Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-30
VAL-HiRIE-
HALF p TRUTH.
by THE DUCHESS. :"

through the lOICE DOORWAY, llltO tIc lIOD4c
hall, with its grofned roof and painted win
dows, its grim suits of armOr, and ancient
weapons and trophies of the chase, and
costly bronzes; and with a strange thrill of
mingled pain and joy, Valerie raised her
eyes and looked above her, around her, as
she stood in Max Beauregard's hOuse-by
its masters side.
There was no lack of modern luxury in
the rooms to which Valerie was conducted
-sitting-room. dressing-room, and bed
room en- suite; but she was more enchanted
with painted ceilings and paneled walls.
and Gothic casement-windOws set in deep
embrasures. and portraits of Baauregard
cavaliers and danes, than with silk and
lace draperies and velvet lounges, and the
rest. She let the tea that was brought her
get cold-much to Fanchon's distress
while she rOamed about Gdmiring quaint
old cabinets, looking at the pictures, gaz-
ing from the windows, which faced south
west, and commanded a splendid sweep of
country, and trying to make out subjects
of the paintings in the ceiling. At last
Fanchon tried to bring her to the present
moment with:
| 'What dress will MademOiselle Wear?"
"Ohn' said Valerie, dreamily-she was
| tracing the story of Joseph and his brethren
! carved in alto rclicUO on the high mantei-
piece. "I-that isl wonder what the date
! is2-oh. here it is! How deliciOusly old
| l4SS!'
''Mademoiselle will be late, y said Fanch-
| on, desperately.
yes" the girl started. 81 forgot.
was looking at that wood-carving. What
| will wear. did you ask Cream and gold
| L., Irq "a
a selection from the flowers here-see, what
beautiesn'
1t did not occur to EaIerie-whOse native
simplicity nothing could really destroy
that, hy entering the drawing-room the
last, she might incur the suspicion Of doing
SO purposely; she never thought about it,
till, when the servant opened the drawing
room door, She saw that everyone, or al
most everyone else, was already in the room
Max Beauregard talking to Mrs. Lang
ley, looked up, and every pulse quickened
as his eyes rested on the beautiful girl he
loved so passionately, yet whom he could
never claim as his own. Lady Elinol
| glanced involuntarily from Valerie to An.
gela and set her lips together.
Lord Westbrook, Hal Dallas, Travers,
Mrs Dudley, all came forward to greet
| Valerie, and at once Angela was almost
deserted. Lady EIinor leaned over tC
where the girl sat, and tapped her with hel
Fan.
We were beginning to fear you had
escaped to the picture galleries, or were
hunting UP curioS in some out-of-the-way
place" she said. laughingIy.
"Not quite SO bad as that, Lady Elinor
but | found so many delightful old things
in my rooms that but for FanchOn,
should not have saved my manners, and
on the way here | could have stopped Z
dozen times"
AT that rate" said Colonel Bcauregard
joining the group, you will require a
keeper IN going about the house, or you
will box yourself up in some old chest, like
Gincvra"
lis there such chest?" asked she
"rhere may be-vcry likely; but there is
something NOR, in your line in the park.
"What is thlt>"
But he shook his head laughing.
"TIi tell You another time" he said.
"OAr' cried Lord Westbroot and Mrs.
On Hey in Il breath; "to excite our curiosity
AMI fArn r,fu-" to satisfy it!'
And Dallas added:
For shamc. Beau! Miss Herbert, make
him t2lI.'
But Valerie though she wondered what
her host meant, ouiv answered:
lie wouII not tell for anything might
say II woul b. no Use asking"
Miss IIeroert.' demonstrated Lord
Wc~tbrooh. leaning over her chair, anC
aJdiAE lower, AS If any man could refuse
| whH.cycr FOu &SIedr'
'Tom coui Int, perhaps,' with a saucy
,,i,,.,i, ,,,,.,, him, =, t,.,o nf tbn seventh
l,a.,.,,. .l,,, ,,.,I,,,,l u,.,,,ro,,,,l j.. mad,
nr stn,.,o,. ,.tr,tr RasiIns I nm content +,
be patient"
But you won't keep the secret to your
seIf-no, Il woman never cant
"A woman can keep II secret better than
II man when she is determined upon it,
said Valerie, carele&sly.
Had she not proved this at n most bitter
co>t2
The entrance Of the butler to announce
dinner put an end to the hHdhHN.
In the drawfug-room. after dinner, Mrs
Langley watched Valerie, auI saw, will
some miSgivinG, that she allowed herself tC
I've usurpcd by others than her host, nn'
certainly gave him no opportunity fortalk
Ing to her; us certainly he did not seek it
but, short of ncglccting hcr-hc was toe
courteous a host to neglect any of hi
guests >,ft hcr to the other men, and de
voted himself to pretty, dashing Mrs. bud
ley. more than Mrs. LANGLEY liked to see.
II wondrr." said IiliaS Dudley to hin
presently, in Il low tone, im,,uiiblc to an,
hut her nearer, amid the hnZZ of talkin'
ut a little table where Valerie sat, luokin.
through Il photograph album, with Lore
W l.