Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-04-13
cuAPrER yL-A sPRAIN-

to her, for he knew she was doing this for
his sake, to enable him to compose his face
and manner before Colonel Beauregard and
his companion came up, and he was re-
mOrseful for his harsh accusation.
Forgive me-" he said, after a minutes
pause Il was a brute to say what | did"
"There is nothing to forgive. The truth
is novelty TO mel don't often hear it.
Please say no more about it; but get me
down those dog-roses."
"WestbrooI is hard hit" observed Mrs.
Dudley, as Valerie and the young peer
went on toward the hill; and she2"
only nirts with him. We5tbrook is
heir 10 a poor peerage. Very likely be
would throw over everything for her; but
-" he finished with Il shrug.
Mrs. Dudley laughed.
81 think she has her heart well in hand, !"
she said, IF anyone has"
Max thought Of the sweet eyes that had
looked up to him in the thunderstorm two
wears ago, that were somehow so little
changed for all the crust Of worldiness
that had choked the pure nature, and he
could not bring his lips to traduce his idol
He only said:
''No man should say, should h, that q
woman IS heartlcss2"
The widow looked down.
GLOW many men would speak like that"
she said.
~ don't know: but think we have lost
far too much of the older chivalry which
treated women with II reverence akin to
worship
"In theory, Colonel Beauregard- not!i
ing else"
Not in theory only; that is, there were
instances in which the theory was carried
into facts; an in ru !e and coarse ages
there was something even In the theory,
for remember that it tinged all the poetry
Of the period, and 50 had its influence,
greater than we will sometimes allow
We are in no danger to-day of returning to
the practice Of carrying off ladies BON gre
maj ore. but we need more of the tone that
prrvadcS the 'Faerie Queene,' and the Old
er poets"
''lt is much our own fault, isn't it?" said
Mrs Dudley-'we women, mean? Still,
il is a rar. treat to find man inclined to
be gentle with our faults, and carry out
rs well rs uphold doctrines Of chivalry."
"Ahl you will be personal" said Beau
regard. biting his lip in some veIation.
81 PROFOUND Il theory, and you pay com
plment But here we are at the stjle, and
there ARE WestbrOoll and Valerie gathering
wild roses"
Valerie made light of the steep path up
the hillside. but Mrs. Dudley found it u
toilsomc ascent, aud paused more than once
en- route to rest rtu2hInS the top at last,
hot AM putting.
"Oh"' sho exclaimed, sitting down on a
tree stump no more climbing for mer'
mot upthcrcn' said Colonel Baauregard
laughing and pointing to what appeared
to Mrs. Dudlcy's astonishcd gaze an mae
cessible prccipice."
"Ihcrer' she exclaimed, blankIy. Are
you joking? Did you really mean Valerie
and me to climb such place"
81 can do it, - cried Valerie
''Weil, you may then; but | don't want
to break my neck. Don't let me keep any
| one, however, can rest here while You all
go up. But how do you propose to get
down again?'
"Easily." said Colonel Beauregard, n good
deal amused. "Only a better way would
be, if you are good enough to excuse me
as pioneer is ncedful-if you would pres
emily saunter on slowly, and we can descend
over the other side and meet you"
Very well But fancy climbing such &
placer
Come, then" said Max; Valerie. fol-
! low me, and WcstbrOok next
Light built, lissomr, sure of eye and foot
as II highlander, there were not many
climbs that would have proved insurmount-
able to Max Bcaurcgard. He was up the
steep and Craggy hillside several yards in
an instant, and paused to see how Valerie
| followed
She was close on his steps as he turned,
Lord Wcstbrook several feet below her.
well doner' said BcHurcgarl; but be
carrfuI-this is only the beginning"
lie went on, Valerie still following close,
Westhrook some way lower
Presently. Bcaure-ard put his foot on
projecting root, and. Selling sapling
above, swung himself easily to u higher
ledge, where, his left hand still grasping
the tree, he turned and stretched out his
hand to Valerie
Your hand, fairy; You can't get up here
without help"
mo. she said, laughing. and giving him
her hand - should want to be us tall as
you for that
Put your foot thcrc-that's it!'
In second she stood beside him. flushed
(not all with the cljmbing) and painting II
little. looking down on Lord Westbrook
toiliug upward, because she hardly cared
to look ut her companion.
And he-hc had dropped her hand. look
| ing down, not on Lord Wrstbrook. who
might he an hour coming M for all he
cared. hut on her, and feeling that he
"lInd ven all other bliss
And al his worldly worth for this
7" waste his whole heart in one kiss
Upon her perfect lips"
Lord WcSthrook doesn't get on very
quickly" said Valerie, to break the silence.
which made her trcmnle inwardly.
"He is just below that shrub. a" returned
Beaurcgard, pointing to one that hid him
"A little 10 the right. WcSthr1uk-
Shall we 20 on now, Fairy Quecns We
are not very far from the top. Yrs> Give
me your hand. then; it will be easier So"
She put the little white hand in his. and
they went on, hand in hand
To Valerie it almost seemed asir She was
carried upward, SO easy did her cpmpan-
Ions supple strength make the way for
her; and every pulse was thrnbAjnL with
the magnetism OF his clasp, and the name
he called her was ringing i'll her heart a
wild, joyous chime-the sweet oil name
by which it seemed rs il lie meant t con
tradict her hard, reckless words. that one
month chased away the memory OF anotL-
er.
And at leugth-waS it too soon or not
Soon enough. how could Valerie kuows-
hey reaCacl the top of Mervyn'S HILL and
TODD on the broad plateau, PARTIAL, GOV
cred with trees. and Val 'rie uttered a cry
of delight. and suatChcd Ter band from
Bcaure cards. Ia clasp it with her other
hand over her bosom.
OH she said, under her breath, chow
beautitulr'
Hill, and wood. and stream. lay before
them, all hathed in the August sunshine;
an Immense stretch OF country. fading full
tive-and-tweuty miles away, into purple
distance
The girl moved forward few steps. and
stood rapt and motiouleSS-her lips quiz
erinC, her dark eyes shining like stars. her
whole being drinking in tie woudrous
charm Of laudSCave beauty Yet not forget
ful-ncver for one second for :ptCul-of the
silent presence near her; rather were her
senses the more deeply bEei With ma
ture' loneliness because he WAS thcre-tne
centre Of her universe; for MI the pain.
'Iovc took mp the cllSS OF time and turned IT
IN his glowing hands:
Every moment, lightly shaken, ran itself in
golden sands.
For him alSos All. that whisper stealing
through all the chambers OF her heart.
those memorjeS-uay. Uot memories, for
they were ever PRESENT. was net then,
but HOU-0f tones Of looks, Of words. two