to obey." " Yes, I am aware of the kind of obe- t'iicnce I may expect. Why have you dismissed Lennard, the gcoom ?" " Simply because if I must creep " the plaintive air and exquisite words , cath - ss t he says e" s lieael, 1. Routh," 1 s r Miss , 7 " >rinceee 1 "" anent; she holds herself as 1 aloud, but still carelessly, Lady Wen - born might, All timidity lhasuished; tine has a voice, and knows how to she stands -at ease, ane surveys the long . throw soul into wonta.. Do me the room. favor* -resent rue." - Dee of t`: a Eccleman glade has the 1�:1'Sli liouitli rises at • one--- t la.A0 • �" It was a!1 dismally stupid„ Jemima: Oahe now, an attendant eavalicr,the ex- part`4 he plans to elnive,,rtci eren. l Ann," she says "I would have been a treiuely young Squire of Broughton, Ce>�loihel. Doering i i>resentedtin, fern, great deal happier down in the snuggery beside her. miss Dorothy and the anti bows Almost as proton -1141Y as.he withyon." rector's wife sit on a sofa and wag their does to Her Majesty when ho attends a ""I head you singin', Miss Snowball," Jemima says, letting down the long hair, "" I leaped you was enjoyin' yourself. But I see easy enough yon do look jest as white and worn as—" "":send this win away, Lady Veen - more deeply epr•is than he. bas been for many a day, has said itis reluctant good- night, she goes wearily up to her wan, with a long, tired, heart•siek sigh. cap ribbons in concert over ponderous drawing -room. ""You sang that song household uxattees. Miss Routh, in a with more expression than I ever heard shadowy recess, if shadow . exists in thrown into a song before," he says. such brilliant light, dies back in a dor- "" We are all fortunate in having secured mouse, and Iook% up with an artless, a singing bird at \Valentine. I wish i infantile smile into the face of a rather j could prevail upon you to let ns hear it tine," says an abrupt voice, "" I have a de biug-looking military man beside once snore." word or. two to say to you." It is Sir her. 3 Ie is a handsome man, anti a din- "" Sing a Scotch song, Dolores, dear," Vane,forbidding and sullen. tinguished one, of Sir Vanes age, and as chimes iu Miss Routh, sweetly, "" sing Jeima Ann gives him a gianeoof un - swarth as a, Spaniard. Sir Time looks, ' Auld Robin Gray . ''i mistakable fear and aversion, and gees. and his gloomy eyes grow baneful, Miss The malice of the suggestion is lost on "" Wait in the dressing -room," says Routh is IIost to Bina, true; all .the same Dolorc:y, Harry Broughton adds his the; sweefeeclear voice , of her mistress ; -hey gleiweeritat her anti this other man. entreaties, and she goes again to the '" I shall waut yea again, Jemima. New, He prows sho is only here, rending piano, guarded by Colonel Deering. She then Sir Vane ?" whaty time she may bring dawn a. golden strikes the chords and sighs forth the She; looks at him with the same stead'. goose of " her own, and sly away to sweet old song ; fast glance of a foyr hours earlier. If it Routh are exceptionally lazy people,, and another nest She is quite ready to say '"Acd >lnid. ROM Vray roles 5 ,Inde msii to me.• fnrlst be'war'to" the knife, Abe thinks, ie rarely"appear before luncheon, to the "" Yes, Ala thank you, " at this or anyshe to be blamed for trying to hold her 1 silent exasperation of Miss V aIentine. other ?n�ent Colonel Deering reay neo 4" She means nothing personal,' hope, own a To her silent exasperation, for whatever fit to throw° down his heavy dragoon Vane," laughs the artless Camilla, Hut- ""I desire you•todismiss thetwamanle she may be nominally, shm. is uo more glove, And Sir 'ane knows it, au as tering dgwn by<<his side. "Nineteen and "" I .have dismissed her. We are mistress of the hawse than as Sir Vanes gloomy, and wrathful, and jeseleee en. ' forty -three --•it is a disparity, Iwonden alone," • wife. Silo stands in very considerable e Ordingl}•. you Werra not..iraid, It is a pity, it is 69 "" I moan eat of the House, out of your awe of the baronet, and, if the truth S di h Iii t Il � th th must be sole} o£ Cousin Camilla also gardens from. the park, turns