Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-08-05

OR,
Half a Truth.
CHAPTER xLIv.-Too LATE.
BY "THC

hoped to see you become his wife. Cir.
cumstances changed, and / made it no
secret from you that your rejection; when
1t came, OF Lawford was not unwelcome to
me. But my hopes have not been realized.
Let Colonel Beauregard think what he
will of you, 1t was In your power to bring
him to your feet; the more that / believe
he is far from Indifferent to you. What
your feelings for him are l will not ask,
but certainly he is a man for whom many
women would be willing TO face even pow
erty; nay, Mrs. Dudley is not the only
woman who loved him enough to count it
happiness to have become his wife when
he had nothing but his pay and a younger
brothers portion. Yet, SO far as | can see,
there is no nearer prospect Of my hopes
n plans for you being crowned han
when we first came here! and 1t Is your
fault that this is sol | am bitterly disap-
pointed in you, Valerie-more than disap-
pointed! | have done everything for you,
n you ave repaid me by caprices; you
have earned the name of a tilt; and for
what? When You leave here it will be said
of you that You threw over Aston Lawford
for Max Beauregard, and that Max Beau
regards pride was proof against even your
charms. Will you care to face society with
such n repute rs that? You, who carried
all before you, 4 failure after all! And
here" pointing to the torn fragments of
the letter on the floor, where there is tri.
umph-a lover scorned kneeling again at
your feet-yOu trample on it-spurn him a
second time. You are making shipwreck
Of your life, Valerie; | warn you before 1t
Is too late to retrieve the past. Think also
~ No Il nv ~ .,xlN 81 al fAla . nfnht
to ask why l should be so disappointed in
one for whom / have tried TO do my best
Of whom was justified in hoping SO much"
After the first words of this singular
manifesto, IL so 1t might be called. Valerie
had turned her eyes from her aunt's face,
and sat gazing steadily into space: but her
face never altered once-not even when
Mrs. Langley spoke Of Max BeaureGard
personally; no color even for a second
changed the livid pallor that spread even
to her lips; her teeth were set, her brow,
every feature, might have been hewn in
marble, she never moved, only her bosom
rose and fell with the slow, labored pulsa-
ton of her breathing, and her eyes Glowed
with adeep inward ire-the fire that burns
like living agony in heart and soul.
Sc she sat for full a minute after her
aunt had ceased speaking; and Mrs. Lang
ley, perpleXed, almost frightened by the
girls aspect, yet knew not what to say or
DO. How could her nature compass Va
~lerie's?
fhen, without turning round or moving
so much as her hand, Valerie said, slowly,
quietly:
81 understand you cle~arly--quite clear
ly. will answer you on Friday morn
ing"
"Valerie" exclaimed Mrs. Langley. ~
l have"
Valerie lifted her hand.
81 said | would answer you on Friday
morning, aunt Constance. Leave me alone
now, please"
Mrs. Langley turned mechanically to-
ward the door. Had her threat-it amount
ed to mistaken effect? Was Valerie
about to reconsider her position? What
ever was in the girls mind her aunt felt
that n word more now might be danger
Gus. She simply bowed her head in ac-
Iuiescence and left the room.
Then, with still that set, rigid look on
her face, Valerie rose, went to her daven-
port, and sitting down, wrote, with I'M
shaking hand, a letter. It's last words
were, please do not write TO aunt Con-
stance. / ask you this as q special favor"
The envelope was addressed to civilian
Herbert, Esq, The Cottage, Wexford,
shire"
Valerie rang the bell, and when Fanchon
appeared, her mistress gave her the letter,
saying:
'Fanchon, post this letter, please, at
once, with your own hand. | car trust
You. Let no one see it,"
"BtCn, mddcmOiSClle. viii mademoi-
selle now descendY"
Yes
Fanchon was little, and Valerie was tall,
so the girl leaned On the maids shoulder,
and they went down to the d~rawing-room;
but as they were halfway down stairs the
door of the billiard-room (Which was near
the drawing-room) opened, and Colonel
Beauregard appeared.
"Allow me-" he said, springing up to
Valerie's side and taking her from Fanch-
on "Why, Valerie, you are getting on
famously! / was just coming to sec if you
were in the d~rawing-room, and would care
to finish our game"
81 should like to very much" the girl
answered.
"Honor bright"
"Honor bright"
"Shall | wheel the couch near the win
dow" said Max, when he had placed his
young charge on it, and carefully and skill.
fully arranged the cushions behind her.
please"
So the couch was wheeled near the open
window, and the, table brought, and the
men set; but all this time Beauregard had
not failed to notice that something had
greatly upset Valerie. She had learned to
wear her mask well; but Max had very
keen perceptions, and love sometimes
brightens ever dull perceptions.
81 hope" he said, 81 am not imposing on
your ~good-nature. You must not let me
do that, Valerie"
"You are not, indeed. l should have to
do something, you know; besides, l want
70 finish this game"
"But there would be other opportuni'
ties"
"There might not be-"
Max drew in his breath silently.
"You must leave on Saturday, thenp he
said, after a pause.
1t was folly to prolong his pain, and YET
the words fell from his lips, as it were, I'M
hidden.
Yes" said Valerie, quietly, looking at
the board as if studying the positions. I've
have to go on to Lord Morton's."
"And how long do you stay there9"
It'll Thursday; then the Collingwood's
until the following Friday"
1t was Beauregard's move. He made II
In silence and at random. Valerie was
thinking how differently would next Sat
urday evening be passed by her than any
thing her companion supposed. There
was to be a ball, too, on the Monday even,
ing, and a new ball-dress had been ordered
from London, but Valerie would not wear
1t. She did not feel To- as if she should
ever wish TO wear n ball-dress again.
Al u 49, - -nnl-al