Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1890-04-10

dat; bat for me. no smile, no notice. |
sal for Europe soon after. You spick
OF Valerie Conaut? She is dead TO me.
All, re ton, nam selle-dat man once
luv YOU nuch.'
What was the iady's name, Vanges?
Do YOU remember
NO, nam Selle. But gay call her re
queen of blondes. Fair--yery fair, wiz
re full face blue eyes. She say she
viseet you
Elise Alstonr' murmured Valerie,
falling back in her seat, her face
grown pale. Did you not think the
lady slightly epris with monsieur,
VanUes?"
MAS out, nam selle, very much.
She say; I like not her tone; she say.
Poor Valerie! Tres frivole! not re IL
deity for ne steadfast heart.
And what more, Vanges2 Where
went monsieur from Oak hall2'
He leaves for ne continents, mad
anne.
"And did you never near more of him
and Miss Alsion?"
"Oui mann selle, l hear, but | know
not ne truth
speak, Vanges-hold nothing backl
Did Mr.. Gi!dermcre's valentine remain
true to him.
1T was rumor mann selle, Eat gay
marry. | know not certainment.n
Thank you, indeed, Eanges II is
late; YOU need rest. Goodnight and
with her usual demure courtesy the
maid betook herself TO a couch untroub-
led by disturbing love-dreams or
memories for her own love affair had
been well buried in the grave OF hus-
band who had abused her and whom
she had been glad TO forget
But Valerie slept not. Whittier mad
gone the ring and the flowers which she
had never received? She had resented
this supposed oversight from Harry
Gildermere. aud had chaffed the even
ing through with men she cared naught
about
One afternoon not long after Vanges
midnight confidence Valerie Conant de-
scended to receive caller awaiting her
IN the drawing-room.
He was fine appearing man who
advanced to meet her, and the look in
his eyes as he took her hand brought
a peculiar expression of pain into Va
lerie's
This man. who had asked her to be
his wife had come to-day tor his an
swer. She had resolved 90 say yes.
Why should she not? Her life was in
tolerably desolate, and ne was kind and
loyal But one glance into his face to-
day changed her mind. How could she
give this man the wreck OF heart which
alone remained for her to bestowg She
felt-she knew that rs he realized this
want he would be miserable.
Mr. Manning, you are mistaken in
imagining | can ever make you happy.
| cannot,
But why?n he questioned with low
er's persisteucy; and Valerie, believing
it justice to him, told him vhy--told
him her love story.
He listened, his face gradually grow
ing pale and stern. When she had fin
ished he rose. He no longer looked at
her, but ne said;
Miss Conant, | love YOU, and your
happiness is more to me than anything
else. We viii take time to think this
over. Good-by,n
And during the slow watches Of that
night YaImie did think it over. For
the first shifting pearl light OF dawn
ushcred in Feb. l4-tne return OF that
day when all her hopes had flown with
the disappearance OF one face-a face
trimming over with a charm of wit
aud boubomie; face that would haunt
even though another had won its own
er and made her thought OF him a
crime.
How | hate aunigersariesr she
murmured, frettuly a few hours later,
when, after some tardy repoSe grudg-
ingly rendered, she woke and heard
her little niece and nephew whispering
and giggliug in the adjoining room over
the contemplated dispatch of various
ephemeral constructions whose garui-
urc of aerial cupids and diminutive
knights, bending before the diminutiye
maidens, with exceedingly taper waists.
found their Interpretation in stanzas
touchuEJy descriptive of the youthful
heart when iu % state of laccmtjoa from
the shafts of the little blind god.
Valerie saw chat il was showing. The
wiuduw-ledge was piled high with the
slow, still tail of the night This re-
minded her OF the workaduy world
and She rose. determined to forget her
gloom In work hard, unntermitiug
tasks that should leave her NO time for
thought
Bun what is il that stays her glance?
Why that puzzled surprise I'M the large
dark eyes? There, ON the dainty white
cover Of her tojlet-tabIe, lies IA still
dau,jcr box, Within, resting ON a