Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-02-02
VAIEiRIE-
HALF p TRUTH.
Spy THE DUCHESS. "

SPY THE DUCHESS"
'sAh, but indeed you haye"' said Valerie,
with desperate, unconscious elinging to
what she felt was somehow slipping away
from her.
''Then," said Beauregard, in a lighter
tone, to hide the stab herwOrds gave him,
''let me exercise my privilege, and askyou
to try and put from you what troubles you,
and be happy. You are too young to suf-
fer. Don't you remember Longfellow's
words?
ENJOY the spring OF love and youth
To some good angel leave the rest.
For time viii teach thee soon the truth
There are no birds in last years nest.'''
He spoke smiling, and, rising, gave her
his arm to lead her to Mrs Fanshawe; but
Valerie's dark eyes filed with tears, and
she felt that there was not much more
happiness for her that evening.
Later on Louis thawed, and when he led
Valerie out for his second dance, begged
her in q whisper to forgive him; ne had
been cruel to show so much anger. But
the load on her heart seemed scarcely light
ened until it was Captain Beauregard's
dance again, and then once more She was
happy.
Sunlight was mingling with daylight
when the ball broke up, ana Mrs. Fanshawe
asked Valerie, laughing, if she WAS salts
fed with her triumph.
"I don't know" she answered, half smiI-
inc. II suppose I ought to be-"
Louis had said goodbye and left, prom
ising to call at the Lines the next day.
1t was Captain Beauregard who brought
Valerie's opera-cloak and wrapped it care
fully about her
''Fairies are scarce, you know" he said,
with his bright, tender smile. You must
take care Of yourself"
lie drew her hand on his arm and led her
out to the carriage, following General Fan
shave and his wife; then, as they waited
while the elder lady was entering the car
riage, Beauregard bent down to his young
companion, clasping closely the little hand
that rested on his arm.
"Let me say now," he said in a low
voice, chow, from my heart, [ hope your
future life may be very, very happy. Good
night Heaven keep your
These were the last words Valerie heard
from Max Beauregard for many weary
day, and she could neither answer him no.
look at him. He placed her in the carriage,
shook hands with the General and his wife,
ing away, walked back alone to the bar
racks, avoiding all his brother-officers, even
Hal Dallas lie was scarcely in mood
just now to talk to anyone.
But that night, so looked forward to by
Valerie, so strangely mingled with sweet
and bitter in the fuIfllment Of the wish,
was, in all things, the turning point IA her
hfe-the commencement of a revolution in
81 n IL
her existence.
And before the sun, whose dawn had
looked in on the brilliant ballroom, was
high in the heavens all was hustle and eX.
element ut bennington Barracks AT
eight o'clock IN order had come down fol
the tn regiment and the three companies
of the til to saiI for Egypt in as short 8
time rs they could be ready, and that meant
only q few hours.
Early in the afternoon Valerie, sitting
listlessly in the garden, trying in vain tC
keep the tears ont Of her eyes-aud hel
thoughts from Max Beauregard-saw s
mounted orderly at the gate. She rar
down and took from him letter.
"From Mrs. Fanshawe, miss" ne said,
saluting; ana before the girl conld speak
he turned ana rode off at a gallOp.
Valerie's cheek blanched. Why that
desperate haste? Were the troops ordered
out? The girl opened the letter with trem-
bling fingers. 1t was almost a scrawl:
my DEAR CHILD:
Hardly time for line. Our men or
dered out to Egypt-leave in an hour from
this / am going to Alexandria. Will
rite to you first opportunity. Captain
Beauregard asks me to send kindest re-
CARDS and best wishes. Same from the
General. Kind love from
''MARGARET FANSHAWE."
Valerie stood still in the July sunshine.
They were gone then. ''Kindest regards
and best wishes" from Max Beauregard,
that was ail-alI he would probably wish
to say. And she might never see him again
never in all the long years she had per-
chance to live.
She went slowly back to the house, up to
her room, ana there she fell down on the
floor and sobbed herself into exhaustion
sobbed away her childhood forever; the
belle Of last night!