Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-16
VAIERIE1-
HALF p TRUTH.
"BY THE DUCHESS. :"

upon the death OF General Baaureg gard: but
Constance Langley was, before all things.
worldly, and-in her way-ambitious.
Even in the first shock OF the intelligence.
the facts that Max Beauregard was now
owner of the broad lands OF Abbot's Leigh,
and that Valerie had received an Offer
from Aston Lawford, were present to her
mind. Indeed, when that day she had
heard that Gerald was dangerously Ill, the
thought st once came: "If he should die,
then Max will be leading man in the
world And all the way home her busy
brain was revolving possibilities for Va.
Ierie's future. Beauregard, Lord of Alb
bots Leigh, would be a match with which
Aston Lawford, irOnmaster, could not
compare. The Beauregards had great
estates in their own county and elsewhere,
and all the prestige of ancient and Illus.
trious family; and Colonel Beauregard had
personal charms Of high order, and per
sOnal fame. What future lay before Va.
lerie If only
And 10! possibility had become more than
probability!
Mrs Langley rose to her feet, and looked
at her niece.
1T is very shOcking-very dreadfulr' she
said, slowly. Poor Elinor! and she has
no sonP' She removed her bonnet and
mantle and began to take of her gloves.
And Max" she added-"hs will feel it.
although the brothers were not much to
gether, and had few tastes in common.
Still they were always the best Of friends"
Valerie sat down by small table neal
and bowed her face in her hands, choking
with sobs which she tried to keep back.
All. how bitterly Max would suffer- He
!, !, -,
i'll worldly fortune this death made to him.
Mrs. Langley did not speak. She waited
until the girl had recovered herself some.
what, and then she said gently:
valerie dear, when you can attend to
me I want to speak to you"
The girl lifted her head and stretched
out her hands with passionate gesture.
"Oh, auntie," she cried, you must not
be angry with me tonight! l could not
bear itp'
you are too sensitive, child How do
you Know am going to be angry?"
You Will be-you must be-but speak to
me tomorrow"
II promise that will not scold you for
anything tonight, Valerie. But answer
| my question. What did you say to Aston
Lawfords
Il told him" said the girl. resolutely,
that / could not be his wife''-Mrs Lang
ley started, and drew quick breath OF re-
licf--"because did not love him." Valerie
went on, fully believing that she was piiing
up for herself terrible wrath for the NOR
row. "Oa, aunt Constance. | know have
been wrong, but did not think he really
care. fer me. i begged INN to forgive me-,
but could not marry him. | would di2
| sooner! People viii call me false-a jlt-
Ihcn they must. | know | told you that
loved the world, and couldn't marry
Louis byCaisc lie was poor" it wns the old
terror of being charged with another love
! that mHIr nvr SLY this-"but didn't know
! Whu; itW"uid he tomarrg Aston Lawforj."
Mr.. Langley, sitting in an armchair op-
po'iic, leaned her elbow on the arm shad-
! ing her face with her hand; and even when
Valerie ceased speaking, tho listener did
not move.
The girl rose and stood before her aunt
clasping her little hands together and
| though she spoke falteriugIy, there was
not line OF irrcspinjiJn in her face. Fra
gilc STRIPPING though she was, her will WAS
set like a vice; and the man or woman who
hoped to make her yield her ground would
have been blind indeed.
aunt Constance" she said, II know
you will think mo ungratcful, and you
thought it would be great thing for me
to be Aston Lawford's vito; but I cannot
obey you in this whatever happens. can
go back again to the country-to uncle
Wills"
And marry Louis Charteris?" asked
Mrs. Langley, quietly, without looking up.
Nalerie's lips opened for quick NO, no
not that!'' But in the instant she check
ed herself, for the thought flashed through
her brain like lightning: she thinks
love him. II she discovers ! do not, she
will say, You love someone elsc|"
She was silent.
Then Mrs. Langley dropped her hand
and rose
Let us say no moro about it tonight,
Valerie" she said. Tomorrow, perhaps,
or later, I may speak to you But Of this
can assure you shall not send lou back
into the country. Now. good-ntgp ="
She Kissed the girl aETectionatesy. and
'alerio went up to her room VITA a feeling
OF hewilderment
what could it meanH' she asked her
self. Mrs Langley had promised not TO
he angry with her to night; but she did not
seem even much displeased, aud she had
50 set her heart on this marriage Does
she imagine" Valerie thought. that will
yields'
But for Il time her brain felt dizzy and
confused, and she could not think distinct.
ly. She was, however. terribly excited,
and felt that sleep would be an impossi-
hility. SO when Fanchon left her, she
wrapped dressing gown about her, and
sat down, leauing her throbbing temples
on her hands.
Her thoughts were growing clearer now,
more defined. In the quiet of the night
they travelled to Abbot's Leigh, and saw
the death chamber with its tall tapers. and
}hc soldier, stern and calm, In his silent
watch by the dead. Long time they dwelt
there, and then they came back to the ques.
ton that had perplexed her.
Had the shock OF tho terrible news from
Abhot's Leigh soitened Constance Lang
ley's heart-for time at least' But that
connection of ideas was the flash of revel-
alton. The news from Abbot's Leigh
Gerald's death made Max owner OF all!
With the smothared cry of Il wounded
creature the girl fell on her knees. hiding
her face from the light in shame and an.
gui>h.
Was this it?-that Aston I.uwford was
TO be cast aside for Max Beauregard9
The worIs not understood a. the time,
came back to Valerie. and beat upon her
brain with pitiIeSs Clearuess:
And Max Beauregard is lori of Abbot's
Leigh"
Yes. even in that dread moment. Con
stance Langley, almost il the presence Of
death, Thought of the gain OF that death,
and graspei the gold that fell from the stiff
eninE fingers.
And he viii think that !. too, schemod
70 win him, il the very hour that l knew
hs had wealth Oh. Heaven, he will think
even this OF me,' Valerie moaued, the
burning tears forcing themselves through
her fingers. On, how can bear it, what
shall dos II could only die, He Will
know that | refused Aston Lawtord on the
very day-iu the very hour-I knew his
brother died! What else can he think but
that am the base, wretched schemer I
seem to be- Why should he believe better
of me after what he knows already? OH
the shame burns into my soul-that she
should want me to win him after all that
has passsd-to win him, of all men on
earthr'
What could she seem, to Max Beaurs-
CARDS high sense OF honor, better than the
haplsss creatures who sell their souls for
moneys Only the Mayfair market is IL
csnSed by custom: and TO the other market
custom gives no license, and no open re-
coEuitiou.