her head. Ov . e .S doesotherwise/neve. m 1C 1 but not Othe 4 sax ss She holds in her hands a great bunch of garden rases and beliotropo, Her straw hat lies on the grass beside her, her glorious hair falls in its old uncon- strained fashion, rippling down her back. She wears a crisp white dress, for the May waning is warm and sunny, and in the blue ribbon that clasps her slim waist, is thrust a second great bunch of pink and purple sweetness, In this muslin dress, with all that feathery hair, she looks so girlish, so fair, so much of a child, that even grim Mistress Dorothy Valentine pauses, for a moment, struck by it with a sort of pity and com- punction for what sho is about to say. Still she will say it ; that way duty lies, and Mistress Dorothy would march rap to tie° stake and be broiled alive, sooner than forego one jot or tittle of duty. It it► mid forenoon, eleven o'clock, and these two ladies seem to have the place to tliereselyes, Sir Vane and 'fins t:?eu u; been e otee eees i ell; eueee.tt\•te coming after. e owe, , service. Why do you pretend to rine. "c ' g i 'Valentine," • d lhcx liuhh rd's fmwwing brow • Miss understand ? She has insulted. Mise fa<opd-morning, _MSS my; lady responds, going back to her roses ; "' yes, say on." But the ease of manner is but surface deep --an impatient sense of pain aucl irritation fills leer. Can she never be freo,morning, noon, nor night ? Is sho to be nagged at, girded at, taken to taslc, on all skies ? 'What ill her site can be as attractive in the ere e of • have 0t t hu'4 blissful da` e.. He is band- i ., crime now ? Miss Valentine wears the outer menias even tbe cal tir.ttiug some, Vane. 1, saw his picture, by g e want no apologies, my ceases has expression of the judge on the bench Camilla ; . She is no coquette ; the chalice. one day, in her album ; Ilia name git en her ultimatum. Either your maid at the•ivament of rising and putting on game is beneath her, and silo ti•el$ it, u nttctneath- -] t ne, , He was her hest Foavesor she does." the black cap, but idle is bore, stung, smarting, hurt to Y lover f Colonel Deering bide fair, from ""That would be a pity—Valentine "And the sentence of the court is, that the very heart. And Camille', Routh is his looks, to be bar latest. Now, there is without Miss Routh—one fella to Wog:tine yeti lee k4u hence, and hanged by the the msschief,mahl.r and direct cause of really no need for you to scowl in that - , think Werk until oil eredead," thinks Dolores, it But I � cls not tYstnb. you need be 1 3• Boutli's absorptiou; t,be careless swilo with which the dashing officer attihnds, What if she tries her' baud at xeprisat— plays at :it'iAs Roane, owe game, and beats her on her own ground ? She is That malls the island, of course. yotsmger then 'Mi is Routh ; she is quite "Whero the treasures of ray life are,' aepretty ; what if elm show her l.usbaud • chief tunoilg them the hand."lome boy ""' Vet +twat in a poor cottage, Li�tcuwg to tllC dreary sea r tiro trcu:ures of my lite art Tl.,•re. a fain would. bet' ]Routh. Her presence is not to be to2er- *teid." ,"I am sorry if she bus insulted any one., -She must iutve boon very greatly peovckede I shall speak to her about it, and if ?diss Routh lies shat trade a very great mistake, Jo uinte. Ann will apolo. est nein >G li but an , it Routh w In ' dear mum, a h.1a i way, j It all. Very well, let Can_ F 3 seriously alarmed by that threat, Be• Fook to it 1. for this one evening, at of course. Of course she cannot help lieve me, 'MSS Borth Will thiult twice be - Wine pretty, aid exciting admiration fore slle quite your !heels©. "neer aitali to er who have" two potrar. , wherever she goes. "" We do not require your beliefs. I And they shalt keel, who can: ` "" tiitlitn tkilik 0 dsmie now Have not coma t0 ale= flint questton1 For that xoaid be *du."' or, to ask a favor. I demand that you Her fixed gazes perluaps magnetizes , send away that evaluate and at once." the llandsousc colonel, He looks P. She laughs; it is a laugh that makes her u And 1 distinctly refuse!"' aerobe, and sees—n goalless! As it ; victim writhe