Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-12
CHAPTER VA NEW WORLD.

/ SummOning her maid, the Generals wife
| hurried off Valerie to large bedroom,
where she had the girls wet clothes re-
moved and taken down to be dried.
'And bring Ep a cup Of hot tea" added
Mrs. Fanshawe, to the maid. and then
we must see how to clothe this young lady.
Not easy" surveying the fragile-looEing
creature before her 81 have 10 daughters,
you see; there are only my clothes, and
they will hardly fit"
| So, fer the time, Valerie was enyeloped
in dressing-goWn, and Mrs. Fanshawe
| went to seek some garment more apprO-
pirate to the drawing-room. Presently
she returned with a gorgeous tea-gown
over her arm, and found Valerie drinking
her tea, while the maid was proffering her
a pair OF shoes.
| IF you don't mind wearing them, miss"
she said; "they are much too big, of course,
but Pm small and thin, so you could man
age to get along in them, [ think"
eff l don't mind?" repeated Valerie cit
is very kind Of you to offer the shoes.
| Yes" putting her pretty feet, clothed in
hose vastly too big, into the shoes, they
will do beautifully. Thank you so much.
Oh! Mrs. Fanshawe," as the lady came
| forward, 81 wish you would not take so
much trouble, you make me SO unhappy"
Nonsense, my dear; [ wish [ could do
better for you. This tea-goWn is mon
strous; but then, as it is loose it can be
made more presentable by q sash round the
middle. Is it long enough? Yes, you're
taller than am; but am stout. There, I
declare that looks splendid"
The robe was rich crimson color, with
q deep border of pale yellow flowers; and
Valerie, with her pure, creamy skin, deep
gray eyes, and golden-brown trasses; look
ed wonderfully beautiful.
''And you don't know anything about
me-" said the girl, smiling at her hostess
| frank admiration. you wouldn't let me
tell you"
''Not till you We're dried and clothed.
Now, you can sit down and finish your tea,
and tell me all about it; and then you must
come down and see my husband. Captain
Beauregard will be here by-and-by."
She drew the girl to a seat by her side,
and took the little hand in both her own.
| Valerie kissed them impuIsively, with
tears in her soft eyes.
''How good you are to mer' she satd
/ TREMENDOUSLY.
st shoH scold you, my dear, if you say
such things. Now tell me are you wan
dering princess?"
''NO, Mrs. Fanshawe, I am Valerie Her
bert-Major Edmund Herbert's daughter"
| EMajor Herbert's daughter?' Mrs. Fan
Shave put her arm about the girl, and
| kissed her. ''Why, you are not stranger,
| then, my dear, but a cOmrade. [ never
| saw him, but | know his name; and nc
wonder you are beauty; your mother was
| lOyely-all the men used to rave about her.
| You must be like her!''
Valerie opened her great eyes in genuine
| establishment.
| ooh, no, Mrs. FanshaweY' she said.
! ''Pooh you are a childp' said the lady,
laughing off what, it flashed across her,
was not perhaps, q very prudent speech,
| 'And what were you doing when Captain
Beauregard found you-Eaking fairy
| Tings?"
THAT must be done by moonlight" said
| Valerie, gravely. ''No! | was walking
| from Wexford, where live with my uncle,
| and the storm overlook me-"
And Beauregard whipped you up on
| the saddle before him-that would be his
way" said Mrs. Fanshawe laughing.
eyes, he did; but we walked in the town."
GA veritable adventure. Didn't you en-
joy it,"
:,
her bright eyes dancing. ''But Captain
Beauregard must have got his uniform
| spoilt.''
Mrs. Fanshawe rose, and walked to the
window.
DON'T make yourself uneasy on that
head" she said, smiling, The wouldn't
mind spelling fifty uniforms in such SER
vice. But how about your uncle, my dear?
Won't he be anXious?"
eyes," said Valerie, timidly, ''but I can't
let him know I am safe; Captain Beaure
gard said he would send an orderly, but I
can't bear for anyone to go in this storm.
| 1t may cease sOOn."
''If it does not, you will have to yield the
point, my dear Max Beauregard always
gets his own wayr'
He looks as if he didr' said Valerie,
with naiUete.
Doesn't he? Ahl he's vast favorite of
mine-and of everybody's. The men will
do any mortal thing for him. Come, now,
| to the drawing-room.
Valerie followed her kind hostess to Il
large. Observation-Disclosures room; and a
tall, fine-looking man of about sixty, with
| iron-gray hair, and rugged, but benevolent
face, arose from an armchair, and came
forward.
Robert" said his wife, 'this is Major
Herberts dauShter-Edluund Herbert, you
know"
rs shes" exclaimed the General, clasp
ing the girls hands warmly in both his
own. Then, my dear, if you could be
more welcome than you are for your own
sake, it would be for your fathers"
Valerie's eyes were blind with tears.
Such kindness as this deprived her OF all
power of speech; but the General patted
her gently on the shoulder, and drew her
into seat beside him.
Now, ! am going to have q talk with
you,n he said, Il want to know all about
this adventure"
Valerie repeated what she had told Mrs
Fanshawe.
so you had a ride into town?" said he,
laughing. "Now, young lady, confess that
you wanted to catch glimpse Of your old
friends-the soldiers, eh?''
eyes; I didr' confessed the girl. honest
ly, though she colored. 81 thought some
of them might be marching out, and
But the Generals merry laughter cut
her short.
''Wen, you had your wish, hadn't you?"
he said, and you caught the best-looking |
of 'em all-oh! fiel fier'
Don't tease. Robert" said his wife, for |
the girl, though she laughed, colored still
more deeply 81 won't have it,"
Miss Herbert won't mind an old fellows |
joke. will she?" said General Fanshawe, |
patting the little delicate hand that lay on |
her knee.
NO, indeedr' she said, looking UP earn
estly. II know it is only fun"