Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-19

company But there was no jealousy in
Valerie's love, which proved it was no more
than sisterly.
Louis wished the ''whole LOTT at Don
nington would be ordered off somewhere
within a week; and was firmly convinced
that all the officers, and Captain Beaure
gard in particular, were fiirts, and Valeris
would get no good by going to their balls,
and being fused over, and made much OF.
CHAPTER VIA CALL-WELCoME AND IN
WELCOME.
Two days later Mrs. Fanshawe called at
the Lines, and received Mr.. Herbert's
| thanks for her kindness to Valerie.
ooh! please don't speak of thanks" she
said, ''but hope your niece won't be dis
| appointed of the ball, for there are rumors
of war in Egypt, and of our regiment being
ordered out But perhaps it won't be till
| after the thu
1t would have been a glad hearing for
| Louis, had he been present, that the OBJ
noXious garrison we're likely to leave Don
nington shortly; but he was not at the
Lines that day. He came, however, in
the afternoon of the following day, asking
Valerie if she would go out for a walk. She
was standing by the gate, and looked a lit
tie doubtful.
81 don't know Oh, Louis! Mrs. Fan
Shave called yesterday, and she says the
til may be ordered out to Egypt; there is
likely to be warp
The young mans eyes flashed, but he put
his arm about the girl, and said softly:
"And if they went, what then? Why
should you care?"
''Why shouldn't 1 care, Louis-in one
way?"
you mean-you would lose the ball?"
'Partly Harkl What's that?"
| Approaching hoof-strokes. Valerie drew
herself from her lovers arm, and leaned
over the gate, looking along the lane.
'Ohl' she said suddenly, in q tone Of
keen glance went straight over Valerie's
! golden head to the young man behind her;
and the swift mental question, "Who is
that!" was not put with absolute indiffer-
| ence, nor was it altogether an agreeable
/ surprise to find Valerie in another fellows
company.
| But Valerie was glad to see him-her in
nocent heart had nothing to hide, and her
shining eyes and smiling lips showed frank
| ly her pleasure.
81 could not get away before to-day"
said Beauregard, springing to the ground,
1 and clasping the girls outstretched hand
| in his, "but [ heard from Mrs. Fanshawe
| yesterday that the drenching had done
you no harm, and now I see for myself"
81 am not made of plaster, Captain Beau
regard" said the girl, roguishly, recalling
his speech about the orderly; then turning
delight, cit is Captain Beauregardr'
| Charters drew back step, and yiciously
| slashed q rose-bush with his stick, scatter
ing several promising buds; but Valerie
paid no heed to him; she was watching the
| approaching horseman. Another moment,
and she had opened the gate, stepping for
ward little and Captain Beauregard saw
her, and raised his hat, bowling low.
Then the bay horse was refined up, and
| Louis Charters had full view of the rider
| tall, slight every inch a soldier in his
gallant bearing; and strikingly handsome
in feature; nothing of the puppy" about
this man, but all that blending of soldier
and courtier-or in modern phrase-man
/ of society-which has charm for all, but
a special charm for women. The Captains
toward Louis-"Mr Charteris-Captain
Beauregardp'
Beauregard held out his hand, and the
| action and the manner of it won Louis in
spite of himself.
81 am glad" he said, ''to have an oppor-
tunity of thanking you, Captain Beaure-
| gard, for your kindness to Valerie.
''Thanks, Mr.. Charteris,' returned the
other, laughing, ''for squaring the circle -
He hitched Princes bride over the gate
post as he spoke, and Valerie went and
patted the animals glossy neck caressingly
Louis came also to admire. Prince was
noble specimen of his race.
"And a better friend than most men
would be, said his master, giving the horse
parting caress as he turned to follow Va
| lerie toward the house.
Mr. Herbert received him with old-fash-
toned and somewhat stiff courtesy. Uncle
Will was not genial man, but somehow
Max Beauregard succeeded, in little
while, in making him unbend more than
| he had ever done before to a stranger; and
Valerie saw that the captain had that rare
| power of sympathy which can take an in
| terest in what interests others-not merely
the courteous hypocrisy of good-breeding,
but a sympathy genuine, if temporary.
| The instinct of a kindred nature taught
| Valerie to perceive this distinction; GER
tainiy not worldly experience.
Captain Beauregard knew nothing Of
| botany (this he frankly owned, and also
he cared nothing; but Mr.. Herbert certain
| ly believed that he cared a good deal, and
| he scored many more good marks in Va
| lerie'S mental tablets by his courteous at
| tention to the old refuses disquisitions,
and the questions he asked, as though he
were an inquirer in the Ito him) really I'M
congenial world of Horticulture.
But presently the approaching war came
| on the tdpiS, and Louis asked if the --th
was likely to be ordered for service.
Il think SOL hope sop said Captain
| Beauregard. ''We expect to be among the
first. But hope also that we shall be able
! to have the ball-it is the end of next week,
so dare say we shall manage it. I hope
| you will honor US, Mr. Charters, if you
viii forgive an informal invitation"
Il shall be delightedp' replied Louis, his
| fair face flushing with pleasure; ''and as
for formalities, they are not much in my
/ line'
Nor in mine, faith!'
Exit botany, and enter frivolity, and the
ball, and the various people invited held
the ground for some minutes. Then tea
came in, and shortly after Captain Beau
| regard took his leave.
Louis Charters was an old friend. the
| playmate Of Valerie's childhood-so much
| he knew: brother and sister? Yes, sister
| Valerie; but Louis manner to the girl was
not that of a brother. Captain Beauregard
| frowned and bit his lip as he rode onward.
| 1t ought not to be any concern of his what
| Hecuba was to Louis, or Louis to Hecuba
| but it was. The girl had fairly fascinat-
ed him; her very innocence and childlike
| inSoltciGnce had a charm for the man Of
| the world, used to see even girls in their