Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-01-20

81 believe YOU know, for I'll warrant you
came frcm fairyland. It will look still
better by-and-by. a number Of the officers
have come from -, fifty miles off, and
few from London; so the black-coats will
be in decided minority"
81 am glad of that They would spoil
the look Of the crowd"
you are true soldiers daughter. How
you love splendorl Ahl here are the first
arrivals. Who are theys The Mortons."
Father mother, and daughters; a coun-
try gentleman and his ample wife; the
girls richly dressed IN London-made gowns.
They were followed by quite stream OF
officers and their wives, sisters, and daugh-
tiers.
Scarlet, blue, and gold satin, and jewels,
glowed and flashed under the light and
gave fresh delight TO Valerie's cOlor-loving
eyes. But now there was an interest keen
er far than this that made her watch Gag
erly the incoming stream, ohlivious Of the
notice she herself was exciting on all sides.
Was she watching-as she should have
been-for her lover-her betrothed?
Alasl no! it was no black-coat she hoped
to see among the brilliant throng, but
uniform; the fair, bOyish face Of the civil
ian was all but forgotten-the bronzed.
handsome face of the soldier filed the
girls thoughts.
All! there he was-a man to be noticed
even among 50 many nguished-looktng
men. How splendid he looked in his scar
let and gold lacel What noble face his
wasl There was no one here to compare
with him, Valerie said to herself, as she
met the bright smile that flashed into his
dark eyes.
He came straight to her at once, and
clasped her little hand in his strong, firm
clasp.
"Ah! Miss Herbert" he said. softly,
bending down. with just q glance at the
| bouquet in her hand-he had seen it the
| instant he entered the rOonl-''you are too
| good to me! How shall l thank yOu'"
mo, MOI. she answered, shaking her
| head, "rather how shall thank yOuf 1t
was so kind Of you to think Of rle!-and
the flowers are the most lovely ever saw"
"And yet scarcely worthy of their queen
"'Queen lily and rose in one"
said Beauregard, drawing her hand on his
| arm.
| do you learn complimentary lines of
| poetry for use on various occasions" asked
| the girl, archly.
What cruel implication! am sure I
| have not deserved it. VIII you not credit
| mo with sometimes speaking as Think"
| They were sauntcring slowly through
! the rooms, and as they went men turned
| to look at Valerie, and the whisper Travelled
| from mouth to mouth:
"Who she? What an exquisitely- lovely
| girlr' "Who is that beautiful girl with
| Beauregard?" And Mrs. Fanshawe was
| besieged with requests for an introduction.
Valerie answered her companions:
'Then | should have to be very vain.'
Was she innocent or coquettish. He
| glanced ut her kecnly. Could she be ig-
nOrant of her own supreme right to COM
| pliment, even before she entered these
rooms? And now did she not see and hear?
| Il will ask you by-and-by, he said, light
| ly, after a pause, 'if you still find your
| Corollary good"
What do YOU mean. Captain Beaure-
| gart?-you are talking riddles" said the
| girl, raising her eyes to his; but the smile,
| the look she met startled her with more
| than an inkling of his meaning; it was the
admiration which says-"YOu ask Am |
beautiful Can you not divne-do you
not know-that you are?' Admiration
refined, ennobled by reverence, but I'M.
| yelled.
The girls eyes sank, her color rose, her
| heart throbbed with an emotion wholly
| new, bewildCring; all her pulses thrilled.
Was this it-this what Max Bcauregard
| MEANT Was she SO beautifuI-far more
| beautiful than many of these fair women
| she saw around her? And he thought her
so; it was not in idle compliment he spokel
The hand that rested on his arm trem-
| bled; she glanced around her half nervous
| ly, and saw men, and women, too, looking
at her; she turned to Max Beauregard in a
| kind of mute appeal, like child frightened
by some wonderful and unexpected revela-
ton, and again he smiled his bright, half
tender smile, and said, softly:
| Forgive mel you would find it out to-
night, IL you have never yet known it.
| Here comes Mrs Fanshawe"-he changed
| tone and manner-"tO rob me- and tell me
am usurping more than my share of hap
piness"
And Valerie was led away, half dazed
with tho new sensations that filled her.
| with Max Bcaurcgard's last words ringing
in her ears, tn have dozen men presented
To her in succession, and to give her hand
| for the first dance to Colonel Lord Dem
more, cOmmandant OF the garrison Mt -,
and n man of no small consequence.
She was beautiful. She knew the truth;
but Ms yet not its power. Her pleasure
was that Max Beauregard thought her SO.
Obi fatal gift of beautyr' When she
| knew tho full measure of all that gift con-
ferred, how would she use it?