Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-23

! and Rome. She knew Colonel Beauregard
| was not in England. aud if couquests make
i happiness, then la belle Herbert should
| have been the happieSt OF women; but il
| she broke hearts-as they said she did-her
own suffered nothing il the process. Was
| it not well-nigh broken already? Painters
painted her; poets wrote sonnets 10 her;
she lived in clouds of incense; yet no love
pleading had power to stir her pulse; nc
homage, no splendor of adulation to dead
en- even for an hour, even for an instant,
the passionate crying of her heart:
'-God knows that l would give
All other joys. the sweetest and the best.
For one short hour To live
Close TO thy heart, its comfort and It's rest
was the burden of her ceaseIeSs cry. AL
other joys-ay, all future life-for one hour
of ineffable happiness!
But in the late spring London received
its dina again; lovelier than ever, many
said, and maybe they were right; for Va
lerie had suffered much-suffered still
and the patho,, of suffering lends to beauty
surprising charm.
In the middle of June Lady Elinor came
up to Whitehall Garlens, and with heI
Angela MuSgrave. The widow could now
enter little into society; besides, Angela
needed chaperon. and Colonel Beaure-
gard was coming home. What different
homecoming from that Other-thirteen
months ago!
1--WE must have some people at Abbot's
Leigh this autumn" said Lady Einor. Il
am sure Max will be most willing"
She sat in the drawing-roOm in the eve
ming in early July. Colonel Beauregard
was expected every minute, and by her
side was girl some four years her junior
very like her, but more strictly pretty,
only with the same furtive glance Of the
eye, and the same slight downward curve
of the lips.
Lady Elinor looked very interesting in
her weeds, and she knew it; and Angela
whose papa, it seemed could spare her
now-wOre white with black trimmings.
yes, indeed" she assented. Whom
do you think of asking, Nellie?"
eve cannot have large party, you know,
dear. Well, Mrs Dudley for one, and Amy
Linwood; Lord Westbrook, Mr.. Dallas, of
cOurse-and-suppos we must ask Mrs.
Langley and Valerie; but the girl will be
setting all the men by the ears."
And she'll certainly do all she can to
get Max" observed Angela. ''She threw
over Aston Lawford for nothing else"'
a carriage stopped; knock at the door.
Lady Elinor rose quickly. a minute later
there was a light step on the stairs, the
drawing-room door opened. and, with
Cry of genuine delight, Lady Elinor threw
herself into her brother-in-law' arms.
oh! Max" she said, 81 am SO glad to
see your
Dear Nellr' He kissed her affection
ately, and then turned to Angela. An
CELIA, too?" he said, holding out his hand.
1
right here also" and he stopped and kissed
the girls forehead.
When the three were at dinner Lady Eli
nor presently made her proposition.
Il have set my heart, Max" she said,
con having some people at Abb0t's Leigh
this autumn-not great many. of COURSE"
Every we'll | suppose You have already
fixed on the pcopln." he said. laughing.
women generally arrange preliminaries
before they make an assault"
'Yon ou@.,t not to object to military
tacticS!' rcrcrtcd She. YES, have fixed
on Some-uut &l!!'
"Wno are the 'somr.' "
Lady Elinor ran Through the names of
those aIread mentioned, omittiug Mrs.
Langley and Valerie, however.
Beaurcgard paused, as if thinking over
the suggestions, but i'll his heart he was
saying:
valerie must come! She may be CO.
Quette-scheming- she must
comet | am mad with the longing to see
her again! have been so long without
her! | must have her with mc-though
every moment with her il stepped in painn'
Presently he raised his eyes, and asked:
Are Mrs Langley and Valerie cngag-
ed?"
q don't know what their engagements
are
Call tomorrow, Nell, and see: and
will 20 with you. We could not omit an
old friend, nor ask Mrs. Lnugley without
Valerie
''N-no.-but really" said Lady Elinor,
with a laugh, Il am glad the ducling days
are over, or we should certainly have some
about Valerien'
Beaurcgard shrugged his shoulders.
81 don't suppose she is worse than she
was last season.
Maybe not; and yet sometimes think
she is.
An, welln' he said, lightly, beauty
must have its sport, and if its sport is kill
ing hearts, what them"
What a cynical speech, Maxi eXclaim-
cd Lady Angela.
My dear girl you will be cynical, per-
haps. when you are two-and-thirty-if
lady ever does attain that age. | should
like to ask Frank Travers, Nellie, rs well
as Dallas"
THAT would make eight" said Lady
Elinor, counting on her fingers with
power to add to their number and to-
morrow we will call in Upper Brook
Street"
She had little hope that Mrs. Langley
would be engaged; she felt certain that
that astute matron had calculated on the
likelihood of Abbot leigh receiving guests
this autumn, and would take good care to
hold herself and Valerie free for IN invite
ton
Would MaX--even knowing what ar did
and having so high standard of woman
ly dignity-be proof against the wiles of
such a siren as Valerie Herbert?
CHAP. XXXT.-INvITED TO ABBoT's LEIGH.
Lady Elinor Beauregard-ColoneI Beau
regard, " announced the footman, throwing
open the drawing-room door in Upper
Brook Street; and Mrs. Langley, who was
alone, rose, and went forward with out
stretched hands.
place Gltr bOmmCS, this time;" she
said, laughingly, to Lady Einor, as she
gave Max first greeting How good of
you to come so soon, Colonel Beauregard!
am so sorry" kissing Lady ElinOr, that
Valerie is out; but | expect her home very
shortly. She went to the Grosvenor with
Mrs. Dudley"
Then we may hope for the pleasure of