and grm t his teeth, and "Madam--- "" chances, although he has been here: rise, to Outten away. Sir Vane twists h "" Sir Vane," s"hc says, rising, "" listen before, it is the first times the has seen his moustache in the old angry, nervous to mc. I have borne a great deal binge this face. A face 1 itlooias to ]him in ; fashion, anti looks up at Isis tormentor, 1 became your wife. I have yielded the ;Talkie of thalami), a 'radiant vision i and makes a feeble effort to strike back. in all things since I cause here, to all gold and grcen, and starry epos, • an 1 "" Aro you jealous, Cainilla ? I do sec your i. ,,ter and your cousin, fot the sake cxelnleito Sacs. 1 0 looks, mut fairly 1 that Deering ie evidently swerving in his of pales:. But oven peace may bo tummies bis breath. '• trotlii ifed'�:,:r.. i allegiance. Land him, Camilla, if you bought too dearly, You ask two much lie says undcer lhis'tbick, trooper mous. 1 helots ten thousand he is a fifth worth oyeer, and bwilait l lionii,e, Misse Routh,ight, or er tdooes 1"e �txe9s of your teche, what a perfectly lovely girl, write his i;ahuo high in the peerage when "Lady Valentine,,' furiously_ "" do Then he torus to 'Miss Routh, tela , h]a uncle gocc." you know what you say? The mistress tittle-tattle uch to bane noticed, and saysd in lier own in t t,and would a nearsuit "! respo onds well, se Ron uth, ote of may go too far j �' care --take carol his customary tones : •cool! "' whether it suits hila or phot, "'Situ ss that, • is 5110 not ?" his wife X11 There is a now arrival, I fancy. • rola. depend. At present Lady Valentine responds, proudly, not quailing, Mend - Who iso that young lady in tlhc green I seems rather to have the game in her ing pale and erect. "You do not mean dress . ' awn hands; you perceive she is going to imply for a moraeut that I am. Camilla looks, Sect leer face changes wie !rim to the orchid house," :ren,inia will apologize to her if she has for a second, '•That,' slue answers , offended her, she will keep as much as co" LyadyValentines 2 Ali ( Sir Vanes thou she laughs. en " Supp ©tiz.0 tool! o e.ncl yolo for youre. the Lore+tttthnnout of ber that. I cannot wits?" and look at tete orchids, Vane?" remise. Siieib my olio friend; I cannot "" Sir Vane's wife. A wild American 1 They go, Sir Vane atilt moodily gnaw- p y whoousted hien out of a fortune and 1 inghis moustache, irritated with his. pare with her. I cannot—I will not!" whom he married after to—secure it," 1 wie, Colonel Deering, CamifIa Routh, all " By Heaven, you shall l Your one says 1liss Routh, and some of the bitter the world. ""Have you spoken to your f ieml l „Auet what of the marble un der hatred within her Maidens her dulcet I wife about the impertinence of Ther in Romo, to whom you wore so anxious voice. "Her youthful adorer, Harry' f"). return a few months ago? What of � maid ?"sho asks, as they cross sho room. i our. new lover of to -night ? Your oro Broughton, is leading her to the piano; q ',Yes. She declines to credit it; her ' friend ? She shalt go—I swear it— we aro to hear aswail asseeher,itseems. ' maid is incapable of impertineece to any , though you go with her !" She sponds her time galloping over ono, so she says. He turns from the xoom, hoarse with the country like Indians on her native e Which is a u'valent to saying I have plains; the y y hor on any previous call. She is called pretty," carelessly, " do you think so 2" Colonel i)oering's reply is of course to order ; her is much too mature a bird to bo caught by Camilla's ` smiling chaff. His answer smooths away the rising frown; he does not even take the trouble to glance a second time at the group surrouuding the piano. Maud Eccleman has given place to her hos- tis wh oil have not soon told a falsohood.i Am I to endure that, ngeaiou, anti confronts Jemima in the Cousin Vane ?" aressing-room door. "I give you warn- "lVhatdoyou wish motodo?"sulkily. lug," he say's; "do your hear? You "If that insolent servant remains in leave this house; end at once 1 Pack this house, I shall quit it, Insults from up and • go, and, until you are gone, persons.iif•that class are not to be en- don't lot mo. have to look at you again 1" (lured. 