Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-04-27

Amy raised her head and looked earnest
ly In her friends face.
why do you say How should t. Va
leries You are in trouble about something,
and you won't tell me'
"Have ever told you anyUhing, Amy9
What the good: 1t only worries you and
can't help me. Now you're looking grave
when you ought to look like sunshinel
Fancy coming to tell me that you are the
happiest girl alive, and then fretting over
me"
Don't talk like that, Valerie, said the
other, her eyes full of tears. My happi-
ness can't make Inc Indifferent TO your I'M
happiness"
Valerie turned aside; her bosom heayed.
why do you care so much?" she said.
you know what am; you know how lit
tie | am worth anyOne's love"
you are not unworthy Of love, Valerie;
you hate the very part you play; you have
not the courage Of your intentions"
II know what you mean, Amy; and it
would be no good if | had. You are think
ing of-of Colonel Bcauregard."
"Yes-forgive me, Valerie"
"There's nothing to forgive; you can only
judge. like the rest, by what you see. And
the courage of my intentions, you say, or
what seemed my intentions"
"Were they not, Nalerie2 Were you
not. ut any rate, cOnsenting;'
(Which is the same thing, iSn'tit? What
| does it matter what intended or appeared
to .ntend2 There will be an end of it all
sOOn-vcry soon" she said, clasping her
hands above her head.
4 81,
| talking very strangely"
You'll understand me in few days
time Don't ask me any more questions.
couldn't answer them"
81 must ask one or two, Valerie. An
gcIa said you had heard from Aston Law
ford.'
WHO told herr"
Lady Elinor. Did he write to renew
| his offer, Valerie?"
Yes"
and yOu-yOu won't dream of marrying
him" said Amy, earnestly.
NO won't marry Aston Lawford. l
haven't answered his letter, and l don't
| mean to-"
81 am so glad to hear you say that, Va
Ierie. But Mrs. Langley"
- have never followed aunt Constances
not likely TO begin now. You open your
cycs-mentally mean; you think she had
planned, and | have consented. Have /?
You will know soon, Amy. But | have
| followed my own lead from the beginning,
and shall follow il to the end"
81 don't understand you, Valerie; you
are talking in cnigmas, - said Amy, putting
her arms round her friend again. II must
| try and be patient; but this | know-that
you are not happy"
Never mind said the other, restlcssly,
"let me live in your happiness, Amy; talk
to me about yourself, and your dear old
Hal. When are YOU going to he married,
and where viii you live? and tell me every
thing You can think Of"
So Amy obcyed, and stayed with Valerie
till tea time, when she was dismissed Va
lere herself having tea sent up to her; she
would come down to dinner, she said; but
She wanted to be alone for awhile.
And she lay still, III a kind of dull agony.
There was nothing to h. done-nothing!
The miserable misunderstanding must 80
on to the end How was she to live the
life That lay before her? Truly her life
hitherto had been a failure. though not as
Constance Langley would understand the
word.
And Amy. running down TO the drawing
room greatly dreading the chaff, met Max
Beauregard.
.Fairlv c,ugbt >, he eoid boIdiro, ont bis
hand. and smiling at her heightened color
"Whv, YOU are not afraid of me. are youyv
folding the girls hand in both his own.
Ono. indeed. not of vouu she said. az
wouldn't mind even if YOU chatTedrr
.It 10 vcr,, ,,ood If vnu to sav that. Int
indrod Tb,d ma idea Of ch,ninr want
ia tell Won how very. very clad I am that
Won are going to be the wife Of NV dearest
T.i,,,,d ~
..1,ho,l- ,,o,, from, my, I,oo,t =, ,ii ,,,,-
,otnCnII 81 lnn,l y,',, ,,,a',,, ,.J,t ,.rI
sa,, thnn'rI, Ln,,t Ios.,,,,a ~. l,,,+ r In
t, .S -, ,I,,,7,.,,,' 40,
.I,.,.,
e ~, ~ ,,, '''t' WI " i,',,Sa YOU
t, ,,,,,oL fI.i ta1, ',pv
'S ''', '''''
',,I
VI '"''"'. "'"'' '7''"' ''IGu Amy,
','''7 NO. NY "'N "" '''' ''ip''''S'
ABOUT 'lal' yes nor ABOUT Eon' ihat was
sober truth on my h"hor us aSoldler Now
So" may come III To tea II you IKE. dare
say llal Is wondering very rrNIEnedly
Il have been chattcring with Valerie"
Young ladies' condolences. Is she not
coming dOwnf'
Not until dinner time"
She glanced up in Colonel Brauregard's
face, but could make nothing of it. Just
outside the drawing-room door she paused.
and said, pcadingly:
Don't let them tease me too much, Col
oncl Bcauregard will yuug"
II will protect YOU" said he. smiling,
''lko vcritlhlr knight crrant, if You will
give me my gurrlon-to be paid before
hand"
For fear | should cheat you9 But
kniGhts-errant never sought reward"
Not in gold: but what | ask is more
priceless than goId-this.r
He bent down smiling, and fust touched
his Inns to lc, i,,.,,,,, I,,.,tl,,,I.,>, -,
Dear old Halls hetrothed is my sister
You know" he said
81 am SO hapny that Won sbould fool On -
said the girl hor face radiant. and then he
opened the door and 1cd tbe fuoitivn info
the drawinr- roam
Valerie onnr,rr,1 ot dir,o,. aud ,,-,s .,
all outward saa,nin,r ,s hriII;a,t -, ,,,-o,..
and in the DRAWING ram, ,fto,,,-,.d 1,or
soft Iau,rh ,y,s ,ft,,, b.,,rI s,{,, -.
some of bnr host .,,,,r, n,,,i ,,,, ,,,;'.i,t
have thnu,rh+ tho ,ri,j ho,I ,,,,..,. III
tcur Nrt sbo l.ro,,, NJ I5,,,,,,,,I -
not deceived. be, actin ,',t r,,. ,,;,,,
~ ,I ~ rs ",,H ,''' i'h ii'h'