Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-23

brother knows him better than do. he
heye | met him once"
''And that is the cool way you talk of
man worth millionsl-at any rate over
million-for whom all the girls and young
widows are pulling caps"
ST am sorry to be SO old-fashioned. lam
afraid one gets rusty campaigning; for in
field snd camp one is apt 20 reckon a man
for what he is. and not what he has,
.sNow. Colonel, you are sarcastic, and
YOU certainly are old-fashioned. Give me
your arm and let US walk through the
rooms I won't discuss the money ques-
ton with you any more; for you talk like
Bayard, and make me feel ashamed of my
SELF
An hour later Valerie sat alone for the
first time that evening. She had begged her
partner to leave her; her head ached, she
said; she must keep quiet for few minutes;
but. in truth, she felt as if she could not
bear much more; she was almost dizzy
with the agony of her mind. She longed,
| with a wild, desperate longing, to get away
away anywhere, free from the crowd, the
gaze of curious eyes, the meaningless chat
| ter, the lights, the music-away by her
self, alone and in darkness, to weep her
heart out. It would be some relief, at
| least, to be able to drop this horrible mask
| of smiles and merriment.
| Someone passed through the door by
which she sat, and paused close to her.
| She had not heard the step-it was lost
| amid the beat of the band and the steps of
| the dancers-but she knew whose it was,
and her breath seemed to ebb away like
| the breath of q dying woman, and she saw
| and heard nothing; but she needed no out
ward sense to know that Max Beauregard
was near her Yet she did not turn her
| mead to look-did not even move, as though
| she had been unaware Of his presence.
| Miss Herbert he said, gently, and her
| start was not all feigned. Miss Herbert,
alone?"
| For, with a sickening rush Of memory,
she came back to the ballroom at Don
ningtOn-so Beauregard had come up TO
| her as she sat apart and spoken to her al
most the same words.
| But tone and manner then and now!
How the difference wrung her heart! The
| old, sweet touch OF tenderness gone; that
| something which recognized the dawning
womanhood, yet saw the child. Had few
months so changed her?-so altered their
| relations?
But this, which showed her so clearly
she was nothing to him more than q friend
if indeed so much-gave her greater
! strength to guard her secret.
| With pretty shrug she answered him,
| just glancing round.
ut is treat to be alone sometimes-and
I was tiredl'
Again the stab, SO straight and keen that
he could not for a moment speak.
Then, lightly:
'tIs that hint. If so, pardon me"
mo, mop she said quickly, flushing
crimson now. II did not mean that!'
81 was only jesting!''
He laid his hand on the back Of her chair
and bent down a little.
F'Miss Herbert, are you engaged for the
| next dance?"
If Valerie had not been prepared for the
question her nerve might have failed her
at that moment, but, though the crimson
changed to paleness, and then to crimson
again in one great throb of her heart, she
faltered under her breath:
'I am so sorry IL am indeed. II
| have not one vacancy?'
Colonel Beauregard drew his hand away
| and raised himself
Thanks he said, quietly. II dare say
your card was full before I came"
He bowed and passed on.
Valerie saw him through a scarlet mist.
She was dazed-stunned. If she had tried
to rise then she would have fallen.