Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-02-24

~ ~ Man bSGkAIt-<tAL2 N44p SIStllNlS bG-
tween Us. For his sake you are false to
me!'
She breathed more freely when told that
she was untruthful, mercenary, worldly
1t was hard to be misjud yed by one she
Sc dearly loved. But when Max Bsaure-
CAD must so misju.lge her, and she eoald
endure 1t, what other suffering could over
tax her powers OF en1urance2
Louis paused suddenly, looked at the
m0uonless figure, the white face of the
girl, and drew near TO her again.
Nv hatH' he said, have You no answer
no denials For Heavens sake, Valerie"
ne stretched out his hands, the words were
almost cry of anguish, don't tell ne
that You are SO false-so miserlbly I'M
worthy
The blood rushed TO Valerie'S cheek and
brow. Passionate denial was on her lips.
Then, with quick-irawn breath. she
turned away, locking her hands over her
breast. She dared not plead the truth; she
could not speak falsehood.
Louis drew back and folded his arms.
There was & dead pause.
The girls face had grown white again:
she Scarcely seemed TO breathe; her eyes
were bent down. her head dropping; she
NNSONA D1IOlt llSE IbNtI LlAC Il guilty GTUh-
ture; but oh, how beautiful-how beautiful
she wasl and that beauty she was going to
sell for gold. That thought nerved Louis
to Scorn
silent stillr' he broke forth at last. Law
ing sudden grip on the girls slender
wrist-she did not shrink or tremble now
You own it, then? own that you are
ready to barter your youth and beauty for
rriN- I'D
soul, to man old enough to be your faith
er, not because he is noble and good. and
you love him, but because he is rich! Never
mind that you and were boy and girl to
gether-that Your word was pledged to me
that have loved you faithfully; all that
Is nething-nothing now! am poor, and
Aston Lawford is rich. I might have
known il long ago; but / was an idiot. and
| hoped against hope. Very soon the love
of the world began to eat your heart out;
your letters were cold and infrequent-
your manner when we met was changed!
Oh, have been fool! and you, no doubt,
laughed at my folly"
Louis! Lcuis!'
"Ay!' he exclaimed, savagely, 'syou can
cry out when you are stabbed; but You
may stab me to the heart, and must suf-
40 IL 'iANiiNS. ilStl 10 u NbiiLCti = priv
iege. 4 blight on the wretched code YOU
have so quickly learned, and on all who
follow it! | have done with you | hope
I may never see your false face againn'
He almost flung her from him as he
spoke, and turne to the door. Valerie
staggered, and caught at a chair near her.
LOUIS she said, choking back the 500
IN her throat must we part like this:"
But he did not heed-perhaps did not
hear-the words; blind with passion and
pain, he could only see that he was delib-
erately abandoned for the sake of wealth
and position; could only read conscious
guilt in Nalerie's silence, in her dropping
eyes and changing coOr; a longer expert
ence OF life might have helped him here;
but Louis was not yet four-and-twenty,
and knew little or nothing of human ma
ture. Valerie had loved him-loved him
how-but loved the world more He was
too young to be pitiful; his love had not
the strength and depth for the noble sOr-
row that could cry THE pity on'tr' Va
lerle was miSerably mean and deSpicaDly
utterly without excuse; she had grown
cold and heartleSs; she cared nothing for
suffering she inflicted; so, with only anger
and resentment in his heart. Louis rushed
out of the room, and a minute later was
Striding away from the house, hardly
knowing where he went. and feeling rs If
all the world was false and hollow. and his
life could never again hold anything worth
living for.
And suddenly-there was roar in his
ears-shouting-a mist before his evcs-a
strong hand seized him, and pluched him
from under the nose of rearing carriage
horse; voice that somehow seemed fum:l-
lar, exclaimed:
Louis Charters! Conf0und it, man! do
you want to commit sUicdez'
And the young man lifted his dazed eyes
to the handsome face of Max Baauregard.
CHAPTER XXv.-L0vE VS.. GOLD.
81 don't know how it happened Louis
said, vaguely. Where is tAis?"
OF course there was crowd; the broug,
ham which had nearly run over the heed
less wayfarer stopped, two or three han
SONS ditto, also several passengers. and o
dozen or more of those idlers who seem to
be shot, rs from a catapult, to the scene of
any accident.
Il should say you didn't" replied Colonel
Beauregard This is Regent Street You
don't seem well, OLD fellow. Well drive
the rest Of the way home"
He raised his hand.
Fright, sir.'' responded alert cabby, who
had had an eye to business.
Then Louis hesitated.
But he began.
Jump in, man" returned Beauregard,
quickly. I'VE shall have all Regent Street
round us in minute"
Louis obeyed, and Max followed.
where are you Iiving?" he asked.
Louis gave the address, and the cab
bowled away toward the modest street
where the Foreign Office clerk dweIt.
In minute or two Louis rallied, and
turned to his companion, a slight flush
mounting to his cheek.
Colonel Beauregard," he said, ''you
saved my IifeH'
Tut! Charters You were walking
right under horses nose, and I dragged
you away, that's ALL,
Il almost wish you hadn't" said Louis,
bitterly.
The other glanced at him keenIy, not for
the first time, and said, little drily, yet
not unkindly:
You fellows like you, who have, maybe,
never seen death, are apt to court it too
lightly"
Louis colored again.
Il had no idea of suicide, Colonel Beau
regard" he said. Il simply didn't look
where was going"
Il saw that. Here we are at your dig
gings. May 1 come in; or would you rath-
er not? No ceremony, please"
81 should be very glad if you would come
up" said Louis, with unmistakable SINGER
ity. Il scarcely know you. Colonel Beaure-
gard, and yet don't feel as if you were q
stranger"
People generally get to feel at home
with me very soon" replied Max; and. af-
ter paying the cabman, he followed Louis
into the house.
The young mans sitting-roOm was not
particularly home-like or comfortable. and
bore no evidence of exuberant wealth in
its occupier. The fact naturally struck
Louis with peculiar sharpness just now,
and, with a reckless sort of laugh, he turn
ed to his companion.
at looks brilliant, doesn't it?" he said;
'looks as if were a millionaire; the sort
Of pl"ce Il girl who lives on rOse-leaves
woUll like to come to?''
lie threw himself into a chair. pressing
his hand to his forehead. Beauregard
stood still, looking at him steadily. Louis,
he saw. was in a dangerous mood; he had
seen this ten minutes ago in Regent Street
One glance at the young mans face had
been enough for Max; and 1t was not diff
cult to divine the cause, or something very
near it, of Louis trouble.