Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-16
CHAPTER xyIIT-wEARTyG THE MASK,

and pray, Amy, why shouldn't go t.
the meet on Aston Lawford's coach?"
So spoke Miss Valerie Herbert, leaning
back in a low chair in her own b0udoir
her hands clasped behind her head, show
ing every curve Of the beautiful white
arms as the loose sleeves fell back from
the elbows, her great slate-gray eyes fixed
in quizzical archness on the pretty face Of
Amy Linwood, who sat opposite at the lit
tie inlaid tea-table.
That intimacy, SO easily formed between
young people near each other in age and
sympathetic in temperament, had sprung
up between Amy-a girl OF one or two anG
tWenty-and Valerie, although the confj
ence was all on one side.
Valerie had the un-girI-like quality OF
intense reserve. With all her outward
vivacity. she kept her inner life to herself
Amy knew nothing of the secret springs OF
her friends character. She told her OWL
troubles to a sympathizing listener, but
received no condolences in return. She
knew only Of Nalerie's engagement tC
Louis Charters because she had asked the
question, and Valerie, of course, admitted
the fac,; but though Amy, wOman-Iike
would have welcomed little "gush" about
l.oais-hOW they came TO love each other
ejc.,-she GOT none upon this or any Other
subject. Valerie would have died sO0nei
than betray to any human being the faint
es- hint that Max Beauregard was more tc
her than man she had met, and danced
with, and liked, as she might have liked
many others.
what! going on the box-seat of Law
fori's drag!" Amy had exclaimed, when
to the question somewhat staggered hel
| friend.
The brown eyes met the gray ones with
puzzled stare-the latter never flinching
then Amy laughed.
och, well, :" she said, 81 suppose it's al
r.Ght! Only you know what people vii
say. At the ball last night he was like
your shadow"
Valerie laughed out merrily; but there
was tone in the laugh Max Beauregard
would scarcely have liked to hear-a touch
! of recklessness, q yelled sneer, to which
the Valerie, Of the Lines, was a total
stranger.
I'll cast such . shadow as that" she
said, 'I must be under a spell of enchant-
ment? Oh, yes" relapst1g into q yawn
''what a bore he wasn'
Don't talk like that, Valerie. 7 do be
| Ieve the man is fond of you"
Don't abuse him behind his back be
! cause am civil to his facer' returned Va
| lerie Now, if l had said that you might
have detected remains of Atcadian sim
| plicity; but you ought to know better. Isn't
| it the correct thing TO pull all your friends
! to pieces when they're not by? To flirt
-,
| sleeve all the time? Give me another cuI
of tea, Amy, and don't play Phyllis"
You can't mean what you say" said
| Amy, distressed, nevertheless, TO hear hel
young friend talk in such a strain. ''YoU
| could not lead 4 man on, to throw him
| over in the end. Besides, you are still en-
| gagged to Lr. Charters. are you not?"
| 4 swift color crossed Valerie's cheek; the
! hand with which she took the cup from
| her friend trembled.
Eyes, she said, care]eSsIy. ''What then%
"Only he mightn't like your giving SC
! much countenance to the rumors COINS
! about concerning you and 1tr. Lawford.'
by going on the bo1-seat? But Louis
! isn't in town. haven't seen him since
before 7 went abroad. He is with his
father, who is i'll" --.--
| he IS sure 10 near o. IL, Nti1SAiS' esAie
| might be in town before the meet: It ISM
until Wednesday week"
Again the quick color in Nalerie's cheek
but this time it was no thought OF Louis
that called it up, but another thought.
He will be inLondon by then. He ma.
be therey'
She said, slowly, after pause:
u don't want to deceive Louis, Amy.
was testing just now would tell hin
| myself was on Lawford's drag, or any
| thing else did. can't let Louis or any
one else hamper me or dictate to me-"