Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-05
VAIEIRIEJ-
HALF d TRUTH.
~BY THE DUCHESS


''Thank you so much for that kind wishf'
was all she could say; and then they passed
through the lofty doorway, into the noble
hall, with its groined roof and painted win
dows, its grim suits of armor, and ancient
weapons and trophies of the chase, and
costly bronzes; and with a strange thrill of
mingled pain and joy, Valerie raised her
eyes and looked above her, around her, as
she stood in Max Beauregard's houSe-by
its masters side.
There was no lack of modern luxury in
the rooms to which Valerie was conducted
-sitting-roOm, dressing-room, and bed
room en- suite; but she was more enchanted
with painted ceilings and paneled walls.
and Gothic Recommendations set in deep
embrasures and portraits of Beauregard
cavaliers and DANES, than with silk and
lace draperies and velvet lounges, and the
rest. She let the tea that was brought her
get cold-much to FanchOn's distress
while she roamed about admiring quaint
old cabinets, looking at the pictures, gaz-
ing from the windows, which faced south
west, and commanded a splendid sweep of
country, and trying TO make out subjects
of the paintings in the ceiling. at last
Fanchon tried to bring her to the present
moment with:
''What dress will Mademoiselle wear?"
'.Ohr' said Valerie, dreamily-she was
tracing the story of Joseph and his brethren
carved in alto relieUO on the high mantel-
piece 'I-that isl wonder what the date
is?-oh! here it is! How deliciously old
14S8!''
''Mademoiselle will be late,' said Fanch-
On, desperately.
''Yes!" the girl started ''I forgot. /
was looking at that wood-carvng. What
will | wear, did you ask? Cream and gold
plush-no jewels-only flowers. lean make
a selection from the flowers here-see, what
beautiesp'
1t dit not occur to Valerie-wnOSe native
simplicity nothing could really destroy
that, by entering the drawingroOm the
last, she might incur the suspicion of doing
so purposely; she never thought about it,
till, when the servant opened the drawing
room door, she saw that everyone, or al
most everyone else, was alreadyin the room.
Max Beauregard talking to Mrs. Lang
ley, looked up and every pulse quickened
as his eyes rested on the beautiful girl he
loved so passionately, yet whom he could
never claim as his own. Lady Elinor
glanced involuntarily from Valerie to An
gela and set her lips together.
Lord Westbrook, Hal Dallas, Travers,
Mrs. Dudley, all came forward to greet
Valerie, and at once Angela was almost
deserted. Lady Elinor leaned over to
where the girl sat- and tapped her with her
fan.
We were beginning to fear you had
escaped to the picture galleries, or were
hunting up curios in some ouU-of-the-way
place." she said laughingly.
'Not quite so bad as that, Lady Elinor;
but | found SO many delightful old things
in my rooms, that, but for Fanchon,
should not have saved my manners, and
On the way here | could have stopped a
dozen times"
AT that rate" said Colonel Beauregard
Joining the group, you will require a
keeper IN going about the house, or you
will box yourself up in some old chest, like
Ginevra"
is there such a chest?" asked She
''There may be-very likely; but there is
something more in your line in the park.
'What is that?"
But he shook his head, laughinr.
''Ill tell you another time" he said.
''Ohr' cried Lord Westbrook and Mrs.
Dudley in breath; "to excite our curiosity
and then refuse TO satisfy itl''
And Dallas added:
|'For shame, Beaul Miss Herbert, make
him tellp'
But Valerie. though she wondered wha'
her host meant. only answered:
"He would not tell for anything | might
Say 1t would be no use asking"
"MisS Herbertr' demonstrated Lord
Westbrook, leaning over her chair, anC
adding lower, las if any man could refuse
whatever you askedp'
You couldn't, perhaps" with saucy
upward flash of her bright eyes inUo his
which gave him tlste of the seventh
heaven; ''but Colonel Beauregard is made
of sterner stuff. Besides, | am content Il
be patient"
But you won't keep the secret to your
self-no, a woman never camp
"A woman can keep a secret better thar
man when she is determined upon it,
said Valerie, carelessly.
Had she not proved this at most bitter
cost?
The entrance of the butler to announce
dinner put an end to the budinGJG.
In the drawing-room. after dinner, Mrs
Langley watched Valerie. and saw, with
some misgiving, that she allowed herself t
be usurped by others than her host, anC
certainly gave him no opportunity for talk
but, short of neglecting her-he was too
courteous a host to neglect any of hi
guests-Naft her to the other men, and de
voted himself to pretty, dashlhg Mrs. bud
ley, more than Mrs. Langley liked to see.
Il wonder" said Lilias Dudley to hin
presently in a low tone, inaudible to an,
but her nearer, amid the buzz of talking
at little table where Valerie sat, lookin.
through photograph album, with Lore
Westbrook and Major Travers in attend
arce, while Dallas sacrificed himself t
Angela MuSgrave-'I wonder if Miss Her
bert means tosubjugate poor Westbrook?'
"Poor Westbrookn repeated Beaure
gard, smiling HE doesn't look like ;
martyr, does hes Why should you pit.
him?"
"Why" raising her white shoulders
Because he may be only another in TIT
auto dG fc of victims"
"Ahl now you are not generous. Iol
ought not TO blame a beautiful woman
for making conquests. How can she hell
it?"
Mrs Dudley blushed, well pleased by th'
N-mpliment.
abr she said, softly; 'but beautiful
woman can be merciful.'
'Why this sudden interest in Westbrook
shall begin to think you are jealous o.
Valerie" said Beauregard
IF Oh, no. nor she exclaimed, earnest
ly. and raising her really handsome eye
to his. You cannot think that, Colone
BeauregardP
Nor" he questioned, quizzicallv. ant
ignoring the significance of tone and glance
GsyVbv not9 Won woman nevar ,raarv n