Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-01
VALEiRIEI-
HALF p TRUTH.
"BY THE DUCHESS. !"

herself to give him four dances; and to-
night, after he had been away so long, she
had not one dance to spare for him, though
she knew he was cOming
Yet he uttered no reproach he even tried
chivalrously to shield her. perhaps he al.
most pitied her-mere puppet Of fashion
that she had become; tool in a worldly
woElan's hands; heartless ccquette, who
accepted all mems homage, and would
sell her youth and beauty to the highest
bidder.
Mr.. Lawford came up as, rallying her
self desperately, the girl was about TO rise.
''Ah Mr.. LaWford," she said, with
faint smile, II am glad Of someone now.
Take me into the conservatory; it is cool
there and my head aches SO. No fuss,
Please, 7 for Lawford was one of those tact
les people who cannot understand when
to let alone simply do what ask you"
So he. not sorry to have her to himself,
drew her hand on his arm and led her
AWAY to the conservatory; and by-and-by
Max Beauregard saw them sauntering
down one Of the alleys.
Heaven help herr he said, in his agony.
"She will find out too late the terrible
price she is paying for that accused gold
Oh Valerie. Valerie. you might have been
less cruel-you might have kept one mem
ory Of past days, and told me more gently
that you have blotted out all former ties,
and intend to date from your first success
in the London world.'
Valerie danced the next dance, and the
next, and chatted, and laughed, and flirt-
ed, and had never seemed more brilliant
But at half-past two she threw herself in
a chair by her aunt, and begged to be tax
en- home.
clam tired outn she said 'Ihave danced
everything. Please let us go"'
So, despite prayers and circumstances,
the beauty took herself off, and wouldn't
let Lawforl put on her opera-cloak, but
told a simpering young guardsman to fetch
it, making him thereby happy for days.
And when the girl got home, and her
Aall-drcss and jewels were removed, and
size vas alone, she flung herself down on
the bed, and sobbed for hours; while Mrs
Langley laying her head on her pillow,
closed her eyes, rejecting complacently en-
the events Of that night.
II was little afraid of Max Beaure-
gard, " size said inwardly; may, q good
deal. But perhaps he is less romantic
than he seems, and certainly Valerie's con
duct showed that she had not the least
pcnchaRt for him. So proud man will
hold aloof now, even if he had been GprjS
Still, should not care to have them thrown
much together! All the men lose their
heads about Valerie and one never can
trust That a young girl will not throw up
the whole world for the sake of dashing
fellow with Il few hundreds yearp'
CHAPTER XXTI.-WIsE PUPIL OR CLEVER AC-
TRESS2
aunt Constance" said Valerie, the
next day, as she came into the drawing
room ready dressed for an cat home" to
which they were engaged, II want to say
something to you, and then, please, never
let it be spoken of again"
''WeH any dear?' said Mrs. Langley, a
little surprised just a little alarmed. She
never felt quite safe" with Valerie.
Valerie went to the window and stood
there, looking blankly before her, and
averting her face from her aunt.
Louis is in town." she began, abruptly,
"and ne wrote to me, and l told him to
call here on Thursday evening"
Here she paused.
"Wel, Valerie?" said Mrs Langley, hid
ing the trepidation she felt as to what this
introduction might pOrtend.
81 can't marry hint" said the girl, with
a IlAbhl4l@ 9bbs tAlOuS1h SIlC tllCOl iIttLN W
keep it down. 81 sent for him to tell him
SOP
"Thapn Heavenr' breathed Mrs. Lang
ley, inaudibly.
Aloud, mildly and kindly:
81 am truly glad you have come to see
that, my dear. hoped that you would do
so, sooner or later And, Valerie, though
you were too young to know it, and may
be vexed with me for saying it don't
think you really loved Mr.. Charters as
much rs you imnginedr'
Did not Valerie know it?
She turned and walked impatiently
through the room
Il don't know don't carer she said in
a reckless kind of manner that better
woman than Constance Langley would
hardly have liked to see, ''but ! can't mar
~ him. Things are $3.50 different from
what they were then-I-I couldn't live as
used to- l should not be happy-I have
grown worldly with short, bitter little
laugh, 'and must have the world, and
all that belongs to lt"'
She was playing a part in uttering these
words that beIied her, in wild terror of the
possible question her conscience made her
mort lily anticipate:
Are you fancyiRg yourself in love with
some other mani"
She went out of her way to make her
aunt believe that it was love of the world,
dread of poverty, that made her cast Louis
Off
Yet her cheek colored at the deception
She would have cast the world and all that
belonged to it into the depths of the sea
for Max BeaureGard's sake; she would beg
her bread by his side sooner than be o
kings consort.
But Mrs. Langley was, naturally enough,
deceived; and smiled, well-pleased, on her
pupil. To do her credit, she honestly be-
leyed that q wealthy marriage was the
happiest state for any girl.
Now and then some ill-regulated woman
broke loose, and created a temporary scan
dial, but the majority settled down, and
were much more to he envied than those
who married 'for love-" and who were
just as likely to end in the divorce court as
anyone else.
If you prefer it, my dear" said Mrs.
Langley, Il will write to Mr. Charters,
for of course tAere was no engagment-''
"Non' interrupted the girl, resolutely,
81 will not be cowardly as well as fickIeI
In honor-between US two-there was an
engagement l will see him myselfr'
1.-The carriage is at the door. ma'am,"
said a footman, appearing, and a few
minutes later Valerie was being mobbed at
a crowded ''at home" and only feeling that
existence was for her sunless sea. since
Glove was DONE" and the man she wor.
shipped must utterly despise her
behind no prison-gate, she said.
Which slurs the sunshine half mile,