Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-08
CHAPTER xxvL.-AT THE LYCEUM.

! up at the door Of Mrs. Langley's house in
! Upper Brook Street, and the lady turned
| to Colonel Beauregard who sat by her,
go up, Max, and fetch Valerie, please.
| There is no need for me to go in. She is
sure to be ready, for she iGherits the mill
tary virtue Of punctuality."
! The footman had already knocked. and
the door was opened as Max stepped out OF
! the brougham. He was shown into the
! drawing-roon and was for minute alone
| InstinctiveIy he glanced around for signs
| of FaleIie's presence; piece of music lay
| on the piano. He crossed the room and
! looked at the music-a song by Clio
| dedicated by permission to Miss Valerie
| Herbert" and set to words by Elizabeth
| Barrett Browning. The music was trash
and he was closing the page without fur
| Their notice. when some words caught his
eyes:
''Ye weep for these who weep? she said
All. fooSi bid you pass them by.
Go weep for these whose hearts have bled
| What / me their eyes We're dry.
! Whom sudder can l say? she said.
''True. true. Heaven knows it!' tbs
man muttered, pressing his hand over hi
| eyes for q moment; and then he turned
with quickening pulse, as the door opened
| and there was a soft frOlt-fTOu of woman!
| garments and Valerie came in, in creaIu
| cashmere and amber satin, exhaling pc:
| fUma Of hyacinth and heliotrope
Il have not kept you minute, Colonel
| Beauregard, have I?'' she said, holding on
her hand
Scarcely minute; hope you have moi
! hurc.ed?" he answered, taking the rict
| oper,t-cloak from the hands Of Fanchoa
who followed, to place round Valerie's
| shoulders.
''Fhere was no need. I was just ready"
| Max wrapped the mantle carefully about
| her, bringing back to her the night at Don
nington, when he had told her that fairy
| queens were scarce. Did he, too, recall
| that episode? Then he drew the little hand
on his arm, and led her down to the car
riage.
Lady Elinor shook hands with her warm
ly, told her she was as punctual as Max
| himself, and then the carriage drove off.
Have you heard from Mr.. BeaIIregard
lateiy?" Valerie asked his wife, en- route.
Yes, this morning. He was still not
very well; but nothing really the matter.
Max and l are going down to Abbot's
Leigh on Saturday to stay over Monday"
Lady Elinor Tor rather Colonel Beaure-
gard for her) had secured a first-tier box,
and they found Dallas waiting for them in
| the yestibule Of the theatre. Lady Elinor
| placed Valerie in the centre Of the box be-
tween the two men, Max neareSt the stage,
herself taking the opposite corner next to
Dallas; and the moment she was settled,
she began to look about for people she
knew while everybody in the house who
| could see the Beauregard box, stared at
Valerie. But Valerie cared nothing who
was here or who wasn't, or whether she
was looked at or not. She only knew that
Max Beauregard was beside her, and it
was the mermaid and the swords again.
Her heart felt breaking, but she was happy,
happiness that was full of ineffable pain,
and yet was happiness. She knew Beau
regard must despise her: he was disap-
pointed in her; she had been Ito all seem
ing unjust, unkind, ungrateful to him; the
effort to talk, and appear as usual in his
presence, to look at him, was so great that
it produced actual physical as well as in
tense mental exhaustion; still, it was the
only happiness her life knew now-to be
with hum. Truly love is the strangest the
most inexplicable of all passions.
~ thought saw Aston Lawford," said
Lady Elinor, and Max saw Valerie start
slightly.
''Where?" asked Dallas.
cover there at the back of the opposite
stage-box," 1eveling her opera-glass. Beau
regards eyes followed the direction indi
Gated
''Hhat isn't Lawford," he said; that's
the manager Of the - Theatre"
''1Ir. Lawford was going to the German
opera tonight" said Valerie, nonchalant-
ly.
He might not have gone after all, as you
were not going, my DEAR" replied Lady
EjnOr, laughing.
Max glanced at Valerie. The girl color
ed, but shrugged her shoulders,
1t was clear to him that she had no love
for Lawford chow, indeed, could she have?l
| and yet she was going to sacrifice herself
to himI
The rising of the curtain put term to
Lady Elinor's chatter, and the stage gave
both Valerie and Colonel Beauregard q
good excuse for silence. Neither cared to
talk, but Max took little heed of what
went on behind the footlights, his every
thought was absorbed by the girl at his
side.
Often, leaning back in the shadow, he
watched her covertly. mastered by the fatal
fascination born of a love that 40 unworth.
mess in its object could destroy, or even
lessen IN intensity. He watched every
change of face every movement, the rise
and fall of every breath.
And once he might have won her, but
5w it was too late! Nay, if he had untold
wealth tomorrow, he would not lay it at
the feet Of the woman who would not count
him more precious to her than the wealth
of the whole world
III III
Dallas, making some remark about the
play; and Dallas was answering her, when
suddenly he paused, and leaning behind
her, said, in low tone:
Beau. what's that? Just lOokp'
Beauregard leaned forward little. look
ing toward the stage; and Valerie, who
had heard Dallas whisper, looked, too
without any feeling Of nervous fear and
saw flash of bright light leaping behind
the curtain.
It was seen by many others IN that mo
ment, and numbers sprang up, someone
foolishly calling Fire.
Lady Elinor rose with shrek, but Ha
Dallas grasp was on her arm.
sit down, Lady EIinor!'' he said; rather
sternly. There is no danger
But Valerie had not stirred, though she
went little white TO seesthe people spring
up, and hear the cries of fear.
There Will be a panic!'' was all she said,
under her breath.
Max Beauregard bent down to her, and
laid his hand on hers
Valerie, . he said, in a low, quiet tone,
''you are not afraid?"
The girl held her breath. Every nerve
thrilled under the strong, close clasp; the
sound OF her name, passing his lips for the
first time, rang above the shouts and
screams of the people.