The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-04-29

Not one dance for Max Beauregard-the
mar she loved! who had a right to ask OF
her at least 80 much as a kindly memory
OF MN: Inc a man whom any woman III
that room would feel proud to honor. But
She dared not trust herself; blindly, desper
ately, she took fatal refuge in conduct thai
m%iserably wronged her.
"Thep are forming for the first set" said
a voice lear her.
She looked up. 1t was her partner-the
Marquis of Darnleigh.
Valerie bowed, and mechanically placed
her hand on her companions arm.
Mr.. and Lady Elinor B~eauregard-
Colonel Beauregard," rang out from the
doorway.
There was loud buzz of voices
"a forward rush and rustic.
Valerie paused, holding her breath.
For a minute everything seemed to swim
round her, yet she did not stagger or cling
to her companion, and he did not see-for
her head was drooping-how deadly white
She had grown.
Then she looked up, and said, with a
smile:
II must go and speak to Colonel Beaure.
gard. | have met him before, you know y
Even as she spoke, and moved-still
leaning on Lord Darnleigh's arm-towart
the entrance, Max Beauregard, scarce
twenty PAGES from her, turned and saw
her-the Fairy Queen; and all else besides
people and scene, vanished, and left hel
standing there alone, queen lily and rose
in one, in the glory of her loneliness, with
CLEAN of satin and silver, and fire of flash.
ing jewels. Yet he had never had every
nerve undo more perfect command as liz
went forward to meet her, and hand clasp
ed hand.
1t was a supreme moment for both, YET
both were calm and self-possessed. If the
clasp of Max Beauregard's hand seemed
to the girl to stop the very beating of he1
heart, she gave no sign; if her touch made
every nerve in the mans frame CULVER
every pulse bound, neither voice nor man
ner betrayed him.
II am so glad to see you again. he said
genuine pleasure, but no more, in the soft,
rich voice, that was always ringing in hel
ears. II left you scarcelyo on the threshold
Of Fame, and come back to find you in
the CITADEL
ooh, Colonel Beauregard," Valerie nm.
swered, CHANGING up, with the old, quick,
wistfnl look, into the handsome face-she
had not dared to meet his eyes full-''sucl,
a compliment sounds almost like irony
from one Of the Egyptian heroes. l must
congratulate you-not you me. And let
me-" she went on, a little hurriedly, Gin
troduce you to Lord Darnleigh, though IL
is scarcely necessary" turning to the young
nobleman.
Scarcely said he, smiling, and hold,
ing out his hand instead of the forma
1>o,,, st.Sr,,a ovarx,opa Il pn,vyc fNc1r,,a1 Raar,
regard. ! wonder if you are half as glad
to be home againa as we are t. see youherep
'.Thanks,n said Max, tfor the last Gssur-
ance. ! am sure we have all good cause tx
ike returning to old England, for the saKs
of the warm welcome WI get everywhere
You will have to be a little merciful on
other fellows. said Lord Darnleigh, laugh
ing. eve are nowhere with the ladies
now. The old case is reversed, and the
Egyptians are despoiling the Israelitesp
Ali retorted Beauregard, but We
have to make up for lost time. For nine
months and more you have had the field al
to yourselves"
..I'm afraid You have the best OF it, and
Lam not ashamed to surrende: to soldier
who has compelled surrender from hun
drels,s said Lord Darnleigh, bcwlng,
sNiss Herbert. they are forming now.
Shall we join them'"
Colonel Beauregard bowed, and turned
away, and Valerie and her partner Joined
the dancers.
sfyVas Valerie changed to himi" Max
Beauregard asked himself again and again,
while he talked to his partner-a pretty
countess, who wonld ask questions about
the campaign
Her greeting had chilled him to the
heart, though he had thought he had
scnoo1e himself to be fully prepared e
find u great difference between the limo.
cent child he had lett and the protcge Of
wealthy Mrs. Langley-the dtpd OF the
London season.
The result proved how impossible II Is
for worldly wisdom to thoroughly prepare
ns for the casting down of an idol. True
Valerie had seemed pleased to see him, b
no more than II he had been an acquaint
ance Of the season; and there was some
thing conventional in both the matter ano
manner OF her answers to his first wordf
TO her that Jared like q false chord on she
mans whole being. IN his bitter pain ne
hardly remembered how comparatively
cold his own greeting had been..sssYas
what he had heard of Valerie trnel HIS
hrief experience seemed t osScast q sinister
light on the statements which ne hnu l' Irieo
toabelieye greatly exaggerated. Wa .lHl
lenrliing too surely the lesson taueht ~