Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-23
CHAPTER xxxIu.-LoyED oNCE-LoI

be absent from houses to which not few
had accepted invitations only in order to
meet her.
CHAPTER XxXIu.-LOyED ONCE--LOvED EvEE
Dallas, old fellow, welcome! it always
does one GOOD to see your face"
So Max Beauregard spoke, rising from
table in the library in Whitehall Gardens,
said table being covered with letters and
papers.
But are you not awfully busy Beau"
asked Hal, as the hands of the two men
met in a close clasp.
Busy enough; but it would be strange
if | couldn't spare you half an hour or
more at any time True friends are scarce,
you know. Sit down-there's no hurry!'
Dallas seated himself, and Beauregard
resumed his place at the table.
"And how is Lady Elinor?" asked Dallas.
"To!erabIy we'll" lie knew that Lady
Elinor's grief was not deep-seated; but he
would not have said this even to Hal Dali
las. "She is still at Abbots Leigh, and as
soon As | can leave England | am going TO
take her abroad for two or three months"
That will do her good, - said Dallas. 81
called in Upper Brook Street yesterday, by
the way, and Mrs Langley told me that
she and Miss Herbert are going abroad,
moSt likely until October or early in No
Vember."
For so long?" said Baauregard, with a
touch of surprise in his tone.
"Only three or four MONTHS" replied
Dallas. They don't leave until next
week.
II didn't mean that, Hal" returned the
other rnt,-iurs - Iitfln ca nS f1 ,.,ct his fpca
in shadow; but the Lawford affair"
The Lawforl affair."" repeated Dallas,
staring; "haven't You heard. then?'
Heard WHAT" said b aurcgard, quick
ly; then checked himself abruptly, and
added:
Il have been two days in town and have
There to hnuw:"
"Why,' said Hal, looking down and
changing color little, that's all off.
Everyone in town knows it,
Fora minute there was Il mist before Beau
regards ewes. The hi locus thought those
words of Halls conjurrd upc0ulu not crush
the passionate gladnrss that made his
ncarl tlrob so wildly. However freedom
mad come about whatever the motive that
had made Valerie snap the meshes that
was not hit, Da. she was no other mans.
But after that minute Il 'auregarl had
master Il himself. aui said quietly:
1T WIS VALERIE who broke Off the match,
Of c1a.Scy Whcn.'
"WeII, one doesn't like to believe such
things of any woman, Beau, especially
such brwitching creature as Miss Her
bert; but ! don't know: it looks awfully
I,Ir,.l- ,,l
sayuG-iu fact, it's what a good many are
saying, naturally enough"
Go CT" said Beaurcgard, n little husS-
ny."
IT'S this, then" said Dallas, reluctant
ly, but bravely; he was beginning to fear
greatly what he had once or twice suspect
ed, that Max Beauregards interest in Va
lerc was deeper than was consistent with
his own happiness. "PIl tell you the
facts and you must draw your own con
C,uSions."
stay" said the soldier. "Who told you
the facts"
Aston Lawford himself. The day your
brother was taken i'll Lawford wrote to
Miss Herbert asking her to be his wife
She had the letter in the afternoon. Mrs.
Langley. who had been lunching and din
fori's in the evening rather late, and they
toll hcr-she had not known it before
about Gerald's illness. She left them and
went straight home. About half-past ten
after Mrs. Langley could have reached
homr-a letter came to Llwford from Miss
Herbert, decidedly declining his offer He
had hardly read the letter when he had
from the head butler here the news of
Cora III = lnpth which, ba it1,. hnj
arrived an hour previously, and which Mrs.
Ian-ley and Miss Herbert must have
known before that refusal was written. or
ut any rate sent; and Miss Herbert would
awely not have written and despatched
,Ich a letter on her own responsibility"
Byaurcgard sat motionless; only the heav-
ing Of his breast, and the locked sternness
of his features told what he was enduring.
If he could only have believed this to be
some wrctched gossip And yet it was,
after all, consistent with all that had gone
Leforc. She had thrown over Louis Char
teris for Aston Lawford. She had given
him Max BeauregarN clearly to under,
stand, the first night he met her after his
long absence, that she had learned how to
appraise younger sons. Was it anything
beyond bclief-was tnot only natural. that
'
owner, and, socially, a more valuable pro-
perty than the ironmaster, the latter was,
in his turn, thrust aside to make way fer
the better matCh?'
Max spoke Mt last, though even then not
without an effort.
1t is the old story" he said with bit
ter smile, "of the Indian girl and the corn,
though tins ending may not be quite the
same. She may fall back on the iroumas-
ter after all
shes certainly not worthy of you, Beau"
said Dallas, earnestly, though it's likely
enough that she + fond of you, in her way"
Maybe said the other, with strange
quietness; that is, all other things being
equal; she would prefer me as an appendage
70 wealth and status to another man. Bet
ter a wife who offered no love at all than
vie whose love can compass treason, if
treason can fill her hands with gold"
Beau, old comrade, Heaven help you if
you care for this girl"
Care for her? Great Heaven! But no,'
He rose hastily and walked through the
room. When he came back a minute or
two later, and threw himself into his chair
again. Dallas saw that his lips were livid.
and the drops Of agony stood on his brow.
Hal" he said. hoarsely, forgive me;
but can't speak Of it-even to you No,
am not veXed-don't think that; only there
are some things that must be borne quite
alone. Let this be a sealed book between
us. Hal"
Dallas stretched ont his hand and clasped
the hand of his friend in silence. That
was all. But the younger man knew now
that for Max Beauregord the die was set
forever. He would love Valerie Herbert
TO the latest hour of his life: and no other
woman would ever fill his heart. no other
woman would ever bear his name To
Dallas, uuwOrfhiuess was the SLAYER of
love; the wound might be long in healing,
but it would heal at length But Max
Beauregard was differently constituted;
for him there was nc 1oy'd onec+' given.
his love could not be recalled or crushed:
it could deny itself, nay. did not even de
sire possession, rather than accept poverty
in return for its boundless wealth; its
strength made il exact strength; but it
had the curse of immortality. What evil
Fate brought it about, Dallas asked him
self. that such man rs this should fling
away his heart on such a girl as Valerie
Herbert-the creature of an hour-in form
an angel, in heart, a more decorous
Phryne!
CHAPTER SNXTV.-A YEAR LATER
Colonel Beauregarl called in Upper
Brook Street before Mrs Langley and her
niece left town, but it happened that Va
lerie was oIt. and perhaps he was best
rlaaSed not n meet her irrSr W.. 4 week