The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-05-13

ashamed to meet my look. j waitedfO her
TO speak; I hoped that she might deny the
charge, hut she was SPECIFICS. I implor-
ed her to answer me. accused he. OF being
mercenary and worldly, and by her shamed
silence she pleaded guilty. "
Reauregard turned aside his face; for full
3 minute he could not speak; and Louis
was too self-absorbed to notice that, when
the soldier broke the silence, his Voice was
. little husky.
odd she tell you he asked, that she
was engaged Il Ilawfordf' ~
'.sShe told me nothing In words; she adj
mitted all by silence
~ understand, Charters; you have
learned your lesson. Don't let 1t embitter
you, and make you judge all women by
enc. It is better to know the truth now
than when knowledge might come too
late"
81 have loved her so long said poor
Louis, dropping his head egain, ..and to be
forced to despise her.
Despise her! Beauregard caught his
breath as II struck by aphyslcal blow. The
word, in connection with Valerie, went
like a knife to his heart.
Not that" he said, inwardly, his lips
white with pain. ''Oh, not that! my own
lilly 1--WE SO AAGoSCA ii
help thee!'
He turned, and laid his hand on Louis
shoulder.
.fY5. are too young, Charters, /" he said,
gently, ito be merciful: and just now the
wound is too deep. Blu try to remember
that Valerie is heaping up for herself in
the future far greater suffering b she
has inflicted on you. And ! think also,'
L T.. .,sJ tl,s, s,v:%l, 4, - e,,1x.1,aJ 40 St.{Nr
in his soft voice, .hslat about a womanone
has once loved there is something forever
sacred-something that must make us al
ways speak Of her and think of her tender
ly.n
Even said Louis, bitterly, when she
has befooled you and wrecked your life2"
Even when she has wrecked your lifc,'
said Max, quietly, and he dropped his hand,
and turned away again.
But such chiyalry was beyond Lonfs
Charteris; he only thought. "Ihe man has
not loved as l have, or been treated5as Va.
lerie treated me- He said: II cannot feel
like that, Colonel Bsauregard. ! wish to
Heaven / had never seenEValeriei I want
never to see her again"
Beauregard crushed down the almost
scornful words that rushed to his lips.
you call this love?-a boys infatuation
In six months the wound will be healed
in n year the very scar will have vanished
He walked once or twice through the
room before he could calm down the temp
est within him enough to trust his voice.
Then he paused, and said:
cit is better for you that you feel as you
speak, Charters; you will the sooner learn
to forget a oma who has proved herself
unworthy Of any mans love" +,
II shall never forget herr said louis.
B~eauregard made n gesture Of impa-
thence; there was a touch of irony, in his
smile.
you say so now; young fellows are al.
ways convinced that their first d%isappOint
ment will last their lifetime; butt never
does" Then, touched by the young mans
almost haggard look, he added, with aquite
womanly tenderness OF manner:
SIT is a heavy blow, Charteris; but, for
Heavens sake! bear up under it like u man.
Your life may be wrecked il you give way
now. We have our lives to live, come what
may. Forgive me"
mo" said Louis, stretching out his baud.
"You are a noble fellow for speaking put
straight and plain. Thank you for it"
The hands of the two men who loved
Valerie, both well and truly, yet how diff.
ferently-the one openly, the other in Sc
cret-metin n close clasp. Then Max Beau
regard went out, and left the young lover
alone.
Who, seeing these men together in that
hour, would have imagined That suffer
ing which spoke in passionate words, and
even sobs, was but as the breeze that fut-
tiers a dead leaf to the tempest that changes
the face of a landscape, compared with the
suffering which gave no sign?
But Louis Charters firmly believed that
"all the to-morrows shall be as to-day" In
six months Max Beauregard will prove a
true prophet; butforth soldier, six months,
six years, twice six years would be but as
one day in his changeless love for Valerie.
Th0e are q few men who love after this
sort; but Max Beauregard was one Of the
few.
CHAPTER xxyI.-A PASSED coQUETTE.
Mrs. Langley did not sec her niece until
the following morning, and she wisely alb
stained from asking questions. She saw
that the girl looked very white, and that
herieyes were heavy, as if she had beer
weeping.
HShe imagines herself broken-hearted,'
thought the lady; "but she will soon gel
over that. lam heartily glad this foolish
business is done WITH
In the afternoon Aston Lawford called
but Valerie did not appear. Mrs. Langley
who called such statements '.tarradid
dles'') said she was out.
81 think she wants to avoid me-" Law
ford said. "She puzzles me- Mrs.. Langley
she is so capricious.''
ttMy dear Mr.. Lnwford," Mrs. Langley
laughed merrily, "you must not expect /.
girl of eighteen, in her first season, to be
have like a woman OF tiye-and-twenty
Valerie likes you, / am sureof that. Twill
not pledge myself to more
.You really think she does?" asked Law
ford, eagerly. 81 don't profess to under
stand womcn-stil less girls-bnt some
times I feel that I am making no way will
herr
""If you will take my ADVICE said Mrs
Langley, '.try and be patient. Valerie !
dt6icuc-Idon't deny it-andconsider how
; she is tiattered II fused over!'
= 'She takes her fill of the world" SAT-
z Lawford, somewhat grimls. pardon IN
for saying that few men would care to Sc
a girl they love fllrt SO much with others!'
e ""Ah!" said Mrs. Langley, amiably, ''yol
y have old-world ideas, Mr.. Lawford. Idon'
spoilt beauty see with our eyes! I repeat
e / am convinced That at heart Valerie like
you"
n a charming fiction, which Aston Law
ford was. however, content to accept at IL
apparent and not its real value.
3 Mrs. Langley did not repeat this brie
q conversation to Valerie. There was n
9 saying what-in her present mood-ths
young lady might do. '"The world md II
that belongs to it." including the 'iro'
man. and his millions, might be throw
! over in q gust Of sentiment by tho decidct
ly incomprelensible young person.
IIawford had hardly left the house whe
there came a note from Lady Elinor Beat
regard.
IF you and Valerie are free this ever
ing, will You come and dine withusr Pra
forgive such short notice, but Gerald, VIII
n had decided to leave town earlynextweel
has suddenly decided to go tomorrow, q
he doesn't feel well. !"
The servant was waiting for an answer
and Mrs. Langley accepted the Invitation