Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-02-17

to give up lover who has no money or
| position. am young" she added, dreari-
| ly, ito begin living lie!''
And Max Beauregard was at home now
Lady Elinor had told them he was expect
ed last night, and the morning papers told
| them OF his arrival in London.
What can he think of mes" thought the
| poor child. Maybe he will not trouble
himself much about ne Why should he's"
The luncheon-beu rang, and she went
1 downstairs. Aunt and niece were not Of
ten without other company at luncheon;
but they were to-day. Mrs Langley look
ed up from note as the girl entered the
dining groom.
| Valerie" she said, Il have just had this
| from Lady Elinor. Colonel Beauregard is
! coming with them tonight to Lady Ston-
| ends"
The blood rushed to the girls face; but
she was prepared to hear of Max Beaure-
gard at any minute-that he was going TO
| call, or she would meet him at this house or
that; so that, though her heart stood still
and she held her breath. she was not
| startled out of all self-control: she had not,
| too, lived in vain in the beau monde SO
that she was able to answer, smiling:
"Oh, L am so glad, Does Lady Elinor
| say any more about him?'
| No, my dear; you can read the notes"
said Mrs. Langley, holding it out.
| Thanks" said the girl, taking it, and
turning away to read it; but she did not
| see word She was exerting all the
| strength of her strong will to gain perfect
| self-mastery. All the latent force of her
| character had been ripened and developed
| by the experience of the last few months;
more even, perhaps, than by contact with
the world, by suffering, the paramount
necessity of hiding her real self-the being
cast, in great and terrible perplexity, en-
tirely on her own resources.
When she took her place at the table,
Mrs Langley, CHANGING at her keenly and
| covertly, said, within herself:
mo, she has no fancy for Max Beaure-
| gard. Besides, l should have found it out
before; and he, hope, will be too wise to
let his heart run away with his head. 9th
ery.ise he might persuade romantic, hero
worshiping girl like Valerie to forget that
| he is Younger son. What a pity he is
not the elder! He is certainly very fascin-
ating!'
Poor Mrs Langley! If she could only
| have known what was running in the
| golden head opposite to her? But she was
in blissful ignorance. Eighteen-year-old
Valerie kept her secret well.
A triumph of artistic taste was the dress
of cream satin and silver plush which Va
lere wore for the ball that wight; but the
| girl, as she stood before the long mirror in
| her dreSSinC-r was only thinking, II
| am glad had it made all white and silver
He will like that best" And yet she was
| resolved to make the man whose opinion
even of her dress was of value to her. be-
lieve her false, tickle and worldly
She wore pearls and diamonds round her
neck toni ght, and diamonds in her eyes;
but when her aunt, as she entered the
| drawing ROOM said:
Il am glad you chose the damon Is. Mr..
Lawford, by the way, is a great admirer of
damon Isl she felt inclined TO pull the
| jewels off and throw them on the floor
81 didn't put them on for him, she said,
shortly
She hal remembered hearing Beaure-
gard say that he admired flashing stones.
Il thou ght you liked to please him, my
dear?"
"It Why should 1 care to please any
MANI" asked the girl with careless laugh;
'they have got to please me-"
| Take care, Valerie. There are men
who won't take too much, even from a
beauty"
"They are quite welcome, auntie. to re-
| lieve me of their attentions; and | could
beckon them back any timer
| Surely no idle boast! Such women as
this can indeed make men their slaves.
| Mrs. Langley only said:
| ''Rut Aston Lawford is really fond OK
you, Valerie"
! 'Is he?" nonchalantly. Il am not fond
! Of him, then Please don't talk Of him.
auntie. l shall see enough of him this
| evening"
| The carriage was just then announced,
| and Mrs. Langley led the way down stairs,
| feeling a little nervous about her niece
| The girl seemed to be in a somewhat reck-
less mood, ripe for any mischief, and as
likely as not to tease Aston Lawford by
| flirting desperately with Colonel Beaure-
| gard, or some even more ineligible pdrtt
| Yet to warn her would be the don't run
| him under the pump policy. The lady
| could only await events, rejecting, mean
| while, that to have charge of n brilliant,
| strong-willed girl, was a good deal like
mounting guard over fully-charged cleo
! trio battery, without understanding how to
control or regulate it.