Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-29
CHAPTER xxxIv.-A YEAR LATER.

DGSt
pleased not to meet her just yet. \ week
later he TOOK Lady Eiinor abroad for a
month, and when she returned home he
started for longer tour. He could not
stay at home-thcre was no rest there
there was no rest anywhere.
Mrs. Langley wintered between Paris
and Rome. She knew Colonel Beauregard
was not in England, and if conquests make
happiness, then lG belle Herbert should
have been the happiest Of women; but il
she broke hearts-aS they said she did-hel
own suffered nothing in the process. Was
it not we'll nigh broken already? Painters
painted her; poets wrote sonnets to her;
she lived in clouds Of incense; yet no love.
pleading had power to stir her pulse; nc
homage, no splendOr of aduiatiOn to dead
en- even for an hour, even for an instant
the passionate crying Of her heart:
"God knows that would give
All other joys, the sweetest and the best,
For one short hour TO live
Close to thy heart, its comfort and its rest
was the burden Of her ceaseless cry. Al
other joys-ay, all future life-for one houl
of ineffable happiness!
But in the late spring London received
its diUU again; lovelier than ever, many
said, and maybe they were right; for Va
Ierie had suffered much-suffered still
and the Patio, Of suffering lends to beauty
& surprising charm.
In the middle of June Lady Elinor came
Up to Whitehall Gardens, and with he
Angela Musgrave The widow could nov
enter little into society; besides, Angela
needed q chaperon, and Colonel Beaure-
gard was coming home. What different
homecoming from that other-thirteen
months ago!
1--WE must have some people at Abbots
Leigh this autumn" said Lady Elinor. Il
am sure Max will be most willing"
She sat in the drawing in the eve
ming in early July. Colonel Beauregard
was expected every minute, and by her
side was girl some four years her Junior
very like her, but more strictly pretty,
only with the same furtive glance of the
! eye, and the same slight downward curve
Of the lips.
Lady Elinor looked very interesting in
her weeds, and she knew it; and Angela
whose papa, it seemed, could spare her
now-wore white with black trimmings.
eyes, indeed" she assented. "Whom
do you think of asking, Nellie?"
eve cannot have large party, you know,
dear Well, Mrs. Dudley for one, and Amy
Linwood; Lord Westbrook, Mr.. Dallas, OF
course-and- we must ask Mrs.
Langley and Valerie; but the girl will be
setting all the men by the ears!'
"And she'll certainly do all she can to
get Max" observed Angela. 'She threw
| over Aston Lawford for nothing else!"
A carriage stopped; knock at the door.
| Lady Elinor rose quickly. A minute later
| liCrht Sta no tair
drawing-room door opened, and, with g
cry of genuine delight, Lady Elinor threw
| herself into her brother-in-law's arms.
"Ohl Max" she said, 81 am so glad tC
| see your
Dear Nell!'' He kissed her affection
! ately, and then turned to Angela. can
| CELIA, too?" he said, holding out his hand.
But stay-I think must claim brothers
right here ALSO" and he stopped and kissed
the girls forehead.
| When the three were at dinner Lady Eli
nor presently made her proposition.
4 have set my heart, Max" she said
''on having some people at Abbot's Leigh
this autumn-not great many, of course. y
Very well, suppose you have already
fixed on the people?" he said, laughing.
Women generally arrange preliminaries
| before IlSN IIdhS all assault.
You ought not to object to military
tactics'' retorted she. Yes, have fixed
| on some-nOt all!'
| "Who are the 'some?' "
Lady Elinor ran through the names Of
those alread mentioned, emitting Mrs.
Langley and Valerie, however.
| Beauregard paused, as if thinking over
the suggestions, but in his heart he was
saying:
valerie must comet She may be a CO
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. she must
/ come! 1 am mad with the longing to see
her again! I have been so long without
| her! l must have her with me-thougf
every moment with her is stepped in painp
| Presently he raised his eyes, and asked:
''Are Mrs. Langley and Valerie engag
ed?"
Il don't know what their engagements
are
| Call tomorrow, Nell, and see; and
will go with you. We could not omit ar
| old friend. nor ask Mrs. Langley without
Valerie"
''N-no.-but really" said Lady Elinor
| with a laugh, Il am glad the dueling day:
are over, or we should certainly have some
about Valerie!'
| bSdufeSdCt SuEllSSeu HIS SuOul(iSIS-
Il don't suppose she is worse than sht
was last seasonr'
Maybe not; and yet sometimes thinE
she is
"Ah, welln' he said, lightly, "beauty
must have its sport, aud if its sport is kill
ing hearts, what then"
what a cynical speech, MAXI eXclaim
ed Lady Angela.
My dear girl, you will be cynical, per
| hapS, when you are two-and-thirty-i
lady ever does attain that age. | SHOULD
like to ask Frank Travers, Nellie, as wei
as Dallas"
THAT would make eight" said Lad
Elinor, counting on her fingers. ''witl
power to add to their NUMBER and tC
morrow we will call in Upper Brool
i Street."
She had little hope that Mrs. Langle
would be engaged; she felt certain tina
that astute matron had calculated on tn
likelihood of Abbot sleigh receiving guest
this autumn, and would take good care I
hold herself and Valerie free for an invitS
ton.
Would MaX--even knowing what he iii
and havings so high q standard Of woman
| " dignity-be proof against the wiles 0
such a siren as Valerie Herbert?
CHAP. XXXy.-TNvITED TO ABBoTs LEIGH.
Lady Elinor uregard-Colonel Beau
regard, " announced the footman, throwin
open the drawing-room door in Uppe
Brook Street; and Mrs. Langley, who wa
alone, rose, and went forward with out
: stretched hands.
: place auC hommes, this time;;" sh
, said, laughingly, to Lady Elinor, as SD
gave Max first greeting. ''How good {