Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-19

/ forgive me
| eff there is anything to forgive"
s'AIiss Herbert, am trying to feel peni-
tent. and you won't let me; you drive away
all my good resolutions.
''Do 1? But what can do? I only say
what feel"
s'Then good-by to my last struggle for
self-rebuke. shall make my list four"
Out rippled the girls silvery laugh,
though she colored, too.
''f you Ike she said.
eff like! And one is to be the first
waltz after support"
Every we'll"
| "a thousand thanks"
Silence again. Presently Beauregard
spoke.
81 know most Of the way" he said, ''but
suppose you can guide me if am wrong.
Here are two roads''-hep pulled up which
| goes to Welford?"
''This to the right said Valerie 'It is
scarcely half mile from here"
and the other?-doesn't it fetch round
to Wexford sooner or later?"
eyes, only it is quite two miles out of
the way
Beauregard paused.
cit is not very IateS he said, in a low
tone. ''May not take the longer route?'
Valerie drew quick breath; her lips
parted; she raised her dark eyes, shining
like stars in the gloom, to her companion's
face-wistful, mischievous eyes, that said,
in that look, "Ought I? 1t would be so
nicer'
And Captain Beauregard smiled, and
| turned his horses head into the two miles
| road.
! But even that road came to an end at
! last, and, with mental sigh, man and girl
| saw the church-spire of Wexford looming
| up against the night sky; and Valerie point
| ed out the way to the Lines.
"You will come in and see uncle Will,
| won't you, Captain Beauregard?'' she said.
| ''He will be up still We are not very early
| people"
FI should have great pleasure in doing
| so, but am afraid to leave this fellow
| Faust. He would be off like shot on very
make my excuses. / hope you will allow
me to call in day OF two?'
| He pulled up before the wicket-gate as
he spoke.
ooh! yes; please call" said Valerie earn
estly. 'And thank you very much for
| bringing me home. 1t was a delightful
driver
He had lifted her to the ground, and
! barred his head now as he took her hand in
! his.
"Was it?'' he said. ''I am so glad to hear
| you say that, for know I never enjoyed
a drive so much; and you did me great
| honor in allowing me to escort you.'
| Valerie had no idea of accepting this
| speech as serious truth. Captain Beaure-
| gard must have enjoyed many drives much
more, and was not likely to esteem it San
| honor to escort home a girl who must APP
pear 20 him scarcely more than an unso-
| phisticated child. Soshe smiled and shook
| her head, as deprecating the compliments;
| but was too courteous and too grateful to
him to even imply that he was only play
ing off his society speeches on q country
girl.
''What pretty things you say, Captain
| Beauregardp' she said. Goodnight"
as not truth always pretty-or more
beautiful? 1 am sure I have only spoken
to you unvarnished truth. Good-night''
| He bent and touched his lips to her hand
! before he released it, and watched her fit
| ting up the garden path-watched till he
| heard the house-door open, and q hearty
| ''LOr' bless u.s. missy, here you are at lastp'
was borne toward him on the summer air;
| and then he mounted the dogcart and drove
back to bennington at about five times
the pace he had driven on the outward
| journey.
Molly followed her young mistress into
the dining-room, where the latter was
| little startled to see, not only her uncle, but
Louis Charters.
He caught her hands in his, and gazed
at her as if she had at that minute been
rescued from death.
''Valerie!'' he exclaimed. "Valeriep'
'Why, Louisr she said, laughingly, 81
am all right-haven't been struck by light
ming or anything" and she drew her hands
away, and turned to her uncle, who en-
braced her more warmly than was his won't
"And how did you come home?'' he said.
'Who brought your"
| Captain Beauregard drove me in his
dogcart he wouldn't come in because he
couldn't leave the horse, but he's going to
call"
''Who's Captain Beauregard?" asked
Louis, with a quick frown.
"He is Captain in tn til, you know,
Louis. Such q handsome fellow-and you
| can't think how nice he is. I'll tell you all
about my adventures. You stop, Molly
and hear''
She threw off her hat quit spoiled by
the rain), and, sitting down at her uncle's
feet, told her story from the beginning-a
story which failed to please Louis Char
teris; but Mr.. Herbert said the Fanshawes
had indeed been most kind, and he was
glad Mrs. Fanshawe was going to call, that
he might thank her himself.
"And wasn't Captain Beauregard good
to me?' said Valerie, earnestly. cit was
he who sent the orderly-his own man
didn't you know that?"
| 1.-The message came as from Mrs. Fan
Shave, my dear, which was delicate
thoughtfulness on Captain Beauregard's
part He must be Beauregard Of Abbot's
Leigh-one of the few remaining Norman
families. Hand me that Country Gentry,
! Charters; it is ten years old, but it will
serve my purpose"
Louis handed down the volume and Va
| lerie raised herself on her knees, and, turn
ing to the name ''Beauregard,' read out
the particulars:
Yes, there they were; Beauregard-fi
OF the name had had conferred upon him
the manor of Leigh, shire, A. D. 1926:
and coming down to recent times, Gerald
| Walter Beauregard married Agnes. third
| daughter of seventh Earl of -, and had
issue Gerald Walter (present owner of
| Abbot's Leigh, and Max Eustace, the dates
of birth showing eight years between the
| brothers.
81 remember" said Uncle VIII, closing
the book, ''that Gerald Beauregard mar
ried, about three years ago, Lady Elinor