The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-07-08
"yalerle-forglvem .--you are answering

.Valerte-forgiy me--you are answering
ma trnlys"
Quits trulyi'' wasthe qnistreply. ..Now
may I go back to my bookfn
Mrs.. langley paused for q moment. and
reflected that 1t might be wiser tD say no
more at present. She had ascertained one
valuable fact-that Valerie did not care
tor Louis Charteris. 1t would he better to
leave other matters ito q more convenient
season. The girl was certainly dtDtctlS;
was she an incorrigible coquette, o. were
there some secret springs OF action which
she tMrs. langley could not detectf She
had thrown over Aston Lawford for MAJ
Beauregard, and nov she seemed to cast
aside the prize she had played for.
Yes, you may go now" said Mrs. Lang
ley. And tell Lady Elinor / shall be
very pleased to join her about twelve
o'clock"
Valerie went of, with still that light in
her eyes; she needed to hear no more to
know all that wa 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 W and down; Colonel
Beauregard and Angela, half In light, half
IN shadow, the chess-table between them.
Max saw Valcrie'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 moveln he said, smiling.
Why, Angela, You are giving the bishop
the rocks move!'
ooh, how stupidI' she exclaimed. $50
lam. lshall never learn to play chess"
you will II you give your attention to
it."
Angela glanced at him with a look that
half implied: How can /, when you are
my tcacher" But though he saw the look,
and read it Alright, he did not seem to no
tice 1t; 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 waves of hair.
Then he called her NAME. She lifted her
head aud paused.
"Yes?" She said; but Angela's brow
clouded.
Come herel" said Colonel B%eauregard;
and Valerie sauntered carelessly along the
terrace, and stopped by the chess-table.
II have been trying for the last hour"
said Max, ito make Angela understand
the moves, and a minute ago she moved a
bishop on the square. Will you come and
teach herP You are q good player, are you
nott''
ga pretty fair one" She had often play
ed chess with Louis, at Wexford, and was
generally the victor. But l am quite
content to leave Angela to your tender
meycies.'
81 will be more diligent!" cried Angola.
But Beauregard answered Valerie:
II don't want you tt Take my place, but
Angela's, and show her how to play!'
"Oh, Maxp' 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 not fairies ever play mortal games?"
"What on earth do you mean, Max?n
asked Angela, looking in perplexity from
with a mingled throb of pain and pleasure,
and half yielding, she said: "Theydo 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.
''The novel has had its shared" he said,
NoSAy& ShhliS SaS ppOh IN Aduu, anu
closing it; come and play a game OF chess
insteadI'
"Stand and deliver!" cried Valerie, hid
ing her embarrassment by a merry laugh.
.sYou are n knight of the road, Colonel
Beauregardl"
II will ask pardon" said he, when you
have scored o victory, ora second dcfeatl"
III haven't admitted n first defeat,'' said
Valerie.
81 can dispense with admissions. Sol.
diers look ut deeds rather thar to words.
Angela won't mind your taking her place
for u little; will you, Angela? 1t will be q
lesson to you to watch the game"
Angela rose with n tolersble grace.
you arc very kind, Max" she said, ito
put up with me SO long. I hopeI shall do
better the next time"