Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29

shortly. She went to the Grosvenor with
Mrs. Dudley"
Then we may hope for the pleasure Of
seeing her. Now, Mrs. Langley" cried
Lady Elinor-the two ladies were seated
side by side-''are you and Valerie olsen
gagged for three weeks from the twenty
fifth of july"
u think So" said Mrs. Langley, though
she knew perfectly well. Let me see,
and she took up a little book from table
near, and glanced through its pages. Eyes, "
she said, 1--WE are"
Then please book the date for Abbot's
Leigh. We mean to have q small party
| this year of friends, whom one can ask to
stop longer than few days, and Who can
be happy without dances and private the
atricals which, Of course, we cannot have
yet"
eve shall be delighted, said Mrs. Lang
ley, wondering if Colonel Beauregard de-
sired this, or only yielded to his sister-in-
laws wishes. Il thought l heard csr-
rage stopr' she added; ''that is Valerie"
How, she asked herself, in some trepida-
ton, would the young lady receive Colonel
Beauregard? Mrs Langley had carefully
abstained from speaking of him as posi-
BILE pdrti; but surely the girl could not be
| SO perYerSe as 20 snub him?
And newell, for year he had not seen
Valerie, and now she was coming; yet there
was no change in his face, even when her
hand touched the door-handle.
The door opened, and she came in-the
"Fairy Queen" with gray Gainsborough
hat above her glittering curls, and dress
of gray satin and plush; in. her left hand
she held her gloves-and for a second she
paused, and a curious, half-reckless eX-
preston, that had been on her face at the
moment she encered the room, gave way
to something softer-a blending of shame
and dread-as Max Beauregard rose and
went forward to meet her, and light colcr
rose in her cheek. Her large gray eyes
al lays, in his heart, looking into his-did
not meet them now. She gave him her
hand, and he felt it tremble in his clasp,
and the color in her cheek deepened.
''They told me-" she said, a little hur~
| riedly, that you and Lady EIinor were
here. How do you do, Colonel Beaure-
gard?"
Certainly not a more cordial greeting
than she had accorded more than year
ago to Max Beauregard the younger son;
but to him this was a sign that the girls
better nature would assert itself She
| could not meet him face to face and greet
him with ordinary cordiality, knowing
| what her intention was, and that he must
know it too. And only that she was in
some sort prepared for the TencOntTe, her
| confusion would probably have been much
more apparent. She was but an appren-
tice in the matchmaking school, Door
child!
I'VE are fortunate not to have missed
seeing you" Max said, gently, 'for dare
say Mrs Dudley wanted to run off with
| you"
She did! I am glad didn't CO." said
Valerie, laughing, and crossing the room
as she spoke to shake hands with Lady Ell
| inor.
"And now qUe are going to carry you off,
my dearr exclaimed that lady, thinking
with dismay, even while she spoke, that
Valerie looked distractingly lovely.
Garry me off-where?" repeated the
girl, looking quickly from the speaker to
| her aunt.
''Not now" explained Mrs. Langley,
''but in the end Of July. Lady Elinor has
invited us to stay at Abbot's Leigh for
three weeks and you will be delighted to
hear that have accepted the invitation"
1t was well for Valerie that she had &C.
| quired in the fashionable world no small
| measure of self-command, and was able tC
reply, with ready smile and words, turning
to Lady Elinor:
How kind of you! That will be a great
pleasurep'
"And as Valerie has never seen Abbot's
| Leigh" said Mrs. Langley, turning to
| Beauregard, ''she will have to be restricted
in her rovings among its treasures"
81 hope not" he said, smiling, "only I
imagine her tours of inspection would be
something like royal progress. And re-
member, Valerie, that you need not bring
your horse with you. [ have three beau
ties, pure-bred Arabs, for you to choose
from; but one of the three, if you allow me
to make the choice, will especially suit
you"
Thanks, so much. OF course I would
accept your choice-you would know best
in such a case"
Even as she spoke came the bitter
thought, He will think l am trying to
make myself amiable to himr' and she
turned from him. as if to listen to what
Lady Elinor was saying dismissing the
matter.
Someone" said Lady Elinor, laughing
"called those three Arabs the three lovely
Cummings, and the name has stuck to
them. Max makes such fuss with them.
Which of the three did you mean just now,
MAXI"
Zoe"
'sThe gem of the triol But she is very
spirited"
valerie can ride spirited horser' said
Beauregard, smiling, as if the idea Of her
needing quiet one was rather amusing.
81 hate quiet horse said Valerie, care
IessIy.
And all this time she was saying to her
self:
How he must despise me! how false,
how contemplate I must seem to him!
And yet he is so kind, SO generOus-makes
me welcome to his house! will find out
whether aunt Constance worked that in
vitation. He cannot really wish me to CO."
She certainly never dreamed that Max
Beauregard had in fact, been the wire
puller. and not the Naturally suspected
aunt Constance.
Tea was brought up, and shortly after
ward Lady Elinor and Colonel Beauregard
took leave; and as soon as they We're gone
Valerie asked her aunt, almost abruptly,
if Lady Elinors invitation was bona tide.
Perfectly, my dear, replied Mrs. Lang
ley, quietly. Indeed, although [ thought
it possible she might ask US, she was as
likely not to do so. She wants to get Max
for Angela, and you might prove a dan
gerous rival
angela is welcomen' said Valerie, go
ing to the piano and opening it. 81 shall
certainly not interfere with her!''
1t was the first allusion she had made to
the yeXed question, and Mrs. Langley held