1 shall not remain under the "" Oh, Miss • Snowball ?" gawps the same roof with her- My mind is made affrighted Jemima,. "what—whatever rap." have I done?" "What the deuce did she say?" "Nothing -that is, you have din- "" I made some remark, a harmless pleased Miss Routh. Sir Vane is excited one, of course, about her mistress. She tonight; keep out of his sight and hers resented it at once, in a manner insolent to outrage. She said," the words com- ing sharply between Miss Routh's closed teeth, "that when 'Miss Snowball'— ridiculous name !—wasmy age, shemight perhaps be as ' set like and settled.' It wasn't to be expected "—Miss Routh grows dramatic, and snuffies in imitation of unfortunate Jemima Ann—"'that a gal of nineteen could be as solid and prim as an—old maid!' Those, were her odious words; she•tlid not moan me to hear them, but I did. Do as you please, Vane, but, if she stays, I go." " What the—what's the use of losing. your temper, Camilla! Yon know she will go. I dislike her as much as you do. Say no more about it. ' She shall leave." " Thanks, dear Vane." - Tears fill t el 11 the• thful ens. fir. as well as }oil Srinire of Broughton, is the ardent ad- turer of Lady Valentino. "" Sing that lovely thing of Adeline Proctor's, you sang at the rectory _ the other oveuing," says Miss Eccleman; along at a suail s pace, to accommodate have been ringing . through my head Lennard'e rate of riding, I prefer not to a man who can over since..o ride at all. e AppointWhere I fain would be 2" asks Do - keep me in sight, and I shall submit to lores. Ids surveillance. I can give rap going The smile leaves hor face, lost in a out altogether, though, if you prefer it." sigh. In a moment- the long, lamp -lit "And have the country set me down drawing-room..fades away, and the as a tyrant, keeping thy wife under lock sung shore of Isle Perdrix rises before and key. The role of martyr would suit her. sunny is standing,, clasping her you, rte doubt. No, you may ride, -with hands, trying to stiy good-bye, the boat a groom, but not at thepace you indulge waits below that it to, bear her away •to in, nor till such outrageous hours. For her new life. All her passionate, the rest, I desire you to dismiss that sorrowful heart is in the words she woman." " What woman 2" startled. "You do singe.: -r not mean—no, impossible 1—Jemima .� a Where I am the halls are gilded, Ann 2'' stored with pictures bright and rare' ""I glean Jemima Ann. Her resence • Strains of deep melodious music p Float upon the perfumed air. is odious to me. It always was. You Nothing stirs the dreary silence, hallo had her from the first, in open de- save the r melancholy sea, fiance of my express wishes.' And :only N Where l ndwows be. oft+ e to -day she insulted Miss Routh " Insulted Miss Routh 1 Jemima Ann •WhoYo i am t5es ' sun is alibiing Ar}d the purple windows glow, insult any one! .oh 1 pardat: fine, Sir s „Tin their ricl, ar nor;al shadows Sane. I• cannot believe that, Stain ^the marble fiber below: • " Do ou.insinuate that Mei Routh raded'aaturno leaves are trembling y On'the withered jam:aim) tree, says, shat is not true." - Creeping.?dthild:tht tittle easement, 'Wnoro i tnhn.would bo, "I think Miss Routh quite capable of it," retorts Dolores, cahnly, though,her heart is . lidating passionately. fs,st. 'bits Routh 'is cepable,of, a good dean to injure a person she-.c'lislikes. ' And I know she' dislikes poor.• Jettelena ; If she says my niaid *insulted her, I,believe :she say,, a thing .deliberately mats ue:,' " 1Jpoue my soul," - the angry baronet exclaim ' this is too much. To my• very iaee,yoatelt sue that my cousin lies! put this is no time nor place for such a discussion. We shall settle this matter later. At present, if you mean • to appcor among my guests at all this evening it is High time." He holds: can, the black temper within him, and Where Iain tall thiirk nisi happy, For so well I play. my,nart, Ndnb'°sti.fness, who .Heise mound mq • slow, Uyr distant is it yy heart— nieS "s 'rii'e;,frooh'•kottag6 �- • • r Ln tunlnirtotha ey rY'ti<ra, \Vhic'rb tbo treasar s i,'t my Iife aro • ,1110r�'i fate would be... C 'rher@ is•'silence. ,S1Rmethiing in the song,,in the ;voice of thei'sunger, in the suggestiohi of the woKd.