San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-09
CHAPTER xLvI.-vALERIE's CHOICE,

CHAPTER ELvL-vALERTE's CHOICE.
II was q very keen glance Max Beaure-
gard gave Valerie, and his hand closed
over hers with unconscious force as he babe
her good-mOrning. Thought he added,
gently, whether willfully or not, still keep
ing her hand in his, "you don't look as IL
you had slept well, Fairy Queenw
NO, did notI she answered, trying to
speak carelessly, and failing, wishing, too,
that he would drop her hand, and yet glad
that he held it; but bad night now and
then does no harm"
perhaps nOt-now and then.' said Beau.
regard, gravely. Then seeing the change
in her face, he added, quickly, "Forgiv:
me, Fairy; I suppose ought not to have
said anything beyond the usual greeting.
My role of surgeon is over, your foot seems
quite well''
He released her hand rs he spoke, and
turned away. Valerie answered him:
Eyes, feel as If could walk miles now
and it was kind in you to say the other"
Kind in me: why3" He drew her to 0
low chair, and sat down by her.
Rather, why mott"
kind to take any interest in you, is that
it,"
The girl shrugged her shoulders, and
| like sudden flash that reckless look came
| into her face. She laughed, and rose to
her feet.
"Oh only spoke conventionally," she
said.
Beauregard rose, too, turning deadly
white. A moment he paused; then he put
his hand on the girls shoulder, and turned
her with gentle force round to him.
"Valerie!' he said, in low voice, "you
did not mean what you said last Cone
your hand again, we must not be other
than good friends now, when you are so
soon going; you know must always have
an interest in you, Fairy Queen, for the
sake Of old times!'
His voice broke little; he turned away
abruptly, and stepped out onto the terrace;
but Valerie moved slowly across the room,
and sat down. She felt dizzy-suffocating
but she would be better presently. The
old times!-the old happy times! If one
could only forget-only forget Oh! the
curse of memory, when to remember is but
to be stretched on the rack.
Valerie, Lady Elinor thought at break
fast, meant to put good face on the fail.
ure with Max, for she was brilliantly gay,
and ratified nonsense, as il she had never
her mind, after all, her hostess wondered,
to put up with 1.-The iron mani"
Mrs. Langley was not down to breakfast;
but when the young people had drifted out
onto the lawn, and someone suggested
tennis, Valerie being asked, said she could
not join.
IL shall be busy this morningp she said.
"Amy, do you know II aunt Constance is
up,"
"Yesl Writing letters in her dressing
room"
"Thanksl Then" said Valerie to her
self, 81 will go to her nowp' She paused,
and her face softened. Poor aunt Con-
stance!" she added, with a heavy sigh,
"she meant well by me, but she has made
shipwreck of my life."
She went on to her aunt's dressing room,
and knocked at the door.
Come inr' cried Mrs. Langley, seated
at her davenport; she turned round, and
the sight of Valerie's face puzzled her.
Was the girl come to throw down the gage
of battle, or to make logged submission
Valerie closed the door behind her, and
came forward.
Are you busy, aunt" she asked.
'No, my dear. DO you want me?"
"Why, yes, to give you my answer"
She paused, leaning against cabinet
couple OF yards from where her aunt sat.
Mrs Langley looked at the girl as she
STOOD her hands behind her, her head a
little thrown back. The attitude was
gracefully nOnchalant the face set like a
flint; there was a quiet Consciousness Of
power, which might be called calmness;
but Mrs. Langley saw and felt that the
girl was not inwardly calm. The woman
of the world, however, betrayed no appre-
hensiOn, as she said, gently:
II hope, dear Valerie, you have thought
the matter over, and will answer me care
fullyl'
Thought the matter overr' repeated Va
lerie; 81 did not need three days for that,
not three hours, nor three minutes. Ionly
deferred answering you because thought
it best to wait until we should be leaving
this place. My mind was made up before
you had done speaking the other dayw
"Valeriew
"Stay! aunt Constance" the girl stood
erect now, Il don't want to speak migrate
fully, or with any lack of respect; but let
me explain myself. You have meant kind
ly by me from the beginning, but your kind
ness was mistaken-at least for me; some
girls would appreciate it better. / am not
fitted to be a success, as you understand
success. | am failure and discredit to
you, and so matters have come to a crisism