Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-04-20

NO, please, you have done enough al
ready" said the girl, quclly.
Let me BE- Tie iu!g- Of that" said he,
Lightly: "0u rcr0jr." and he went out
Angela came running up almost immed-
lately with Amy Liuw0ud, and COmmser.
ated Valerie on her accident, and Amy in
sisted on having her ten in the dressing
room Bat Valerie shook her head, laugh
ing.
"Therc's metal more attractive below"
she whispered, drawing Amy down 10 her.
The others fac" flushed.
Don't. Val rir' She said. 81 am com
ing mp here to be with you.'
And she had her way; Valerie, however,
made her go down TO dinner.
Il don't want to quarrel with Hal Dial
las" she said; 50 at last the pettcd beauty
was 1lone-preSsng her hand over her
heart repeating over and over words that
might have meant - little, and yet had
meant SO much: No, my precious bur
denH' Was She indeed precious to him?
Oace more came the question that thrilled
through her like wpndrous music: Does
Max Braurcgard love me-"
CHATTER XLIII-AN ENCLOSURE FOR VA
LEEIE.
"Madcmoiselle, Colonel BeaurcgarCl
wishes 10 know if it viii rlaase you to GO
down to the drawing-room?' said Fanchon
who had gone To the dressing room door in
answer to a knock.
Ask Colonel Beauregard to come in
Fanchon," said Valerie, quietly, though
her heart was beating fast; and as Famchon
opened the DOR and admitted the Colonel
Valerie looked up, half laughing, half dep
rccatiug. in his face.
IL meant to have given you the slip" she
said. Indeed. YOU need not have trou-
hlcd yourself; though it is very kind of you
to come"
81 said | would look after you, Fairy
Queen, and You would he clever to steal a
march on an Old campaigncr"
But can walk, Colonel Braurcgard-
much better with you than with Fapchon
since you are So much stronger
"Wcll, you shall try"
lie raised her up, and, slowly, leaning
on his arm, she succeeded in reaching the
corridor.
you see, +" she said, smiling, my sprain.
ed foot hardly touches the floor"
"Nrt even that little hurts YOU" said her
cavalier gently, though yoa try to hide it
from me"
but little pain doesn'Cmatter, Colonel
BnaureGard."
1t does to me, very much, - he answered.
Come, Fairy. let me carry you to the
drawing room door; | will put you down
there"
lie suited the action to the words, taking
her mp i'll his arms as he spoke, Valerie
yielding without further remonstrance. us
was best; besides, she knew it made him
suffer to see her endure pain.
Thank you so much" she said, CRATE
fully, as he gently placed her on the ground
outside the drawing door.
'fhank yOu, Fairy Queen, for giving in
to my mans weakness. 1t is SO cruel to
see a woman suffer! but it was easier So,
wasn't it?'
"MuCh-muCh caSern'
Cruel to see a woman suffer, Yet Shs
had made him suffer, and for whatg-as he
must think His words were a sharp stab
to her. though he had not meant them so
Valerie on her cou,h was like aQucrn ON
her throne; they ali gathered around her
all save Max Bcaureg lrd. who resigned
her to others, and. while he talked with
Mrs. Langley, tried to steel his heart
against the girl he loved so madIy, and Vet
all the time he WAS wildly conscious of her
every change of expression, and listened
for her words or her laugh
And presently Lady Elinur, who had been
watching her opportunity, beckoned her
brothcr-iu law to her side, where she sat
somewhat apart.
what is it, Nell, dear" he said, rs he
seated himself ON the lounge
Nothing very special, Max. Did You
know that Constance Langley hal letter
from lawford this afternoon"
How should knows and what is it to
mcy''
with an enclosure for Valerie" contin-
ued Lady Eliuor, agitating her fan gently.
but Elancing edGevise mt the soldiers dark
face.
lie turned to her with a half smile.
well" he said lis that allg'
An! Upon my word, Max, Ican't make
you out,'
'liadn' you better leave off tryiugy"
"tmpossiblc! | really began to think
VALERIE wilcS were succeeding; You have
been l,.rlinE her to think So anyhow"
Il thTuk Valerie can take care OF herself,
Nellie" said Beauregard, very quietly.
Certainly she can said Lady f.linor.
trying 10 turn or with a laugh words whose
meaning, rs regarded herself. was perfect
ly clear to her; no one better Lawford
is, of course. resuming his offer; he can
have nothing else to writ- to Valerie about.
Mrs Langley told me she had the letters. "
That you might tell me?"
Il don't know; but | only repeated this
for YOU sake, Man"
a." TrdiRCHt Well. by your leave, We'll
talk of something else"
But, all the same, the news was another
stab to an open wound. Had Valerie done
anything To "lure this taSsel-gentle back
again. " SO that il she failed to win the great
er prize she could still fan back on TIE
Suitor So remurselesSly thrown over?
No. he would not think this Of her: but
he did not doubt that Mrs. Langley had
taken some such steps.
Was Valerie conSentinCs Had she read
ASton'S letter, and was she holding over
reply until she saw whether-even Mt the
eleventh hour-She would score a triumph,
and bring the owner of Abbot's Leigh TO
her feet, or close her visit to the Hall with
out succeeding in the object that took her
there's
II was maddeniuG even to ask such men,
tai questions concerning Valerie: and vet,
horrible as they were, he could not quite
dismiss them: he could not say such DELHI
crate calculation of chances was impossible
To her; and Yet, there was ever the para
doX which the girl presented TO all that
she had done-all of which she might tar
guing from past acts seem capable. She
made no effort to win the man for whom
She had abandoned a rich suitor yet that
might be protoundest coquetry); she Was
so fresh, so pure, so innocent; in her face
no guile; in her acts, in her looks. none of
the arts of the coquette. Could design so
completely, so successfully, wear the mask
OF innOcsnces
No wonder these things perplexed Max
Reauregard. lacking, as he did, the key 10
the truth-seeing only through a glass
darby"
II was not till near the close of the even.
ing that he approached Nalerie's couch,
aud asked her il they should finish the
chess-game sometime tomorrow.
Vas f.Ga e