�, holds all' who hear quite still for a •moment. In =that moment, shies rises—itithat-nioment•Colie nal leeee .ng,• tlirilledi:by ,;the song:: and the; singer, sees alio brow of Sir Vane -blank as night sees the'rattlicious smile and lance Ce a" . eu es es across at him, and in that moment knows that for a few days, until this storm blows ova. Ho will forget it, I hope. Go to your room, Jemima, dear;, I shall not want you again." . "" And you will not send mo away ? Oh, my own Miss Snowball ! how could I live away from you, my own dearest dear 2" - • "And I -oh !" the girl cries, catching her breath with a sob, "what -what have I left in all this world but you? No, you shall not go. Leave me now-- yes, ow= yes, do, please, 1 would rather. Never mind my., hair ; I :will twist it up. Good -night, good -night." Jemima goes, crying behind her aprdn. Her mistress locks the door, and drops Qu lien kees,"and burying her face in the • cushions of • her chair, Camilla's pale eyes, she presses grate-. e Rene! she cries aloud,• `" Rene 1 fully the arm on which she leans. "" Imo gene !".+ foolishly proud and sensitive, I know. His name breaks from, her lips in And you. are, as you ever wore, the best and dearest of cousins." The tall colonel,, and, the ;effn robe, ,are . away in the• .midst of. the orchids,•..like '',!•Love among the Rues," when the other _pair enter. Dolores' clear young laugh greets thein, she is in greater beauty than. ever, her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling,!!;'sort of reckless gayety . in every looand: word ,W,hy.not? $file; liasydone„„l.,tcr. best up .to'this night, and'nee best is a - signal eailure. • Shebat made shipwreck of her life, the ruin looks to her 110 dire despite of herself: , His image fills her heart as: shoo ...kneels ; his voice is , in ° her ears; lits. eyes look upon her. Site loves him ! she. loves lion ! In shame, in'misery, in remorse, sho xealiess in this wretched hone, how utterly, how ;absolutely, ]sow sinfully. ' Rleue ! Rene.!". For_ this; she gave bleu ,!iii, hor heart's darling! for this. man Slue resigned the: heaven on earth, that,uufd'have rbone 'hers:as his wife. Her Idose 'flair' falls' anent •'her , - great ;soils `tear. their way up ifrom'her+ heett• and shake her from head to, foott".tthe lint d with dismal apprehensions, "" I wish they would—it would shorten the misery, and not hurt hall so much as tide peipetual fanit.fiuding from dawn till aerie. L.uty'4 alentine," resumes the soara bre voice, "" do you knew bow many days it is wince you met Colouel Deer. in first 2" 011-h r thinks the culprit, " that is the indictment." Aloud. "" No, Nies Dorothy, Ido uot. I tale no note of time. In this house the days fly on stent rosy wings, that they come and go before I am aware of them. An"l I never could count worth a cent, as they say over in my couutry. Yon are more correctly informed, no doubt. Haw many is it ?' It is a flippant speech ; it is meant to he so. She is suing, reckless, at bay. Miss Vuleutine lnone and feels unaf• fectedly eluented. She adjusts her spec - tunes more firmly on her polislied aqui- liucs no"e, with it hhilliug knob in the middic, and regards her young sister -in. law through them, with strong and stony disapproval, ""Yon take this tone with me, and on suet a enbject? Dolores, I felt in- clined to be sorry for you, a moment ago, you looked so young, so--" Misal ,e Valentine clears lier throat, "so child.) like, I may say, so almost irresponsible. If you answer me like tills, I shall re- gret what I am obliged to say no longer. It is precisely nine days, then, since Colonel Deering first saw* you in this house, and in those nine days bow often, may I ask, have you and he mot?" "" You may ask, but I doubt if I eau 1+. answer ;" !ler tone is still light, but a • deep itush has risen to her cheek. A !lush of conscious