Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-06-17
CHAP. xxxv.-INvIrEp TO ABBor's LEIGH.

CHAP. Xxxv.-INVITED TO ABDOT'S LEIGH.
Lady Elinor Beauregard-Colone Beau
regard, !" announced the footman, throwing
open the drawing room door in Upper
Brook Street; and Mrs. Langley, who was
alone, rose, and went forward with out
stretched hands.
place u hOmmeS, this time;'' she
said, laughingly, to Lady Elinor, as She
gave Max first greeting. "How good Of
you to come so soon, Colonel Be%auregard!
l am so sorry" kissing Lady Elinor, that
Valerie Is out; but | expect her home very
shortly. She went TO the Grosvenor with
Mrs. Dudley"
'Then we may hope for the pleasure Of
seeing her. Now, Mrs. Langley" cried
Lady Elinor-the two ladies were seated
side by side-"are you and Valerie olsen
gagged for three weeks from the twenty
fifth of July1"
81 think So" said Mrs. Langley, though
she knew perfectly we'll. Let mo see,"
and she took up a little book from n table
near, and glanced through its pages. YES"
she said, 1--WE are"
Then please book the date for Abbot's
Leigh. We mean to have a small party
this year of friends, whom one can ask TO
stop longer than a few days, and vino can
be happy without dances and private the
a~tricals, which, of course, we cannot have
yet"
1--WE shall be delighted, I" said Mrs. Lang
ley, wondering If Colonel Beauregard de-
sired this, or only yielded 10 his sistcr-in-
laws wishes. 81 thought / heard a car
riage stopp' she added; that is Valerie"
How, she asked herself, in some trepida-
ton, would the young lady receive Colonel
Beauregard? Mrs. Langley had carefully
abstained from speaking of him us a posi-
bic pdrti; but surely the girl could not be
SO perverse rs to snub him?
And newell, for n year he had not seen
VaISsie, and now she was coming; yet there
was no change in his face, even when her
hand touched the door-handle.
The door opened, and she came in-the
FAIRY Queen" with n gray Gainsborough
hat above her glittering curls, and a dress
of gray satin and plush; in her left hand
she held her gloves-and for a second she
paused, and a curious, half-reckless ex-
preston, that had been on her face ut the
moment she entered the room gave why
TO something softer-a blending of shame
and dread-as Max Beauregard rose and
went forward to meet her, and n light colcr
rose in her cheek. Her large gray eyes
al : avs, in his heart, looking into his-did
not meet them now. She gave him her
hand, and he felt it tremblc in his clasp,
and the color in her cheek deepened.
"They told me-" she said, n little hur-
riedly, that you and Lady Elinor were
here. How do you do, Colonel Beaure,
gardY"
Certainly not a more cordial greeting
thar she had accorded more than a yeaT
ago to Max Beauregard, the younger son
but to him this was a sign that the girls
better nature would assert itself. She
could not meet him face to face and greet
him with ordinary cordiality, knowing
what her intention was, and that he must
know T. too. And only that she was in
| some sort prepared for the rencOntre, hel
confusion would probably have been much
more apparent. She was but an appren
tice in the matchmaking school, poo
child!
1--WE are fortunate not to have missed
seeing YOU" Max said, gently, 'for | dar,
say Mrs. Dudley wanted to run off with
you"
"She didi am glad I didn't CO." sale
Valerie, laughing, and crossing the roon
as she spoke to shake hands with Lady FL
inoN
"And now zoe are going to carry you off
my dear" exclaimed that lady, thinking
with dismay, even while she spoke, tina
Valerie looked distractingly lovely.
Garry me off-where2" repeated tn
girl, looking quickly from the speaker t
her aunt.
mot now" explained Mrs. Langley
"but in the end of July. Lady Elinor Ia
invited us 10 stay ut Abbot's Leigh TO
three weeks, and you will be delighted T.
hear that | have accepted the invitation"
1t was well for Valerie that she had &C
uuired in the fashionable world no small
measure of self-command, and was able I
reply, with ready smile and words. turning
to Lady Elinor:
How kind of you'll That will be q grea
pleasureI'
"And as Valerie has never seen Abbot
Leigh" said Mrs. Langley, turning t
Beauregard, ''she will have to be restricte'
in her rovings among it's treasures"
II hope not" he said, smiling, "only
imagine her tours of inspection would b
something like a royal progress. And re
member, Valerie, that you need not brin
your horse with you. / have three beau
ties, pure-bred Arabs, for you to choos
from; but one of the three, il you allow m
to make the choice, will especially sui
you."
Thanks, so much. OF course I woul
accept your choice-you would know hes
In such a case"
Even as she spoke came the bite
thought, "He will think 1 am trying Il
make myself amiable to himr' and sh
turned from him. as If to listen to wha