Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-16
V a L,HiRIE-
HALF p TRUTH
"BY THE DUCHESS "


was looking out OF the window, and did
not seem to hear question or answer. She
heard both, however.
The carriage stopped, adieux were said,
and Mr.. Lawford and his sister departed,
Valerie bidding rather Indifferent ''gea3-
night to the former
rs Mr.. Lawford going to Rcmef' she
asked, when she and her aunt were seated
at supper.
Il don't know, my dear. But why do
you ask in that tone-is # you didn't wish
it,"
II don't, much"
''Why not, Valerie? Thought you liked
him" A pretty shrug.
He is plain and prosaic." she said.
Nonsense, child. Do you want every
body to be like a hero Of romance
Valerie thought Of Max Beaurega-d, and
suddenly laughed out
Mr. I.awEord is far enough from that, !"
she said.
'.Ah! well, 90 to bed now, and wake up
wiser" said hcr aunt, lightly, and Valerie,
nothing loath, oEeyed; not because she was
tired but because she wanted TO read heI
precious newspaper.
Give me q dressing-gown, Fanchon,' .
she said, when the maid had removed heI
eyening-dreSs, 'sand then you need not
wait. I am not going to bed just yet"
Fanchon brought a dainty pink dressing,
gown bedecked with lace; and thus attired,
and with her pretty feet in embroidered
slippers, Valerie seated herself on the
lounge by the open stove and began toread
the papers.
Suddenly she clasped her hands togethc,
with almost Il CRY Of joy, while the blood
rushed over cheek and brow.
Captain Max Beauregard had been ap
pointed to the colonelcy Of the til. vacant
BY the death Of Colonel -, passing over
tie intermediate stage on account of his
distinguished services.
All, how glad Valerie wasl How her
cart sWeIled within her! She read over
md over through proud tears the words
that seemed printed in gold Then she
laid the paper down, and sat gazing into
the fire. slowly locking and unlocking heI
hands; then she turned to the other papers
(ahe had been looking at the Standard,
and sound the news repeated in the Globe
Yes, there was no doubt about its truth
Why should there be? It was only Max
Beauregard's due. How happy he would
he to have won this distinction! How hap
by would be all those who loved him.
Presently the girl rose and went to her
desk, and, opening it, unlocked an inner
drawer, and drew out something wrapped
carefully in tissue paper. AS she did so,
her fingers trembling, her cheek flushed,
Ter bosom heaviD%, her eye fell on heroTn
name and present address on a foreign en-
velope lying in her desk She paused alb
rupty; her whole face Observation-Disclosures
ing-a sudden horror in her eyes That
letter received only yesterday from Louis
was like a silent witness, starting up be-
fore her to accuse her. She had fought
down her conscience, and in a flash she
WAS brought face to face with it. Words
in that letter-Words of faith and endear-
ment-rnshed confusedIy across her. They
had not made her heart beat as it beat lust
now; they had not filed her with gladness,
as those printed words in newspaper had
done. What was it thrilled through every
nerve only to see or to hear Max BeaUre-
CARDS name that no word traced by Louis
hand nay, his very presence, could pre-
duce! She looked from the letter to the
treasure she had come for; not Louis pic
ture. but hjs-AIaX Beauregard's; she re-
moved the covering and caught her breath,
as the eyes C the portrait seemed to meet
hers. Then, still keeping the photograph
in her hand, she shut the desk quickly,
and almost staggered back to the lounge,
and sank down, covering her face in agony.
She might have known it; she might have
known it sooner! She had never loved
Louis. How pale and cold seemed her
tranquil affection for him-the same that
day he had asked her to be his wife as it
had been all her childbooG-to this pas
sionate absorption in another's identity;
this ecst&Cy, those long, sweet reveries, this
cherishing of all connected with him
Her hand stole to the flowers on her breastl
Lotus flowers were dead and forgotten;
she shrank from his clasp and kiss If an
other hand should clasp hers, other lips
seek hers-she shrauh and covered in
maiden shame. She loved Max BeauTe-
gardl ~, she loved him with all her strength
and he, maybe, scarce gave her now a
thought! Oh! the shame, the burning
shame of It'll And Louis! she was pIighted,
pledged to him; he loved her and trusted
hort
Il cannot marry him!' she whispered,
pressing her hands on her burning tenn
pies. Il cannot, | cdRnot-it would kill
me; it would be sin-treason! I never
loved him! was mad TO promise him! but
how should | know2 know what love IS
now-too late-too late! Oh, Heavens! he
might have loved me if had been free"'
She fell on her face, weeping convulsiye-
IL. Poor throbbing, bleeding heart
struggling alone in its mercy-what yet
greater suffering had been spared her, if
she had known one wise and loving friend
to 60 to with her burden.
But there was none to counsel her, none
to help her. Young, inexperienced, she
must fight the battle unaided; she must
learn the terrible woman-IeSson of wearing
smiling lip with a breaking heart; but to
snap the bands that bound her, how could
she do it? How could she so wrong Louis?
And yet it would be a greater wrong to be
come his wife when she did not love him
still more when her every thought was
another mans.