Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-02
who followed, to place round valer;e's

nington. when he had told her that fairy
queens were scarce. Did he, too, recall
that episodes Then he drew the little hand
on his arm. and led her down to the car
riage.
Lady Eiinor shook hands with her warm
ly, told her she was as punctual as Max
himself, and then the carriage drove off.
Have you heard from Mr.. Beauregard
lately?" Valerie asked his wife, en- route
Yes, this morning. He was still not
very well: but nothing really the matter.
Max and | are going down to Abbot's
Leigh on Saturday TO stay over Monday"
Lady Elinor (or rather Colonel Beaure-
gard for herr had secured a first-tier box,
and they found Dallas waiting for them in
the yestibule of the theatre. Lady Elinor
placed Valerie in the centre of the box be-
tween the two men, Max nearest the stage.
herself taking the opposite corner next to
Dallas: and the moment she was settled,
she began to look about for people She
knew while everybody in the house who
could see the Beauregard box, stared at
Valerie. But Valerie cared nothing who
was here or who wasn't, or whether she
was looked at or not. She only knew that
Max Baauregard was beside her, and 1t
was the mermaid and the swords again.
Her heart felt breaking, butshe was happy,
a happiness that was full of ineffable pain,
and yet was happiness. She knew Beau
regard must despise her; he was disap-
pointed in her; she had been Ito all SEEM
ine) unjust, unkind, ungrateful to him; the
effort to talk. and appear as usual in his
presence, to look at him, was so great that
it produced actual physical as well as in
tense mental exhaustion; still, it was the
only happiness her life knew now-to be
with HIM. Truly love is the strangest, the
most inexplicable of all passions.
~ Thought | saw Aston Lawford," said
Lady Elinor, and Max saw Valerie start
slightly.
"Where?" asked Dallas.
cover there, at the back of the opposite
Stage-boX," Ieveling her Opera-glass. Beau
regards eyes followed the direction indf
Gated.
THAT isn't Lawford,' he said; chats
the manager of the - Theatre"
Mr. Lawford was going to the German
opera tonight" said Valerie, nonchalant
ly.
He might not have gone after all, as you
were not going, my dear" replied Lady
Eliuor, laughing.
Max glanced at Valerie. The girl color
ed. but shrugged her shoulders.
Il was clear to him that she had no love
for Lawforl chow, indeed, could she haveO
and yet she was going to sacrifice herself
to him!
The rising of the curtain put a term to
Lady EInor's chatter, and the stage gave
both Valerie and Colonel Beauregard
good excuse for silence. Neither cared to
talk, but Max took little heed of what
went on behind the footlights, his every
thought was absorbed by the girl at his
side.
Often. leaning back in the shadow, he
watched her covertly, mastered by the fatal
fascination born of love that no unworth-
mess in its object could destroy, or even
lessen in intensity. He watched every
change of face, every movement, the rise
and fall of every breath.
And once he might have won her, but
now it was too latcl Nay. if he had untold
wealth tomorrow, lie would not lay it at
the feet of the woman who would not count
him more precious to her than the wealth
of the whole world.
The act-drOp fell, and Valerie turned to
Dallas, making some remark about the
play; and Dallas was answering her, when
suddenly he paused, and leaning behind
her, said i'll low tone:
Beau, what > IIjtt? just lOOki'
Beauregard leaned forward a little, look:
ing toward the stage; and Valerie, who
had heard Dallas whisper, locked, too
without any feeling of nervous fear, and
saw flash of bright light leaping behind
the curtain.
1t was seen by many others IN that mo
ment, and numbers sprang up, someone
foolisGIy calling Fire.
Lady Elinor rose with a shrek, but Ha;
Dallas grasp was on her arm.
sit down, Lady Elinor!'' he said; rather
sternly. ''Hhere is no Danger
But Valerie had not stirred, though she
went little white to see the people spring
up, and hear the cries of fear.
There will be panicn' was all she said,
under her breath
Max Beauregard bent down to her, and
laid his hand on hers.
Valerie" lie said, in a low, quiet tone,
''you are not afraid?"
The girl held her breath. Every nerve
thrilled under the strong close clasp; the
sound of her name, passing his lips for the
first time, rang above the shouts and
screams of the people.
She could not, dared not, look at him;
she could not for moment speak, and
Nii'L NN NbttI'l II W tto W HIS -CIl4A
four words:
NO. she said; mot the leastr'
Afraid, with him by her sidel Afraid,
when his hand held hers! If flames had
enwrapped the whole building SIZE could
have known no fear-for herself
And in his soft, clear voice there was the
old indulgent tenderness; in her possible
peril she was once more to him the child
h.. I..I
had Claspcd his neck, whose pure heart had
known no guile 1t was no more than this,
she knew-no more than the strong mans
tenderness for the fragile girl; but, even
so, it was infinitely precious-it was the
cup of water to the thirst-maddened the
crust of bread to the Starvingl
You are n brave childp' he said, in the
same tone-''a true soldiers daughter!"
OH if he had but followed the wild i'm
pulse that almost mastered even the iron
restraint he had put upon himself; if he
had only spoken the words that quivered
on his lips, only compelled her eyes to meet
the love that glowed in his 1t was a SUI
prcme moment; but the mans pride, the
girls terror of self-betrayal flung it away.
1t was Il Cossamer web that hung between
them, but to each it seemed a stone wall
And in q few minutes all danger was
past. The people in the stalls succeeded
in preventing Il stampede from the pit; and
the staEe-manager, rushing to the front,
proclaimed that the fire was very slight,
and had been subdued, and, indeed, the
light behind the curtain quickly diminish
ed, and, even while the staCe-manager
spoke, died down altogether. Many who
had hurried to the doors returned to their
seats, half-ashamed of their terror, and
others, who had been standing, sat down
again.
"A causelesS panicr' said Hal Dallas,
who had had some difficulty in keeping
Lady Elinor quiet. by Jove, Miss Her
bart. you are brave!'
Max Beaure~ard had released her hand
the instant it was perfectly clear there was
no peril She turned to Dallas with a half.
laugh
How hrave?" she said. u was not
frightened"
4 was-horrihly," exclaimed Lady Eli
nor, still a good deal agitated. ~ can't
think how you can be so cool, Valerie.
You didn't seem 10 mind bit"
''She is u soldier, Nellie" said Colonel
Beauregard, "and so not afraid OF fire.
How the girls heart throbbed at these
words of praise from him; a second time
he had commended her bravery, and vet tc
her it seemed there WAS nothing to praise.
4.