Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-03-16


her credit with her new prey. What does
it natter" She rose up and flung cut her
right arm with reckless, defiant gesture.
Let all the world think what it pleaSes;
call me tilt, fortune-hunter. anything,
Since he must despise me-hOld me shame
less, mercenary, heartless-and vet 1--we.
how should I care jot, though the whole
universe cried shame upon met
CHAPTER XX1TL-YALEEIE'S OFFERING.
Not word of her new plans did the ju-
dicious Mrs. Langley breathe To Valerie.
That point-blank refusal OF Mr.. Lawford's
suit had considerably startled aunt Con-
stance; and she felt convinced that, in her
present mood, Valerie would breathe def
ance, and might even rush back 10 Wei
ford, or run away with Louis Charters.
Things should be left 10 take their own
course; and as Max Beauregard was a par
Ecularly attractive man, instead of being.
like Lawford cumbersome addition TO
his world advantages, the desired match
might come about without any ostensible
wire-pulling
Nor did Mrs Langley ask if Lawfori had
written; and when Valerie briefly told her
that he had, and that the letter was de
stroyed, the elder lady expressed no an
noyance. She had no wish TO force forward
the subject she had at heart, and she Was
infinitely relieved at escaping an interview
with Lawford; for to do 4 dishonorable act
is one thing; TO be convicted Of it, face to
face, another
Many q well-known face was missed from
Henley Regatta, for not few among the
"OIympian circles boosted connection
with the ancisnt house of Beauregard; and
friends, too, held aloOf, for on the last dag
of the regatta Gerald Bsauregard was
buried at Abbot's Leigh, in the grand old
Gothic chapel where slumbered so many
generations of brave and fair BeauregGris.
Two days previously Lady EiinOr had
written herself TO Mrs. Langley, asking
her to be present and Mrs Langley went.
Il almost wish" she said to Valerie,
''that E.rnor had asked You, too: but you
are too young for such a sorrOwful scene,
aud Of course there are so many"
Il would not have gone if | had been
asked" Valerie answered, briefly.
Mrs. Langley scarcely liked the tone in
which this was said. Was the girl going
to prove a failure after all2 But the diplo-
matist said no more.
But when the flowers which Mrs. Lang
ley was going to take with her were beng
packed, Valerie, looking very white in her
morning garments, came in, with an eX-
quisite cross of the lOveliest flowers that
taste could select.
Aunt Constance" she said. her dark
eyes full of tears, will you take this with
you, and ask them to lay it i'll the grave
"Oh, Valerier' said Mrs. Langley, NE ier
her breath, what perfectly beautiful
cross. Where did you get IT,"
Il bought the flowers, and made it my
self"
MY dear Valerie, no florist could have
surpassed this! Elinor, aDi Max, too VIII
be very pleased that you sent Ii.
And for Max that cross had been made,
with many tears and infinite tenderness Of
care.
Ask them to lay it in the grave" the
girl had said. 1t might be that AI"N's own
hand would LAY it in the grave a:lou& the
hundreds OF floral offerings from relatives,
friends tenants, counting i. lc@s worth
than any. Never mind: It was Il prayi 80
Offering from heart to heart, though o"Iy
one heart knew il: ii might WiJncran,ju.c.
yet it would he deatnIrs,: los. forgotten.
in the multitude Of it, fellows. buu o""
day, when death was no more, Max would
know.
When Mrs. Langley reached Abb-t's
Leigh she was shown into Idly El:uor,s
boudoir, where the widow, in deepest weeds
sat alone; and byand-by. when Lsdy VII
nor had w2pt ahunGantlv, ami explained
how all had happened and how Max had
proved himself the hest Of nurses TO lila
brother, and the best Of hrotaers to her
(ElinOr) Mrs Langley opened her boxes
of flowers, which had been brought into
the room for Lady Elnor to see; and az she
-, Ia, +.,r, Il
and Colonel Beauregard came in.
lie looked somewhat hag2ard and stern,
and perhaps even paIer than usual; hut no
was not 4 man to wear his heart Ga his
sleeve, and so there was little outward
change.
Flowers" he said, when he had greeted
Mrs Langley. This is kind!'
And Oh, what an exquisite cross.' said
Lady Elinor, clasping her hands.
"Ah, that" said Mrs. Langley, lis from
Valerie. She made it with her own hands
and begged me to ask them to lay ii in the
grave"
Dear child. how kind! how thoughtful"
But Max said nothing. Was he, too
pleased and touchedy Mrs. Langley could
not tell. He was bending over the flow
ers; and when he lifted his face it was I'M
revealing.
Isn't it a lovely cross, Maxi" said his
sister-in-law, turning to him.
1T is perfect" he answered. Let me
take it, Nellie, and this wreath" He raised
the two offerings from their snowy bed,
and went out OF the room and took his way
to the chapel
Without ii was still daylight; but day
was banished from the chapel by the heavy
violet draperies; but there was light at the
alter, and just below the chancel steps
stood the bier, and on it the coffin, with it.
rich, smblazoned pail, six tall tapers at the
head and six at the foot Tho air was
| heavy with the scent of flowers, and on
the coffin they laid 50 thickly that nothing
of the surface of the pail was visible.
The watchers Withdrew as they saw the
tall form Of Max BeauPegard coming up
the nave
He paused by the bier, and reverently
laid the wreath at the coffin foot; then he
moved slowly to the head, and stood some
minutes without moving What passed III
the mans heart ia those minutes, perhaps
| no other human heart would ever know.
Presently he bsnt his head and kissed twice.
| thrice, the Cross he held, ana laid it at tle
| coff1u head side by side with another cross,
his own Offering.
After that he knelt few moments, coy
ering his face, then rose, and went out Of
the chapel.
And the next morning when the funeral
was over, Mrs. Langley went among the
crowd of mourners 10 look down into the
grave; but now the flowers reached almost
to the surface of the pavement. aud Va
Ierie's cross was hidden far down beneath
the fragrant heaps. Where had Max Beau
regard placed it yesterday evening"
Mrs. Langley returned to town tho same
night; and though it was late when she
reached home, she was ready to tell yet
not half SO ready as Valerie TO hear ell
that had passed at Abbot's Leigh. But
the girl took care so to place herself that
her face was hidden from her aunt.
Who, she wondered, had laid her cross
! in the grave? She dared not hope that it
had been Max him.eIf
Il was never" said Mrs. Langley, at
such an impressive ceremonial. 1t tried
me very much indeed" After proceeding
with various details, the lady went on:
'Elfnor was a good deal affected when I
first saw her; but, Valerie, she was deeply
touched by your offering. Colonel Beau
regard said nothing until EHnor appealed
70 him, and then he said. 1t IS perfect"
But he took it and a wreath of mine and
left the room. EIinor had said nothing,
expressed no wish He must have taken