The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-06-17
CHAPTER xxxIv.-A YEAR LATER.

HAPTE YEAR LATER.
Colonel Beauregard called In Upper
Brook Street before Mrs. Langley and her
niece left town, but 1t happened that Va
lerie was out. and perhaps he was best
pleased not to meet her just yet. A week
later he took Lady Elinor abroad for q
month, and when she returned home he
started for q longer tour. He could not
stay at home-there was no rest there
there was no rest anywhere.
Mrs. Langley wintered between Paris
and Rome. She knew Colonel Beauregard
was not in England, and il conquests make
happiness, then la belle Herbert should
have been the happiest Of women; but II
she broke hearts-as they said she did-her
own suffered nothing in the process. Was
1t not well-niRh broken a%lreadyp Painters
painted her; poets wrote sonncts to her;
she lived in clouds Of incense; yet no love-
pleading had power to stir her pulse; no
homage, no splendor of adulation to dead
en- even for an hour, eve for an instant,
the passionate crying of her heart:
s'God knows that ] would give
All. other Joys, the sweetest and the best,
For one short hour to live
Close to thy heart, Its comfort and its rest
was the burden of her ceaseless cry. Ali
other joys-ay, all future life-for one hour
of ineffablc happinessl
But III the late spring London received
It's dipa again; lovclier chan ever, many
said, and maybe they were right; for Va.
lerie had suffered much-sutfered still
and the pathos Of suffering lends to beauty
Q surprising charm.
In the middle Of June Lady Eltnor came
up to Whitehall Gardens, and with hel
Angela Mnsgrave. The widow could now
enter a little into society; besides, Angela
needed o chaperon. and Colonel Bcaure-
gard was coming home. What a different
homecoming from that other-thirteen
months ago!
1--WE must have some people at Abbot's
Leigh this autumn, " said Lady Elinor. 81
am sure Max will be most willing"
She sat in the drawing-rooln in the eve
ming in carly July. Colonel Beaurcgard
was expected every minute, and by her
side was a girl some four years her junior
very like her, but more strictly pretty,
only with the same furtiye glance Of the
eye, and tho same slight downward curve
Of the lips.
Lady Elinor looked very interesting in
her weeds, and she knew 1t; and Angela
whose papa, 1t seemed, could spare her
now-wore white with blnck trimmings.
Eyes, indeed she nssented. Whom
do you think Of asking, Nelliefn
Y cannot have large party, youknow,
dear. Well, Mrs. Dudley for one, and Amy
Linwooa;; Lord Westbrook, Mr.. Dallas, Of
course-and-suppess we must ask Mrs.
Langley and Valerie; but the girl will DO
setting all the men by the carsl''
And she'll certainly do all she can to
get Max" observed Angela. "She threw
over Aston Lawford for nothing else!''
A carriage stopped; u knock at the door.
Lady Elinor rose quickly. A minute later
there was u light step on the stairs, the
d~rawing-room door opened, and, with .
cry of genuine delight, Lady Elinor threw
herself into her brother-in-law's arms.
"Oh! Max" sho said, 81 am SO glad to
see your
Dear Nell" He kissed her affection
ately, and then turned to Angela. "An.
gela, too.'' he said, holding out his hand.
"But stay--I think l Unjust claim II brothers.
right here nlso,'' and he stopped and kissed
tia girls forehead.
When the three were at dinner Lady ELI
nor presently made her proposition
Il llnye set my heart, Max" she said,
"on having some people'at Abbot's Leigh
this Eutnmn-not a great many. Of course.n
VERY we'll. Isuppose you have already
fixed Q 1.-THE peoplef" he said, laughing.
Women generally arrange p~reliminaries
before they make IN ASSAULT
"Ynu ought not to object to military
tacticss't retorted she. Yea, i have fixed
on some-not ALI,
who are the 'someis'
Lady ElinOr ran through the names OF
those nlread mentioned, emitting Mrs.
Langley and Valerie, however.
Beauregard paused, rs IL thinking over
the suggestions. but in his heart lie was
saying:
Valerie must comet She may be q co.
Observation-Disclosures she must