Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-04-20

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Valerie shook her head
1T would be all one to me-" she said
al shall have to keep still, so one time
would be like another; aud You may only
have a few times you can call your own"
IAN ingenious plea for me-thank yoU
for ii; and IL you are not inclined to play
when l ask you, will you refuses''
But I shall like to play anytime"
Suppose you were reading a fascinating
novelE'
81 would prefer chess"
Very well, l see must take you at your
word"
So thev parted for the night.
The next morning Valerie's foot was
mucn better; and Max told her that anoth.
er DAYS complete rest. AMI partial rest for
day or two afterwarI, woull make Rich
ard himself again." though of course. she
could not walk any distance for Il fortnight
or mere.
In the morning nothing was done but
general pottering, of which Valerie was the
center; and Mrs. Langley waited patiently
for an opportunity of seeing her niece
alone. II came at list, just after luncheon,
when the girl had gone to her dressing.
room to change her dress, and was resting
her foot a little before going down again.
Valerie looked up, vaguely apprehensive,
"a her aunt entered the room. but she said
nothing. Mrs Langley sat down by the
couch, facing her niece.
Il hope your foor will be quite we'll by
Saturday" she said-thiS was Tuesday.
las W. have to leave on that day"
"Oh it will be alright before that!" said
Valerie. curelessly.
Well cnou III. ut any rate. to travel
We are du, Mt the Morton's on Saturday
evening, you see"
Yes.
Mrs. Langley drew from her pocket an
envelope.
al received these I.ticrs," she said. yes
terday, while you were out. Read this.'
She placed an enclosure in Nalerie's
hands, and, rising, walked to the other
side of the room.
Valerie looked at the address on the en-
velope, and the blood rushed hotly to her
brow. Aston Lawfurd!
She opened the letter hastily, her fingers
trembling, Il bright scorn in her eyes.
Not many words-askng her. begging
her to reconsider her decision-she was
still free-to give him some hope of win
ming her.
If Valerie had been the coquette she was
believed to be, here was a triumph indeed
to make her heart swell; without an effort
on her part this man whom she had cast
aside socoolly for higher prize. came back
to her feet again-abased himself to the
very dust before her.
But Valerie cIcnched the letter in her
hand, setting her teeth hard to keep back
from her lips the scOrn that blaZed in her
dark eyes, that made her bosom heaye, her
whole frame tremble.
Mrs. Langley seeing that her niece had
read the letter, came back to the couch.
"Well," she said, nothing of the girls
aspect lost upon her, nor yet the crumpled
letter still held in the little hand. HE is
a constant lover, is he not?"
"LOveIr'
Valerie proved, by the manner in which
she uttered the word, how much contempt
can he thrown into Il single word.
"What then. my denr?"
What them" Valerie laughed. and tear
ing the letterup, scattered it on the ground
"Infatuated slave! Don't call such slavery
love. This man believes-told me-that
befColed, tricked him, led him On-then
threw him over for more brilliant prize
and now he thinks | have failed to grasp
that prize be comes back and grOvels at
my feet; spaniel would have more spirit
"A whipped hound might have more
prider'
Heaven pity the man of whom woman
spoke with such ineffable scornl
Mrs Langley grew white, and rose.
II hardly thought, Valerie" she said
almost sternly, 'that you would ~.gard a
mans devotion in this light! You are not
just to Lawford"
Don't talk of him, please, returned the
girl, tinging back her head on the cushion.
eff he wants an answer, you can tell him
what did with his letter"
Mrs. Langley rose once more, paced twice
slowly through the room, and came back
to Nalerie's side; but this time she did not
sit down.
The girl raised her head. and looked
steadily in her aunts face. She knew per-
feCtly well what was coming, but she did
not speak.