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

he added to Charters, IS ne leo the ne"
arrival to where very pretty girl sat De-
side an elderly lady. Have yo1 seen the
belle-Miss HERBERT"
Charters laughed.
Il have known her the best part OF my
life,'' he said, drily.
"Indeedr' Major Travers looked at
Charters with new interest, and whis-
tied, metaphorically. mo wonder you
look glumr' was his mental comment,
you're rather heavily handicapped"
az must compliment you," he could not
| resist saying, somewhat maliciously. 1T IS
| clean walk over. Miss Herbert has car
ried off the Blue Ribbon"
But as Louis made no reply to this speech
Major Travers forebore. 1t tCds rather
hard case, II Charters was sweet on"
the beauty to have to do the running
against ''our fellows, and especially Beau.
Meanwhile, Captain Beauregard led out
Valerie, wondering, for his keen glance
| noticed change in the young face, what
had happened TO trouble her, and he could
not help connecting the change with Louis.
| Surely there was nothing between these
two-he but youth, she mere child.
BeaureSard set his teeth as he passed his
! arm around the girls slender form.
SL44N SIC NC " A4ihl LAAoAO NA-".AA ~
Louis, for he was thirteen years her senior;
but she was perilously witching child.
But now they were in the dance, step to
step, in perfect rhythm; Valerie had little
| enough of experience; but she did not be-
| lieve anyone could dance as Captain Beau
regard did; and he said to her, smiling:
81 knew you came from Fairyland. Only
fairies in their dances under the enchanted
| oak cOuld foot il as Won lO,p
| She looked up, her great clear eyes full
| Of laughter.
No" she said, 81 have only danced at
few child's parties; but you would make
| anyone dance, Captain Beauregard."
Now you make pretty speeches, Fairy
| Queen. l wish You would admit me to
| your moonlight revels"
"Ohl mortals never are admitted-are
| they2" said she.
81 believe not; but l am begging you to
make an exception in my favor"
| 81 will call a council of war among the
| fairies, and hear what they say" replied
| Valerie, gravely.
They had paused to rest.
'And if voices are equally divided-you
| will give the casting vote for me?" said
| Max Beauregard.
81 am not sure"
81 am" he said, softly, as he put his arm
round her again. Are you ready?"
| YES"
| Her heart was beating fast. She was
silent. She knew her companion was right;
and somehow she forgot all about anyone
else who, pursuing the jesting allegory,
| should have q claim for admission to the
moonlight revels."
| Yet the next dance was Louis
He came up to claim Valerie as she sat
| with Captain Beauregard, and a group of
| other military men around her; and she
rose, with inward trembling, and walked
away with him.
'Who is he, Beau" asked one of the Of
ficers, looking after him.
| Mr.. Charteris-an old friend, " returned
the other, carelessly, playing with his
mustache.
"A friend?" observed young Ludlam.
"Ah!nothing more? Ridiculous if it is sol"
| Beau-egard shrugged his shoulders.
II can't tell you, my son. Better ask
| himn'
But he said to himself ga likely thingr"
! rs he walked off to delight the eldest Miss
! Chantrell by asking her hand for the APP
| preaching dance; and Mrs. Fanshawe swept
| down upon the remnant and declared she
| was not going to allow any oilers; there
were plenty of partners, and there must be
| no sulkng because Miss Herbert had van
| ished
Don't scold me yet, Louis" Valerie
said, with a kind of gasp. 81 know have
been wrong and unkind; but by-and-by,
when we can be alone, l will tell you!'
you have been unkind to me, Valerie.
| But tell me one thing now. Who sent you
these flowers?"
| Captain Beauregard."
81 thought so! And you preferred them
| to mine, who"
"Louis-not now! There, the band is
striking up"
| Little enough did Valerie enjoy that
dance, and presently said she was tired.
Louis led her apart to some char. near
| the entrance to the adjoining room-a spot
| now deserted-and there they sat down.
Then Valerie, after quick, nervous,
| glance around her, said, pleadingly:
| Il don't ask you to forgive me, Louis. [
was wrong, but l was afraid of paining
| him; and [ thought you, being an old
friend would not mind SO much, for once"
Yes said Louis, bitterly, ''you thought
| of tho pain to him, stranger, and forgot
the pain to me-yOur promised husband"
Valerie started, and grew white, then
| flushed hotly. Tho accusation was true,
and yet it camo to her, in confused kind
| of way. that this aspect of the question
| had not been before her-was not now; she
know this without gra.ping the position,
| and was too startled and dazed by the tu-
| multi of feeling aroused within her to utter
a word, or try to stop Louis when he rose,
and, saying something-thc words con-
veyed no sense to her-turned away, and
! left her.
For the first time that evening Valerie
| was alone; but she scarcely realized that,
or whether the band was still playing, the
dancers still dancing. Her one distinct
thought was that he must master herself
and wear y mask 1t was her first lesson
in the ncedful duplicity OF society.
Someone was speaking-a soft, mellow
voice. What was it saying?
Miss Herbert abandonedg Why, how
is thisS'
The girl started violently, and looked up
into Max Besuregard's handsome face.
ut is only few moments" she STAN
mered, hardly knowing what she said. 81
i don't mind. Mr.. Charters WAS with
| ne"
| saw ulu WIFI yOu- duu L SAW MIN
leave you-a rscreant knight" said Beau.
| regard, taking Louis vacated chair, and
saying to himself, What in heaven. name
can the young idiot have said or done to Sc
trouble the child? And why should she
care so much?"
"Ah, you must not call him thatp' said
Valerie, rallying little, and trying to
! speak lightly; bat she was too young in the
worlds ways to be successful.
Not recrsant," BeaureSard answered
watching her coyertly, ito vsx you, and
then to leave your But, pardon; he is your
| riend-and So"
so" said Nsleric, more steadily, but
turning aside her face, while her breast
heaved, Il must not let you be unjust to
him. am 10 blame, not he, and he has s
right to be yexed"
You are generous-to friend" said
Beauregard, bending down to her, and
| speaking In n low, quick tone, slight
stress on the last word.
He should not have uttered that sentence;
he had no right to ask the question it inn
| piled; but he felt in that moment that he
must know the truth; and he was man
used 10 resolve and to do in a breath, a
man to whom suspense was intolerable.
Valerie started, and colored deeply. She
might have resented the implication. Had
she been a woman of the world. instead of
very young girl taking her first peep into