Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-23


He must be infatuated indeed who could
accept gratefully favor so ungraciously
granted; yet Aston Lawford spoke earnest
thanks, and even yentured the reproach:
'sOnly two? You are cruelF'
IF I were too kind TO you I should be
cruel to Others" replied Valerie, careless
II, and turned away, half dizzy with the
pain at her heart.
Not one dance for Max Beauregard-the
man she loved! who had right to ask of
her at least so much as a kindly memory
of him; and man whom any woman in
that room would feel proud to honor. But
she dared not trust herself; blindly, desper-
ately, she took fatal refuge in conduct that
miserably wronged her.
''Thep are forming for the first set, said
a voice near her.
She looked up. 1t was her partner-the
Marquis Of Darnleigh.
Valerie bowed, and mechanically placed
her hand on her companions arm.
''Mr. and Lady Elinor Beauregard-
Colonel Baauregard," rang out from the
doorway
There was flutter-a loud buzz of voices
"a forward rush and rustic.
Valerie paused, holding her breath.
For q minute everything seemed to swim
round her, yet she did not stagger or cling
to her companion, and he did not see-for
her head was drooping-how deadly white
she had grown.
Then she looked up, and said, with
smile:
Il must so and speak to Colonel Beaure-
gard. [ have met him before, you know"
Even as she spoke, and moyed-still
leaning on Lord Darnleigh's arm-toward
the entrance, Max Beauregard scarce
twenty PAGES from her, turned and saw
her-the Fairy Queen; and all else besides.
people and scene, vanished, and left her
standing there alone, queen lily and rose
in one, in the glory of her loneliness, with
CLEAN of satin and silver, and fire of flash.
ing jewels, Yet he had never had every
nerve under more perfect command as he
went forward to meet her, and hand clasp
ed hand.
1t was a supreme moment for both, yet
both were calm and self-possessed. If the
clasp Of Max Beauregard's hand seemed
to the girl to stop the very beating of her
heart, she gave no sign; if her touch made
every nerve in the mans frame CULVER,
every pulse bound, neither voice nor man.
ner betrayed him.
81 am so glad to see you again." he said
genuine pleasure, but no more in the soft,
rich voice, that was always ringing in her
ears. II left you scarcely on the threshold
of Fame, and come back to find you in
the citadel''
ooh, Colonel Beauregard, -. Valerie an
swered, glancing up, with the old, quick.
wistful look, into the handsome face-she
had not dared to meet his eyes fuIl-<such
a compliment sounds almost like irony
from one of the Egyptian heroes. L must
congratulate yoil-not you me. And let
| me, F" she went on, a little hurriedly, Gin.
troduce you to Lord Darnleigh, though it
| is scarcely necessary, y turning to the young
nobleman.
Scarcely" said he, smiling, and hold,
ing out his hand instead of the formal
bow, ''since everyone knows Colonel Beau.
| regard. wonder if you are half as glad
to be home again as we are to see you here?'
''Thanks," said Max, ''for the last assur-
ance. [ am sure we have all good cause to
| like returning to old England, for the sake
| of the warm welcome we get everywhere. :"
'You will have to be little merciful on
other fellows. " said Lord Darnleigh, laugh
| ing. eve are nowhere with the ladies
| now. The old case is reversed, and the
Egyptians are despoiling the Israelites!"
''Ahp' retorted Beauregard, ''but we
have to make up for lost time. For nine
| months and more you have had the field all
to yourselves"
"Tm afraid you have the best of it, and
l am not ashamed to surrender to q soldier
| who has compelled surrender from hun
| dreds," said Lord Darnleigh, bowling.
''Miss Herbert, they are forming now.
| Shall we join them?"
Colonel Beauregard bowed, and turned
away, and Valerie and her partner joined
the dancers.
t'Was Valerie changed to him?" Max
| Beauragard asked himself again and again,
while he talked to his partner-a pretty
countess, who would ask questions about
| the campaign.
Her greeting had chilled him to the
| heart, though he had thought he had
| schoole himself to be fully prepared to
| find great difference between the inno-
| cent child he had left and the pr0tegc of
wealthy Mrs. Langley-the djUG of the
/ London season.
The result proved how impossible it is
| for worldly wisdom to thoroughly prepare
| us for the casting down Of an idol True
| Valerie had seemed pleased to see him, but
ance Of the season; and there was some
| thing conventional in both the matter and
| manner of her answers to his first words
! to her that Jared like a false chord on the
| mans whole being. In his bitter pain he
| hardly remembered how comparatively
cold his own greeting had been. Was
| what he had heard of Valerie true? His
| brief experience seemed to cast q sinister
| light on the statements which he had tried
to believe greatly exaggerated. Was she
| learning too surely the lesson taught her
| by precept and example, that hearts were
| nothing in the scale against diamonds? He
| seemed to her the experienced Mayfair
| campaigner
| with little hoard of maxims preaching down
daughters heart"
Preaching, maybe, TO a willing listener.
Valerie was but child; It would be strange
| indeed if she had withstood the over
whelming influence of her surroundings:
| if she had not been make giddy by the
| height of the pinnacle on which she was
| placed. Be it remembered that Max Beau
regard had not seen enough of Valerie to
! enable him to fathom her nature; but his
| passionate love for the girl fought against
! the miserable doubt that oppressed him.
| He would not-nay, he could not-judge
her hastily. Time and opportunity would
show whether she was indeed changed.
| do you admire that girl in pale pink,
| Colonel Beauregard?" asked the Countess,
as she sat eating an ice, her companion
| standing by.
t'She has just passed by with Dallas of
| ours? Yes, Very much. Who is she?"
Amy Linwood. She and Valerie Her