Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-02-17
VAI,EiRTF;
HALF p TRUTH.
~BY THE DUCHESS


knew that, were women as scarce as blue
roses, he would never have lost his heart
to Lady Angela Musgravel
He should like to see her, he said; and
then asked after two or three others; and
by the time his questions were answered
the carriage stopped III Whitehall Gardens,
and all the servants were in the hall to
receive 1.-THE Colonel"
He shook hands cordially with all, from
the housekeeper to the kitchen-maid;
few were strangers, and, with soldiers
quickness, he picked out these from the
other faces; but he greeted all warmly, and
thanked them for their welcome, which,
indeed, touched him deeply, for the genu-
inc delight with which lie was received
was not to be mistaken.
You should have seen the fuss Mrs.
Gray Che housekeeper) made over your
rooms, Max" said Lady Elinor, laughing.
She hardly liked me to say a word, and
she busted them with her own hands half
a dozen times"
"Ah, you soldiers" cried Gerald; 'you
have lucky time of it with the women
They all run after you-young and old,
they're all aliker'
well then, Gerald, begin the goose-step
its never too late to mendp' returned
Max, and he went laughing into his dress
ing-rOom.
During dinner conversation was about
the war, friends in Egypt and friends at
home; but Colonel Beauregard still took
care that Valerie Herbert was not spoken
Of
When, however, the dessert was placed on
the table and the servants had withdrawn,
there was brief lull in the flow of talk
Max broke it, plunging at once in medidS
res
And so,' he said, turning to Lady Eli
nor, with half smile, my lovely partner
of the bennington ball is the belle of the
London season. How does she stand the
IeSt?"
you ask the question" replied Elinor,
almost in Master Walters words; and I
might reply in Heartwell's, as snow stands
Gre What can be expected when a girl
is transplanted from a secluded country
life to such blaze of adulation as Valerie
enjoys"
Il hope you are too severe, Nellie" said
Colonel Beauregard, gently. He was far
from accepting his sister-in-law's verdict
on another woman: but his heart sank with
a horrible dread.
~ don't want to be severe, Max; but
what young creature could lead such a
life as Nalerie's and not be spoiled by it?
The fuss that is made over her, the way
the men rave about her, and the girls envy
her, AMI copy her gowns-and she is daz-
zlingly beautiful and most charming; but
she knows her power and uses it,"
"Wha;! Valerie Herbert turned CO
quette!" said MIX, incredulously. Every
word EInor uttered hal pierced his heart
like II knife: but lie gave no outward sign.
Eyen Gerald jDnei his wife's laugh.
j pa't you II one more To the throng
OF her wors SHIPPERS, my dear boy" he said,
FOR she treats hearts like playthings."
Mons IN seq returned Max, pulling his
silky mustache, the Child cannot be a
finished hirt. She is only like kitten at
play"
ut is dangerous play, Max" said Lady
ElinOr. land she is an apt pupil in Mrs.
Langley'S school. She seems to thorough
ly understand that she is to make "a good
MATCH and is quite willing to sell her
beauty in exchange for wealth, if one is to
judge by the encouragement she gives AS
ION LawfOrd; and all the time she consid-
ers herself engaged to Mr.. Charters, who
is only a clerk in the Foreign Office"
For moment Colonel Beauregard was
silent; for a moment the strong self-com-
mand which habit had made second nature
almost failed him; the deeper paleness that
spread over features always pale was
sign too slight to be noticed; but he felt
that if in chat moment he had spoken. his
voice might have betrayed too much: in the
next he was master of himself again, and
said, quietly:
Who told you, Nellie. of her engage
ment to young Charteris?"
Mrs Langley. OF course she does not
recognize threats the whole thing as a
boy and girl affair." but she is wise enough
not to forbid the two meeting sometimes.
Time and altered circumstances would do
their work with Valerie, she argued and
it looks as if the girl was growing tired of
love for loves sake. Lawford is her bond
slave, and though she fiirts all round, she
certainly gives him encouragement. She
is gong on the boXseat of his drag to the
meet of the Four-in-hand!"
Gerald interposed here, sparing Colonel
Beauregard the necessity of reply.
'ln worldly point of view the match
would be a splendid one; but call it cruel
to throw away such perfect creature as
Valerie Herbert on Aston Lawford Heis
more than twenty years her senior, and
matter-of-fact, prosaic fellow into the bar
gain"
But" said Lady Elinor, Struggling her
shoulders, The has, Heaven knows how
many thousands yearl And you know,
Gerald, Valerie will have nothing. Mrs.
Langley has only a life interest in the prop
erty. When she dies everything goes to
her husbands nephew"
Was all this true? Max Beauregard was
asking himself in agony, while he seemed
to give half-careless attention to what he
heard. Was Valerie his Valerie the
pure-hearted child he had left-so changed,
so corrupted? Oh, it could not bel He
must see her soon-he could not long en-
dure this torture-and learn the truth
learn if he would be welcomed back with
the old sweet gladness, or made to see that
the belle Of the London season was far
wiser than country-bred Valerie had been,
and could clearly distinguish between an
elder and 4 younger son.
Lady Ednor rose as she spoke the last
words, and Max rose to open the door for
her. Turning back to the table, he said to
his brother:
Il must call on Mrs. Langley in a day O.
two. Tomorrow l shall be at the War
CIuce good zeal.
MY dear boy, Lady Stonend gives ball
tomorrow, and Mrs. Langley and Valerie
will be there. Nellie and l are going
Come with us!'
To meet Valerie in a crowded ballroom,
Well, perhaps better so he would be more
sure of himself than if he saw her alone:
or with only one or two people by.
Thanks" he said, after pause, ''Tll
go with you"
You'll be the lion of the evening"" said
Gerald. Shall we join Nellie now2 All
the wine you drink in a year, Max, would
not serve even a moderate man for
month"
Beauregard smiled, and rose, and the
brothers went to the drawing-room.
~ am at the office again to-day. When
can l see you, Valerie? You have written
to me so seldom and so coldly, and some
of the fellows here tell me your aunt wants
you to marry Aston Lawford. | can't be-
lieve you would treat me like that! Tell
me when l may call"
So wrote Louis Charters; and Valerie
Herbert, on the n Orning of Lady Stonend's
ball. paced her boudoir distractedly, with
the letter in her hands. How was she to
meet Louis How tell him the cruel truth
that she could never be his wife, Had
she not dallied too long already Had not
he justly accused her of writing seldom