guilt, it looks to Dorothy Valentino, of impotent anger in reality. "Let mo seo. That night, ,next day out riding, the following even- ing at Broughton Hall, yesterday at the rectory—oh! I really cannot remember, but quite frequently. Why?" She looks up with an innocence, an uncon- sciousness, :rs deliciously naive and true to life, that the exasperated spinster tingles to box her ears. Why 2 You ask that! Lady Val- tornigliti that no reckless aq�t of her own; elyet, iii w.et_witit her ragin �e ars, And: 'sA.'r. �. otltor�:: �vots: :,The:• %t: "li ti he' dtihyk~ho rs'o 1'io f assn , altg . Weekgr 'iaa llo, 'w" . a , tj u , f � ead;a d;:done:With;•,the future 13'iiieni'•iiidrithlavittSeeaihile lheshousce Hoppeless, teie.present:ss: a;,dire 'anguislh, . 1'l -sloes die' Vgne'l'Valentine'e rife "find pain, ;•W y not ; at h -t tits► laug#1;;...keepsnes eigi1 of teak acid %despair rand f!tF;3' aiiisl, bo n}errx,�• gTg4'�"ls: „•r•1 „ :i e :;.' r , ` in.-. u m 'des and deeams'ont " ]" y A a off: mini" s ` t' riri3 oder, 'dreams t1hat are done,""`lie thinks, -With a pang ° • • CHAPTER XXXII;. Aofrur-ueiest pain' ,. •Colejnel.Deeriing:loolis • • at' lien at, least -with,-;human,:, friendly 4" out SERPENT HEARTHID Wirth A F1:.OWee- that�soothe One crow•s-weary i"of then • - you, think!' ' eernieg;on:her vial? sudden eyes eyes that admire 'ancl prraisg,.aiid ilto-FACE I" entitle you are playing with me, with the truth. There is not a day of those nine days you have not met Colonel Deering in your rides. Do not attempt to deny it." " Why should I deny it ?" The blue eyes meet the stern lunettes with a quick, fiery flash. I have met Colonel Deering daily in my rides. And what then 2" Something in her look,in her challeng- ing tone, disconcerts her inquisitor. Miss Dorothy clears her husky throat before speaking. again. '" If my brother knew," she is beginning. "" What?' Has not' Riddle, the groom, his spy, told him. That is strange. I took it for. granted • that was his mission, :and thought it such' : a . pity lie should have nothing to tell for all his trouble. I believe I allowed. the colonel to escort me for'that very purpose. And he really •only has told you ? .':Now, 1 won- dered •Sir ondered,Sir Vane had not taken .me to task.:: However, ibis not too late Von ban inform him.at'any time." " Cliild, what da you. mean ? What an extraordinary tone you take—what extraordinary things you say. Are you altogethhee reckless=altogether mad 2" :" Another .difficnit qquestion to answer. X soulietis` wonder `I '•do hot go • mac! molar all I have to endure". Oh,: Miss Valentino, leases me alone., ; It is a pity to �vasteoyour-time scolding fine, when yon•maFy •be`so much' more usefully em - Vetted over" your: account books ' and •teats' for the'poore I •have''not beeh. broiglht up properly, you .:see -2 -ho one ever found fault with"sne before I was married. Since. then:`: there has; been pnthzrr . 1 uti Sint Iindii'ig, and thee cert of_tl iiie doea';not seem. to .agree . with. neva, assimilute••:bitter : medicine •Rec'klesee Yes,.1, ani that.t Leat s rhe iiloite,;l4liss' Dorothy, . you; at leapt, have no rightto iriault ` fine. - Do 1>ael; theportiere, smooths, as well as he "� stony' stare ,f';;orgons after n„ whilg, "Lad Valentine,". ,says a: sombre lioepassieeee. do you dare to . tbiiil. I p . n g null 1l th flF h Colonel Deering is agreeable,' aiid ?Kies voice, •" be good. ;enough no let, nye say. Stu •m lovewitli Colonel D,eeiing?'' follows her in. She is perfectly pale?' $i.r'Vane's sifo. is, as miseptsble;as,she g::Routh is i ue1: `'Alas, Dolores! a word to o h: '`:Dolores=ho!.; I never diem,? t so, but the blue eyes are stairs! bright, the p q -pear)'ghat: r " `Yeti are foolish,, hot-tempered; impulsive y y g beautiful: That suffices for to=uiight But when • ' Dolores, leaning over the wire rail that delicate, deer -like head held high. She "" Crad ! I don't_ see how it could be it is all over presently, and the Colonel, ' separates one of the stiff Queen Anne is in adangerous humor at this mo- otherwise," lie thinks, "married to that - - - - u1Ql.aura,