Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-03
xLv.-"YoU WILL KNOW SOON. "

And Amy stole in.
One look at her flushed face and spark
ling eyes, and Valerie held out her hands.
Dear old Amy" she said, 'ETknow what
You have come to tell nle!'f
Amy Rnelt down by the couch and put
her arms round Valerie, hiding her face.
Are you glad?" she whispered.
You know I am. saw how it was long
ago, Amy"
Amy looked up.
Long ago. she repeated. ''When?"
'Oh! last season" said Valerie. laugh
ing. Don't color so, you silly darling;
there's 10 harm done"
NO" returned Amy, laughing, too.
"And mamma likes Hal; she doesn't mind
his not being rich left him with Colonel
Beauregard; though of course he knew"
I should think he did! Where were
they?"
''On the terrace. Why?"
''NothinE; only I thought Angela had
been with Colonel Beauregard."
perhaps he executed some strategic
movement and got rid of her. said Amy,
merrily. ''She had best give up her chase;
he doesn't care for her one atom.'
Never mind Angela" said Valerie,
quickly. ~ want to hear about you"
What am to tell you? 1 only feel aw-
fully happy; and 1 wish you did," said
Amy, in an altered tone, and laying her
face on Valerie's shoulder again.
Valerie started and laughed in something
of the old reckless way Amy had heard be-
fore.
why do you think am not happy?' she
said.
You can't be-and you don't look it''
Look it? Just now-no; how should T."
Amy raised her head and looked earnest
ly IN her friends face.
why do you say How should - Va
lerie? You are in trouble about something,
and you won't tell me-"
"Have ever told you anything, Amy?
What's the good? 1t only worries you and
can't help me. Now you're looking grave
when you ought to look like sunshine
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 me indifferent 10 your I'M
happiness"
Valerie turned aside; her bosom heaved.
why do you care so much?' she said.
You know what [ am; you know how lit
tie am worth anyone's lover'
You are not unworthy of love, Valerie;
you hate the very part you play; you have
not the courage of your intentions"
81 know what you mean, Amy; and it
would be no good if had. You are think
ing of-of Colonel Beauregard."
"Yes-forgive me, Valerie"
There's nothing to forgive;y you can only
Judge, like the rest, by what you see. And
yet, after all, am a failure. [ have not
the courage of my intentions, you say, Or
what seemed my intentions"
''Were they not, Valerie? Were you
not, at any rate, consenting?"
(Which is the same thing, isn't What
does it matter what intended, or appeared
to intend? There will be an end of it all
sOon-very soon," she said, clasping her
hands above her head.
''Valerier' said Amy, startled. ''You are
talking very strangely"
''You'n understand me in a few days
time. Don't ask me any more questions.
I couldn't answer them"
'I must ask one or two, Valerie. An
gela said you had heard from Aston Law
ford
''WLo told her?"
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
| lerie. But Mrs Janglev?"
Il nave never followed aunt Constance's
| lead" returned Valerie, coolly, land l am
| not likely to begin now. You open your
eyes-mentally | mean; you think she had
| planned, and [ have consented. Have L?
You will know soon, Amy. But I have
| followed my own lead from the beginning,
and I shall follow it to the end"
Il don't understand you, Valerie; you
are talking in enigmas, " said Amy, putting
her arms round her friend again. 81 must
| try and be patient; but this 1 know-that
you are not happy"
''Neyer mind" said the other, restlessly,
'let me live in your happiness, Amy; talk
to me about yourself, and your dear old
Hal. When are you going to be married,
and where will you live? and tell me every
thing you can think Of"
So Amy obeyed, and stayed with Valerie
till tea-time, when she was dismissed Va
lerie 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, in kind Of dull agony.
There was nothing to be done-nothing!
| The miserable misunderstanding must so
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.
"Fairly caught" he said, holding out his
hand, and smiling at her heightened color.
"Why, you are not afraid of me, are you?"
folding the girls hand in both his own.
mo, indeed, not of YOU" she said. 'I
wouldn't mind even if you chaffedr'
sit is very good of you to say that; but
indeed, had no idea of chatting. I want
to tell you how very. very glad I am that
you are going to be the wife of my dearest
friend"
"Thank you from my heart" said Amy,
gratefully. 81 know you mean what you
say, though don't deserve it; but I will
try to deserve itI'
"Try! it wouldn't be easy to change you
for the better, Amy. Well, 1 must not
say too much, or Hal may take me to task;
l hope he isn't anywhere near nowr'
ooh, Colonel Beauregardr' cried Amy,
laughing merriIy, now you are chatf1ng!''
about Hal, yes; not about you; that was
sober truth, on my honor as asoldier. Now
you may come in to tea, if you like dare
say Hal is wondering-not very resignedly
where you have been all the afternoon"