Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-12
" AILEiRIE,
HALF p TRUTH.
"BY THE DUCHESS"

cried Mrs. Dudley, addressing both, end
Max said, smiling:
''They are both of them ready fcr auoth.
er gallop, and double the distance. Zoe Is
a splendid slayer, and next to Prince, the
feetest horse in the stable; and then Va
lerie weighs about as much as thistle
down"
brain and alp" asked Valerie, wicked
ly. They were all riding on now at a walk
ing pace, Beauregard on the girls right
hand
NAY" he answered, gravely; Il only
| spoke of physical weight"
She laughed.
did you? But it would be equally apt
the other way, wouldn't it,"
THAT comparison is yours-not minep'
said Beauregard, drily.
Thanks" was the retort, 'for a neat
application of the old proverb about the
cap and the ftp
And she turned, laughingly, to speak to
| Lord Westbrook on her other side. She
! knew she had forced a meaning never in
tended. Max Beauregard was far too
| chivalrous for such a gibe; she knew she
| had veXed and even wounded him; but he
| should not think she was trying to win
him; yielding sometimes, as she had yield
| ed little while ago, unconsciously, in
| evitably, to his power over her, she recoiled
| Rfterward, and in terror of being misin-
! terpreted, rebuffed him in some such man
ner as this, stung to recklessness by they
yer bitterness of her own suffering.
| She had been startled, too, by the look
| that met hers when Max Beauregard first
rode up to her; his close clasp of her hand
| later, and sudden release of it, as if, sur
rendering himself for one second to a
warmer feeling for her, he had condemned
| the instinct the next. Was it blending
! of past and present; the old tenderness liv-
| ing still; the glamour of her beauty infiu-
| encing him against his better judgment,
rs ali men are influenced by exceeding
| beauty?
It stung her to madness, that if she had
| power to stir this mans heart at all it
| should be to no deeper homage than this.
| She would have spurned him if he knelt &c
sue for her love, and gave her only passion;
| for passion can despisa its object-love
cannot. So Valerie wGOnged herself more
and more-strove more and more to make
| herself wholly and hopelessly misunder-
stood by the man she worshiped.
They came presently-Valerie doing her
hest, it seemed, to turn Lord Westbrook' s
! head-to a narrow path where only two
| horses could go abreast. Beauregard rein
| ed back at once to Mrs. Dudley's side, and
| left Valerie to the young peer; and Valerie
! urged Zoe forward, so that she and bel
companion got some little way ahead O.
the rest of the party.
Another victim"' said Mrs Dudley,
| laughing, and pointing with her whip to
| Lord Westbrook.
"A willing one, I suppose" returned
| Beauregard, Struggling his shoulders.
| Whatever he might think of Valerie he
| could not endure for anyone to speak
slightingly of her; in his own heart he tried
| not to condemn her. tried to make every
allowance for her, and reproached himself
| that he was forced to think her scheming
! and worldly; nor did he ever think her
wholly so; she struggled with her nobler
nature: she hated the task she had set her
| self, and hence she was maynard and in
consistent MEMS hearts," he added
"are not breakable articles; and women
"Have none! Is that it?"
az almost think So"
"For shame! l won't speak to you the
rest of the ride"
''You muslin this lane at any rate.
| Whom else am L to f1lrt WIth?'
SIS flirting q necessity?"
Beauregard burst out laughing.
How like a woman! You have broken
| your resolve almost in the breath with
| which you uttered it!'
"You are too bad!' cried she, lifting her
| whip. You deserve
| "YOur sweetest smile of forgivenessl'
| said he The whip fell, and the smile was
| given.
But you don't deserve it, though" she
said.
"Never mind deserts-the thing is that
I have obtained it. Open ground again.
| Stay! don't give rein; there is wide, deep
| gully right across our path; any of the
| horses can take it-and you among the rid
ers-I know; but not all"
Dallas aud Travers knew the place; so
| did Angela, and could leap it. Beauregard
suddenly spurred forward after Valerie
and Westbrook, who, hearing the rapid
| hoof-strokes, turned round, within hun
! bred PAGES of the gully, which the latter
knew Of
Lets go for the leap!' exclaimed Va
| 1erie, in an unaccountable spirit of mis-
| chief; but as the words passed her lips, as
! she grasped the reins more firmly for the
rush, Beauregard was at her side, and his
! grip on the rein.
No. he said, quickly, almost sternly,
mot thatr'
Valerie flashed up at him defiantly.
Colonel Reauregard," she exclaimed,
81 can do that leapp'
"Why, Beau!" cried Lord Westbrook, in
| vexed tone, 'sMiss Herbert could leap
| that! Zoe
Zoe" said Beauregard, interrupting
him, but his hand still on the Arabs bride,
"csn leap that, and land five feet on the
| other side, but don't want her to send
Valerie over her headr'
"But she wouldn't!' said the girl, still
| defiant. ''Looki Angela has gone over,
| and Mrs Dudley, splendidly!"
''rhey rode when they were babies. For
give me. Westbrook, go on; | viii ride
round with Valerie.''
mo, nor' said the girl; but Lord West
brook turned his horse, demonstrating 10
more. Few people ever did demonstrate
with Max Beauregard when he gave the
| word of command.
Il say yes" he answered Valerie, but liz
a softer tone; but she averted her head to
watch Lord Westbrook make the leap as
Beauregard turned the unwilling Arab
away from the gully. She looked round
after minutes silence, which Colonel
Beauregard did not break, but lifted her
! eyes no higher than his hand
You can loose the bridle,'' she said curt
l.. Il couldn't escape if l would
He moved his hand at once
Il know it," he said, coolly. And
| don't think you would escape if you could.
| Heaven knows child ;; his voice changed