Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-12

aUgeld glanceu at MN with look that
half implied: How can l, when you are
my teacher?" But though he saw the look,
and read it Alright, he did not seem to no
tice it; but half turned as Valerie, coming
back from the lawn, slowly mounted the
terrace steps, reading as she moved. A
moment he looked at her, the sunlight
pouring full on her golden head, the light
breeze stirring the bright waves of hair
Then he called her name She lifted her
head and paused
'Yes9" she said; but Angela's brow
clouded.
"Come herer' sad Colonel Beauregard;
and Valerie saUntered carelessly along the
terrace, and stopped by the chess-table-
Il have been trying for the last hour, :"
said Max, ito make Angela understand
the moves, and minute ago she moved a
bishop on the square. Will you come and
teach herr You are a good player, are you
not?"
ga pretty fair one" Shehad often play
ed chess with Louis, at Wexford, and was
generally the victor. But I am quite
content to leave Angela to your tender
mercies."
81 will be more diligentr' cried Angela
But Beauregard answered Valerie:
81 don't want you to take my place, but
Angela's, and show her how to pIay!''
Eyes, do comer' urged Lord Westbrook.
with an imploring glance at Valerie, which
had not the slightest effect.
''No; you must excuse me, please" she
said
The young mans face fell.
"What shall we do then?' he said Lady
Angela, are you afraid of the sun? There
is a good deal of shade where we are play
ing. Do take pity on us!''
Thus adjured, Angela could not well re-
fuse, though she was only made substi-
tute for Valerie; but then Valerie was a
particularly good player, andLady Angela
only an Indifferent one.
Il suppose I must" she said, rising,
"thoUgh wanted to watch this game"
Goa, you had much better be a minister
ing angelo exclaimed Lord Westbrook {;
and he carried off in triumph his reluctant
captive.
Valerie trembIed inwardly when she saw
them depart, and was thus left quite alone
with Max Beauregard; for even Dallas and
Amy LinWOod had quilted the terrace, and
the chess-players' teto-d-tete was as COM
plete as if they had been in the Abbot's
Glen itself. They could not even see
or be seen by the players on the lawn,
though the voices and laughter of the lat
ter came distinctly to their ears.
How thin was the web that divided them!
IF only his hand had swept it aside for a
moment; if only he had forgotten that she
loved the world too well, and remembered
nothing but his love for her! But even
while he looked at her, and the glamour of
her pathetic beauty tempted him almost
beyond his strength, the sinister shadow
still lowered above her-that thought was
ever. present:
Gwen if she loves me, she loves the world
better. If had remained poor man she
would have been the wife of Aston Law
ford, If she cannot stoop to try to win me,
she would accept my love if l offered it
nOlUr
II don't suppose - said Valerie, as An
CELIA and Lord WestbroOk disappeared,
chat [ have much chance against you,
Colonel Beauregard; you are q crack play
en-"
"Who has paid me that high compli-
ment?"
''Three or four people" returned the girl
laughing ''Mr Dallas for one!'
''Oh, Dallas! He and used to play often
in camp. One night we were deep in a
game when there was a call to arms. We
left the game unfinished, and after short
skirmish returned. 1t was bloodless vic
tory, so far as our own men were concern
&c, SO we finished our game"
- you mean that you finished it al
cnce"7 asked Valerie, greatly amused.
''Oh! no; duty first, pleasure afterward
INF tp
polished off our game"
Il should have thought you wanted some
sleep"
eve hadn't done fighting till three A.
M" replied BeaUregard, ''and we weren't
sleepy. A fine end game, too. No, we had
to finish it. Wouldn't you have done the
same?"
II think 1 should. You won, suppose?
Mr.. Dallas said you always did"
Dallas seems to have taken upon him
self the office of chess-trumpeter on my be-
half" said Beauregard, 81 shall win this
game to dead certainty, Valerie, if you
put your knight in such jeopardy!'
II don't deserve to be warned" said she,
retracting the move. II was not attend
ing to the game"
and that was my fault. Beside, win
by tuke is no win at ALL"
For some little time they played in
silence. Max Beauregard was not in his
usual form" 1t was hardly possible he
should be- with Valerie sitting opposite to
him, and no other creature near; let the
suffering be what it would, u was wild
happiness to have her thus with him, her
soft breath almost tanning his cheek, as
she bent over the game; to watch the play
of her face-Watch every curve and con-
tour, the fall of the golden hair-every
movement of the white hand, with never
wearying, but rather increasing delight;
for to love the familiar is ever the new;
the best known the dearest to sight and
sense.
Valerie. too, played with less than her
usual skill; though-as in such cases the
woman usually is-she was more inwardly
self-possessed than her companion; out
wardly, both seemed at present absorbed
in the game; that is, Valerie did altogeth-
er, and Max Beauregard did when she
could see his face; otherwise it would ap-
pear that he evolved the stratagem of the
mimic battle from contemplation of the
features and form opposite to nina novel
mode OF playing chess, and not very sue
cessful one, since it presently led to his
losing bishop without gaining any adj
vantage. Nor was the loss a mere over
sight, but led up to three or four ill-con-
sidered moves.
''Whew-wr' he said, as Valerie took the
piece; Unjust look sharp, Fairy Queen, orr
shall be routed horse and foot"
A slight color swept over the girls cheek
at the name he called her; but she answer
ed, smilingly:
Il thought, few moves back, you were
laying trap; and then, when you moved