Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-07-08
Beauregard that You are absolutely indif,
ferent tn himpu

was q dangerous glitter In her eyes; other.
wise, only a little culver Of the n~ostrils, q
settling Of the firm lips, nothing more.
Mrs. Langley returned the look for a mo
ment, but IL never wavered.
The elder lady spoke again:
"Valerie, let us understand each other
clearly; am l to suppose that you still have
any affection for Louis Charters"
~ always had an affection for hint"
"No jesting, Valerie; you know what ]
mean!''
81 never did love him!' said Valerie,
shat was a mistakeI'
"Valerie-forgive me-you are answering
me truly?"
"Quite trulyr" was the quiet reply. snow
may l go back to my bookt"
Mrs. Langley paused for a moment, and
reflected that 1t might be wiser to say no
more at present. She had ascertained one
valuable fact-that Valerie did not care
for Louis Charters. 1t would be better to
leave other matters ito q more convenient
season." The girl was certainly dtttctle;
was she an incorrigible coquette, or were
there some secret springs OF action which
she (Mrs. Langley could not detect? She
had thrown over Aston Lawford for Max
Beauregard, and now she seemed to cast
aside the prize she had played for.
Eyes, you may go now" said Mrs. Lang
ley. And tell Lady Elinor l shall be
very pleased to join her about twelve
O'clock"
Valerie went off, with still that light in
her eyes; she needed to hear no more TO
know all that was left unsaid.
She stepped out on the terrace, on her
way to the lawn. There were the groups
she had left half an hour ago. Dallas and
Amy, still walking up and down; Colonel
Beauregard and Angela, half In light, half
in shadow, the chess-table between them.
Max saw Valerie's white-robed figure fit
ting past, but he did not turn his head from
the game, and Angela did not dream how
the farce he was forced to play wearied
him.
"a wrong novel" he said, smiling.
"Why Angela, you are giving the bishop
the rocks movep'
"Oh, how stupidi" she exclaimed. $50
/ Inn. shall never learn to play chess"
You will If you give your attention to
It,"
Angela glanced at him with a look that
half implied: How can ], when you are
my teacherp" But though he saw the look,
and read it Alright, he did not seem to no.
tice it; but half turned as Valerie, coming
back from the lawn, slowly mounted the
terrace steps, reading as she moved. A
moment he looked at her, the sunlight
pouring full on her golden head, the light
breeze stirring the bright wave of hair.
Then he called her name. She lifted her
head and paused.
"YesH" she said; but Angela's brow
clouded.
"Come herel' said Colonel Beauregard;
and Valerie sauntered carelessly along the
terrace, and stopped by the chess-table.
81 have been trying for the last hour"
said Max, ito make Angela understand
the moves, and n minute ago she moved q
bishop on the square. VIII you come and
teach herr You are a good player, are you
notp"
"A pretty fair one" She had often play
ed chess with Louis, at Wexford, and was
generally the victor. "But | am quite
content to leave Angela to your tender
mepcies."
81 will be more d~iligentl' cried Angela.
But Beauregard answered Valerie:
al don't want you to take my place, but
Angela's, and show her how to playl'
"Oh, MAXI said Angela, with a pout.
Valerie looked at her, at her book, at
Beauregard. Her heart pulled her one
way, her fears another. Max, not raising
his eyes from the board, said lightly:
do lot fairies ever play mortal gamesP"
what on earth do you mean, MAXI"
asked Angela, looking in perplexity from
him TO Valerie; but Valerie's heart leaped
with a mingled throb Of pain and pleasure,
and half yielding, she said: They do some
times-and they read novels, too!'
But Beauregard saw that he had gained
the outworks, and, soldier-like. carried the
citadel by a coup.
1.-THE novel has had its shared" he said,
coolly. taking the book from her hand, and
closing it; "come and play q game of chess
insteadp'
"Stand and deliver!' cried Valerie, hid
ing her embarrassment by a merry laugh.
"You are a knight of the road, Colonel
Beauregardr'
81 will ask pardon" said he, "when you
have scored n victory, ora second defeat!'
81 haven't admitted a first defeat" said
Valerie.
81 can dispense with admissions. Sol.
diers look at deeds rather than to words.
Angela won't mind your taking her place
for a little; will you, Angela? 1t will be o
lesson to you to watch the gamel'
Angela rose with a tolerable grace.
you are very kind, Max" she said, "tc
put up with me so long. / hope l shall dc
better the next time"