Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-01-27

Yet everyone said you looked perfect.
am not sure whether you shall wear any
after all,n said Mrs. Langley, surveying
her niece meditativelv. 'Iremember Amy
Linwood wore none when she came out,
and charming she looked; and she is only
very pretty"
Amy Linwood!'' said Valerie, eagerly.
docs she live near 10 you:"
NO; in Mansfield Street. We Will call
there in day or two. Let me give you
some more tea, Valerie"
Valerie handed across the tiny cup, and
Mrs. Langley went on:
Il wonder no one has dropped in this af
ternoon 1 half expected Lady Elinor
Beauregard; know they are in town-Cap-
tain Beauregar1's sister-in-law, you know.
You met him down at bennington, did
you not?" asked Mrs. Langley coyertly
watching the other, who had started slight
II at the name of Beaure gard. The elder
lady knew perfectly well that her niece
had danced with Captain Beauregard at
the ball.
eyes replied Valerie, not thinking it
necessary to go beyond that particular
evening in the history of her acquaintance
with the Captain. II did not know you
knew him or his people. aunt Constance. :"
Il do not know him intimately: he has
been 50 much away. Lady ElinOr is my
special friend; but it is great pity Max
was not born the eldest son. 1t so often
happens that the man who will never in
Lcrit is the superior of the man who does.
"Isn't General Beauregard like his broth
er, thens' asked Valerie.
.'NOt b;t,-that IS, not to compare with
him. He Is good-looking, and clever enough
no BeaUregard ever was either plain or
an idiot: but Max is such a strikingly-hand-
some man, and has such brain! As it is,
he has only his pay and younger sons
allowance, and Of course Lady Elinor Will
haze chiIlren-she is not thirty yet-so
Max has no chance of the estates, and viii
have to marry money"
This last was said in the most matter-of
course way. In Mrs Langley's code it was
a matter OF course. She was not only a
thorough woman of the world, but thor
oughly worldly minded woman; and in the
utterance of what was 10 her q natural
idea, she forgot for the moment that her
companion was still forest flower.
~ shouldn't think he would do that"
said Valerie, impulsively.
Mrs. Langley laughed.
My dear young Arcadian, Max Beaure.
gard IS a man of the world. Do you imag-
inc, because he looks like knight of old
in modern dress, be is as romantic as those
gentry are supposed to be?'
''No; it isn't that" returned the girl per
picked by this tone of badinage, but holding
to her text; ''Only he did not seem man
who would think so much of money"
My dear" said Mrs Langley, quietly,
Il don't know how much you could dis
cover Of any mans disposition in an eve
ming. When you have lived little in the
world, you will find that there IS not much
romance about. Heroes of the battlefield
can be wonderfully prOsaic In ordinary
life and Max Baauregard, for all his eX-
potts in Egypt, will probably prove him
self too wise to marry portionless girl for
love"
"Oh! aunt Constance" cried the girl,
there must be some people who are not
always thinking of worldly advantacer'
Young girls like you, my dear, brought
up rs you have been; and bitterly they re-
pent it in after life when they marry on
nothing year Older people have more
wisdom. | did not marry for love, but !
was very happy"
Il should not bar' said Valerie, decided
ly.
You are seventeen, my dear" replied
her aunt, drily. But" she added, diplo-
matiCally, love and wealth are not neces-
SariIy antagOnistic"
Valerie thought of Louis, and was silent.
Coloring little
Ought she to tell her aunt of her engage
mcnt or did Mrs Langley already know
about it,
She had not mentioned the subject as
yet; and twice Valerie had received letters
from Louis, which her aunt had seen. but
had not asked any question, or displayed
any wish to he told who her niece's CORE
spOndcnt was
Mrs. Langley glanced at Valerie, and,
reading the girls thought, smiled to her
self
Slipping her tea, the worldly-wise lady
observed, quietly:
Your uncle told me, Valerie, that you
had engaged yourself to a young friend,
Louis Chartcris."
Valerie flushed deeply, and clasped her
hands neryously together; but her aunt did
not seem to observe her.
She went on:
"Of course Mr.. Herbert did not recognize
the engagement rs binding-nOr can [ do
su--'
But do!' mterposed the girl, impetu-
ously, her loyalty, rather than her heart,
speaking.
You have very strong will, Valerie"
said her aunt not in the least RULED, land
| only hope it will not lead you into any
foolish act. | have no fear, however, that
It will induce you to marry a man with an
income of about one hundred and fifty
pounds year. But have no desire to be
harsh; and if were so, you would either
go Off at a tangent or be dcceitful. The
first would be more like YOU 1 dare say
Mr.. Charters has written to You already?
Write to him-hear from him-as often rs
Won please; but, of course. | cannot active
ly encourage a suit of which your uncle,
very rightly, diSapproves; and which l also
tell You plainly-consider foolish"
It would be difficult to analyze Valerie's
feelings while her aunt spoke; she certain
~ could not have analysed them herself.
She saw both the justice and the wisdom
of refusal to recognize an engagement
between two very young and impecunious
persons; she was too inexperienced to per
reivr the deeper wisdom Of an abstentiOn
from active opposition.
But This was not all Was Valerie real
iy deeply grieved by a fiat which was in
effect this: Correspond, if you choose,
with your lover, but | cannot ask hin, 20
my home.' Did she wish to see Louis very
oftcu-that is, if he came as a lover? Was
it Il relief to find hat they could only meet
occaSionally2 In truth, Valerie did not
know.
She answered coutuscdly, after n pause:
But. aunt Constance, had no idea OF
marrying nOw-not for Years TO come. 1
knew that was impossible, even if uncle
VIII had no objection"
Then, my dear" said her aunt, with
real touch of kindness, Twill say no more.
don't want to pain you in any way, but
it is best to speak with perfect frankness;
it prevents misunderstanding. am sure
you will agree with me-"
1t was rather frigid way of putting it;
but Valerie replied in a low tone:
Yes, aunt Constance.
Then, in an altered manner:
But you don't mean that I am never to
see Louis"
There was that in the tone. in the flash
of the gray eyes, in the slight movement Of
the head, which warned Mrs. Langley.
She was far too good driver to put sharp
curb on high-Spirited horse. Valerie, she
had seen at first interview, was not 8
girl TO be treated in conventional fashion;
any attempt at downright coercion would
produce open rebellion. She must be
moulded and influenced by her surround
ings and associations; not driven or con-
trolled.