Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-12
V ALFiRIHl-
HALF p TRUTH
CHATTER 1v.-FoR VEAL Or WOE.
"BY THE DUCHESS.


Molly, the Herbert's sole domestic, one
day, when the sun hung in a copper sky,
and there was scarcely breath stirring.
Though bennington was only four miles
off, and Valerie thought nothing of walk
ing there and back, she did not often go to
the town; there was nothing there very at
tractiye, and its thin stream of dull life was
rather depressing than enlivening.
just now, however, Valerie thought
there might be something to see; Downing
ton was waking up little, and the girls
heart was stirring within her with the de-
sire to share in the life that was moving
through the erst dull streets She might
come across a company of soldiers march
ing somewhere, with band playing. What
q treat to see the scarlet coats again, and
hear the martial music, which used TO be
her childhood's delight! Valerie felt as if
all soldiers were her friends; and she want
ed to see them.
"Why not 90 to bennington, ATolly?" she
asked.
cit looks so much like thunder, miss
said Molly, pummelling away at some
-four, with which she was making a cake.
''Ohl it looked like that all yesterday,
and nothing came of it, !" said Valerie.
so it did, missy. Maybe you want to
zee the soldiers, eh?"
Gay, that dc" replied the girl, frankly.
'fI am going to get some pencils; but !
could do without them for few days"
''Pity you weren't a boy, missy; you'd
have gone into the armv for certain. Well,
don't be havin' any of them young officers
falIln' in love with you"
''Mollyl what an ideal'
"Lor', miss" said Molly, They've got
eyesl"
"But, Molly, you know"
"Oh, yes; / know" said Molly, drily.
"You're engaged to MI. Charteris-more's
the pity Now run off, if you are a-goin',
and don't be late home"
'I am going; but, Molly" said Valerie,
with perplexed look in her beautiful eyes,
"why do you say it is pity?"
''Why do say what's a pity?" returned
Molly, who used the freedom of an old and
faithful servant, "that you're engaged to
Mr.. Charters? Why, because you're too
young 10 know your own mind, and you
ought to Go better. New, 1 amt gOin' to
say no more. Run off, missy"
Valerie turned slowly, and went out
thoughtfulIy Again that puzzled, wistful
other day, and more than once since. Was
she too young to know her own mind? But
no, no. il was wicked to have such q Doubt
She did love Louis dearly, dearly.
She put on her hat. and ran out down
the long garden into the lane beyond, and
started Off at q DrlsK pace for bennington,
wishing that Louis could be with her; but
his fathers place, where he lived, was two
miles the other side of Wexford, and Va
Ierie did not feel inclined to defer her visit
to bennington.
1t is certain that if any of the officers
were about in the streets of the town, this
girl in the white serge, with her glorious
golden hair, her great soft eyes and eXquis-
lite face, would create no small sensation
among them But Valerie, in her inno-
cence, only thought of seeing, not of being
leen; and went on with her light, dancing
gtep, needless of the burning heat that
should have warned her, not noticing the
gathering clouds on the horizon.
The way through the fields and lanes
was pleasant, and Valerie's thoughts went
1ancing on before her. so that she was
blind and deaf to external things in a man
ner rare with her; for she was familiar with
every bird that few, and every tree that
grew, and every flower that blossomed
Presently she began to sing, in her fresh,
sweet young voice:
''Will We gang to the hollands, Lizzie Lindsay?
VIII We gang to the hollands wi me?
VIII We gang to the hollands, Lizzie Lindsay.
My bride and my darling to be?'
Here she stopped and l1nelt to gather a
bunch Of wild hyacinths that grew by the
stile she was about to cross into lane be-
yond. As she rose, putting the flowers in
to her dress, she was startled by a low
rumbling sound, thatmade her cast q hasty
glance westward.
A vast bank of inky, Iurid clouds stretch
ed to right and left as far as the eye could
see, sweeping upward and onward at a
rate that must obscure the whole arch of
heaven in another twenty minutes; and
even as the girl paused, with frightened
throb of her young heart, the thunder roll
ed out again, louder and longer.
Valerie's position was one Of considera-
bic danger. There was no shelter, she
knew, nearer than bennington on the one
side, and Wexford on the other; and behind
her were fields and lanes, bordered by
hedges intersected with trees; before her.
lane lined by high hedges.
But only moment did she pause, for
L
Wexford by nearly half mile; and a great
part Of the way to Wexford was through
fields, which heavy rains would speedily
convert into a quagmire; whereas, the re-
mainder of the route to bennington was
by road
Valerie almost vaulted over the stile, and
began running along the land beyond; but,
as she ran, she felt big drop come pat on
her hat; then another and another, and
then there was roll of thunder, that seem
ed to crash right ever her head, like a salvc
of artillery
1t deafened her to another sound that
was coming on behind her, the clatter OF
horses hoofs, and a mans voice shouting
to her; but as the thunder died away, and
the girl dropped into a walk, breathed by
her running, she heard the swift hoof-
strokes, and IN the same instant the voice
shouted to her again.
She stopped and turned, with a flash Of
hope in her heart, and saw, only few
yards from her now, bay horse, coming
on at swift gallop, ridden by tall man,
wearing short military coat, which, as it
few back, showed the CLEAN of the scarIet
uniform beneath.
In that one glance Valerie saw that the
rider was not trooper, but an offfcer-a
gentleman; the next moment he drew rein,
and bent down Singularly handsome face
to the girl, with an involuntary flash of
wondering admiration in his brilliant dark
eyes at the rare loneliness they beheld.
'QuickP' he cried, ''there is no time to
loser' The rain was falling fast, and as
he spoke the lightning flashed out from the
clouds. Give me your hands-put your
foot on mine, and mount before me-comer'
for she shrank back, flushing little, YET
not afraid
The speakers face was one any woman