Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-04-19

are not very far from the top. Yes? Give
me your hand, then; it will be easier so"
She put the little white hand in his, and
they went on, hand in hand.
To Valerie it almost seemed as she was
carried upward, so easy did her coznpan-
ions supple strength make the way for
her; and every pulse was throbbing with
the magnetism Of his clasp, and the name
be called her was ringing in her heart a
wild, joyous chime-the sweet old name
by which it seemed as if he meant ID con
sradict her hard. reckless words. that one
month chased away the memory Of anoth-
er.
And at length-was it too soon or not
soon enough, how could Valerie know
hey reached the top of Mervyn's Hill. and
TODD on the broad plateau, partially COW
cred with trees and Valerie uttered a CRY
of delight, and snatched her hand from
Beallregard's, TO clasp it with her other
hand over her bosom.
"OhF' she said, under her breath, show
baautifuIp'
Hill, and wood, and stream, lay before
them, all bathed in the August sunshine;
an immense stretch of country, fading full
ve-and-twenty miles away, into purple
distance.
The girl moved forward a few steps, and
stool rapt and motionless-her lips uuiv-
ering, her dark eyes shining like stars, her
whole being drinking in the wondrous
charm of landscape beauty, yet not forget
ful-never for one second forgetful-of the
silent presence near her; rather were her
senses the more deeply imbued with ma
lures loneliness because he was there-the
centre of her universe; for all the pain,
Love took up the glass of time, and turned it
in his glowing hands;
Every moment, lightly shaken, ran itself in
golden sands.
For him also? All! that whisper stealing
through all the chambers of her heart:
those memories-nay, not memories, for
they were ever present-it was not then,
but 7lon-of tones, of looks, of words, two
years ago; yesterday; to-day; clasp of the
hand, kiss that spoke more than mo-
ment's impulse-ay, even bitter words; for
why the bitterness without the wound?
Did he, even while he despised her, love
her? Had he loved her, then-then, when
honor had sealed his lips, and she, in her
blindness, had made him believe her IN
worthy the love of any high-souled man?
Had she flung her life away-and his, too,
maybe? Or was it only madness to dream
that, sunk SO low as she must be in his
eyes, he could love her?
Beauregard had drawn back little from
Valerie's side, and stood leaning against a
tree, with eyes that saw the landscape only
as the background to figure; but after
few minutes he moved nearer to her, and
spoke softly:
'Are you repaid the toll of the ascentY
She half turned.
"Ohi yes, yesv' she said. cit is lovely
SO vile and free"
She stopped, and stretched out her hands
with an unconscious gesture of longing, to-
ward the distant hills.
eff you had the wings of a dove" said
Max, in the same soft voice, ''you would
fee away-and be at rest?''
But Valerie's hands dropped before her,
tightly clasped, her eyes went back to the
hills; she had no answer; there was no rest
for her-save one!
Why did he ask the question? Did he
mean that for nature false to itself there
was no rest?
But in the moments pause that followed,
q voice broke upon the stiffness, and Max
Beauregard, with the readiness of a man
of the world, turned to meet Lord West
brook with light, laughing words. Per-
haps, too, there was certain relief in the
intrusion Of the commonplace, saving him
from step that, once made, could not be
"Wen," he said, ''you have reached the
top at last. What do you think of the
yiew?''
Beautiful" replied the young man,
pleased, bnG hardly enraptured; there was
not much poetry in his composition, and if
it had not been for Valerie he would not
have taken the trout lie of a steep climb to
see what lay before him. His pleasure was
damped, too, by annoyance that Beaure-
gard had taken Valerie out of his hands.
Beauregard saw this as plainly as if
WestbrOok had expressed it in so many
words; but he sauntered away and left the
young man to talk to Valerie at his leisure,
He was not in the least jealous of Lord
West brook
valerie would never marry poor nanp'
he said to himself, bitterly.
But Valerie had no desire for tete-d-tete
with Lord Westbrook.
eve must not linger here too long" she
said, tor Mrs. Dudley will be waiting for
u.s."
''Why such q hurry?' exclaimed Lord
reproachfully.
But the words only made Valerie quicken
her steps, walking hastily and heeGlessly
across the gnarled. spreading roots OF
giant beech, and suddenly her fCo,>!iprel l:
With sharp cry Of pain she le lei. but BE-
ore she could fail, Max Beaure2arl, not
many feet from her now, sprang forward,
and flung his arm around he-.
Valerie, my child, are you hurt?''
But trying to answer him, q deadly pal
Tor swept over her face, her head fell back
against him: for the first time III her life
she had tainted.
"Westbrook,' said Beauregard, quickly |
and decidedly, "go down the hillside be- |
hind us-it is an easy path-there is a
cottage at the foot-bring some |
water. Don't look SO terrified, mani she |
has sprained her foot, and tainted from the |
pain. Go quicklyr'
Lord Westbrook obeyed without word, |
however much he might resent Valerie be- |
ing in Colonel Beauregard's care instead |
Of in his own.
And Max Beauregard was once more |
alone with Valerie. Despite his suffering !
for her pain, passionate exultation filled |
his heart as he looked down at the white |
face lying against him.
"My ownp he whispered, "for these few |
at least. Mine-nine-hel in |
my arms-resting on my heart-my life
my darling-one kissr
But even as he stopped his lips to the
mute, unconscious lips that could give |
neither consent nor denial, the flush of |
shame swept over his cheek; senseless,
helpless, his darling was at his mercy, and |
80 doubly shielded by his honor: and honor,
even in the supreme moment of tempta-
ion, was stronger than passion.