Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-03

all outward seeming, as brilliant as ever;
and in the drawing-room afterward her
soft laugh was often heard. She sang
some of her best songs, and one might
| have thought the girl had never shed a
| tear. Yet she knew Max Beauregard was
not deceived; her acting was not for him,
but for the others; and all the time her
heart was throbbing like the throb OF a
minute-b bell tolling the passing hours. To
| Wednesday, then one day more,
and then the promised answer; and that
answer would be the fiat that parted her
from Max BeaUregard forever.
| And when she went up to bed-having
scarcely exchanged half a dozen words
with Max the whole evening-Fauchon
| told her in great delight that the balI-dress
had arrived from London, and was a
| ''poemr' Would mademciselle try it on?
No" said Valerie; 'it will tire my
ankle, tonight. Tomorrow morning Will
| do"
But 1Irs. langley came in to see how
the dress fitted, so Valerie gave in and sub
| mitted to the drapinG process.
The dress was made in most artistic fash
| ion-artistic as painters, not as dresSmak-
| ers, understand the woodland seemed all
| lace and silver as it fell around the girls
slender fCrm-a fitting robe for the Fairy
| Queen. The thought came into her mind
| with inexpressible bitterness; but it all
seemed to her like rehearsal of a play
| never intended to be put on the stage
| She would never wear the dress. Why
worry her with it, and go into ecstasies
over it?
'Take it Off" she said at last, inpatient
! ", to Fanchon. Il am tired of standing,
| AID | hate having things tried on
| ''Mademoiselle has not even looked at
| herself!" demonstrated FanchOn, ruefuIly.
4 am dressed for other people to look
| at" returned her mistress, carelessly.
There! bundle the thing away, and take
| these" pulling off her bracelets and fling
| ing them on & couch. She had dropped
| into a fauteuiL Her aunt came near to bid
| good night.
You don't seem quite yourself tonight,
my dear.i she said, in a low tone
Don't | ?'' replied the girl, with a half
| laugh. do you mean this evening, or just
now?"
Just now"
"Ah, thought so. You always call the
mask the face, and the face the mask
| And of that reply Mrs. Langley had to
make the best she could; but that ''best"
was not very satisfactory. Certainly Va
lerie was an enigma.
Friday dawned with the promise of a
| glorious day; and Valerie, who had scarce
| ly slept during the night, rose before the
| sun was fairly above the horizon. Sac
dressed quickly, and then began moving
| about, opening drawers, and taking out
sundry articles, which she put altogether
| in one drawer, previously cleared out for
the purpose. They were entirely personal
| souvenirs thus collected photographs
nicknacks, bought on the Continent out OF
| her own pocket-money, and such things.
Jewels were not touched, nor wearing ap-
pareL Il will tell Fanchon by-and-by,"
/ the girl said to herself, what clothes to
pack. The jewels are not miner
| Her face was white and resolute while
she went about her strange task, her eyes
dry and fearless. One large box made of
satin-wood, inlaid with silver, she took in
her hands with a special and reverent care,
and was about to put it III the drawer with
the rest Of her treasures, when she paused
-hesitated- face changed, and sud-
denly, with trembling fingers, she drew
out her purse, and took from it little key.
1
sweet smell of flowers rose up. Tende1ly
she removed a dainty lace handkerchief,
then some silver paper, and there lay a
boquet OF faded flowers, sti1lin their fagree
holder. Almost holding her BREATH Va
lerie lifted the boquet from its bed, and
laid it against her lips; then, suddenly, she
! put it down on the table before her, and
| dropping on her knees, burst into a storm
of passionate weeping; that defied all eff
forts of self-control With all her strength
she strOve to check her sobs, but it was in
vain; the tempest would have way, and on
ly ceased when it had exhausted its victim
| beyond the power Of weeping any more.
81 shall be stronger now!'' she said,
drearily, TO herself, slowly rising to her
| feet, and almost staggering to fauteuil
near, into which she sank, weak and trem-'
bling.
''Stronger-much stronger-better able
to say goodbye to him. On, my heart! if
| it would only cease achingr' She stretched
out her hand for the flowers, and laid
them in her lap, looking down on them in
| passionate woe, as if they had been living
| things.
Maxi" she said, softly, and now the
rich color mantled over cheek and brow,
| her breast heaved, her breath came quick
and short, you love me!-yes!-you love
me! Oh. Heavensr' She cIasped her hands
over her eyes with a smothered cry; land
| yet we must part! you cannot help met
| is too latel ! cannot blot out the past; but
I can live nobler life in the future; and |
| have done no wrong-I have done no
wrong! Oh, will no voice from Heaven
whisper the truth to him, and save US both
| from this miseryr'
| She rose by-and-by, and put the flowers
| back in the box again, though not till she
had kissed them many times, then she
| locked the box, and placed it in the drawer
and locked that Also
1.-The rest are in town." she said; 81 must
see to them laterr'
1t was by this time nearly eight o'clock,
| but Valerie remained in her own apart
| ments. She knew Colonel Beauregard was
| always about early, and she had no inten-
ton of meeting him alone. When she
heard others moving about she left the
| room, and descended to the breakfast-room
| first assuring herself that her face told no
| tales.
Only Beauregard, Dallas, and Amy were
down as yet, and the two latter were out
on the terrace; the former remained dis
creeIly within the ROOM and read or SEEM
ed to read, paper, but he threw it down
| as Valerie came in, and went forward to
greet her.
CHAPTER XLVL-VALERIE's CHOICE,
It was very keen glance Max Beaure-
gard gave Valerie, and his hand closed
over hers with unconscious force as he babe