The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-08-12
VALERIE :;
Halt a Truth.
nY THE

''Try! it wouldn't be easy to change yon
for the better, Amy. Well, must not
say too much, or Hal may take me to task:
I hope he isn't anywhere near nowln
"Oh, Colonel Beauregard!" crictl Amy,
laughing merrily, NOV you arc ciafil ag!'
about Hal, yes; not about you; that was
sober truth, on'my honor as asoldier. Now
you may come in to tea, II you like. l dare
say Hal is wondering-not very resiguedly
where you have been all the afternoon"
II have been chnttering with Valerie"
"Young ladies' condolences. 10 she not
coming DOWN"
"Not until dinner time"
She glanced up In Colonel Beaurcgard's
face, but could make nothing Of 1t. just
outside the d~rawing-room door she paused,
and said. pleadingly:
Don't let them tease me toe much, Col
onel Beauregard, will your"
II will protect you," said he, smiling,
"like a vcritable knight-errant, II you Will
give me my guerdon-to be paid before
hand"
For fear l should cheat your But
knights-errant never sought reward"
mot in gold: but what l ask is more
priceless thnn gold-tLis."
He bent down smiling, and just touched
his lips to her brow-a brothers kiss.
Dear old Halls betrothed is my sister.
you know" he said.
II am so happy that you should feel So"
said the girl, her face radiant; and then he
opened the door and led the fugitive into
the drawing-roon.
Valerie appeared at dinner, and was, to
all outward seeming, as brilliant rs ever;
and In the drawing-room afterward her
soft laugh was. often heard. She sang
some OF her best songs, and one might
have thought the girl had never shed a
tear. Yet she knew Max Beauregard was
not deceived; her acting was not for him,
but for the others; and all the time her
heart wa t%hrobbing like the throb Of a
minute bell tolling the passing hours. To
morrow-Wednesday, then one day moro,
and then the promised answer: and that
answer would be the fiat that parted her
from Max Beaurcgard forever.
And when she went up to bed-having
scarcely exchanged half a dozen words
with Max the whole evcning-Fanchon
told her in great delight that the ball-drcss
had arrived from London, and was a
''pocm!" Wouh mademoSelLe try 1t on?
NO." said Valerie: 'it will tire my
ankle, tonight. Tomorrow morning will
do"
But Mrs. Langley came in to see how
the dress fitted, so Valerie gave in and sub
mitted to tho draping process.
The dress was made In most artistic fash
ion-artistic rs painters. not rs dressmak-
ers, understand the woodland seemed all
lace and silver as 1t fell around the girls
slender fcrm-a fitting robe for the Fairy
Queen. The thought came into her mind
with inexpressible bitterness; but it all
seemed to her like a rehearsal OF O play
never intended to be put on the stage.
She would never wear the dress. WIZ
worry her with it, and go into ecstasies
over it?
"Take 1t of" she said at last, inpatient
ly, to Fanchon. II am tired of standing,
and I hate having things tried>on."
.Mademoiselle has not ever looked al
herself!' demonstrated Fanchon. ruefully.
II am dressed for other people to look
at" returned her mistress, carelessly.
"Thsrel bundle tho thing away, and take
these" pulling 81 her bracelets and fling.
ing them on a couch. She had dropped
into a fauteuil. Her aunt came near to bid
good night.
"You don't seem quite yourself tonight
my dearl' she said, in a low tone.
Don't ~" replied the girl, with a hall
laugh. "Do you mean this evening, or just
now?'
.Just now"
"Ah, I thought so. You always call the
mask the face. aud the face tho mask"
And of that reply Mrs. Langley had tc
make the best she could; but that best
was not very satisfactory. Certainly wa
lerie was an enigma.
Friday dawned with the promise Of a
glorious day; and Valerie, who had scarce
ly slept during the night, rose before The
Il was fairly above the horizon. She
dressed quickly, and then begar moving
about, opening drawers. and taking out
sundry articles, which she put altogether
in one drawer, previously cleared out fol
the purpose. They were entirely persona
souucntrs thus collected photographs
picknacks, bought on the Continent out o
her own pocket-money, and such things
Jewels were not touched, nor wearing ap
parel. II will tell Fanchon by-and-by,'
the girl said to herself, "what clothes Il
pack. The jewels are not mine"
Her face was white and ~resolute while
she went about her strange task, her eyel
dry and fearless. One large box made O
satin-wood, inlaid with silver, shc took ii
her hands with a special and reverent care
and was about to put It IN the drawer will
the rest of her treasures, when she paused
-hesitated-her face changed, and sud-
denly, with trembling fingers, she drew
out her purse. and took from 1t q little key.
With this sho opened the box, and a faint
sweet smell of flowers rose up. Tenderly
she removed a dainty lace handkerchief,
then some silver paper, and there lay a
boQuet OF faded flowers, still in their fiagrec
holder. Almost holding her breath. Va
lerie lifted the boquet from Its bed, and
laid It against her lips; then. suddenly, she
put 1t down on the table before her, and
dropping on her knees, burst into Il storm
of passionate weeping; that dctied all eff
forts OF self-control. With all her strength
she strove to check her sobs, but it was in
vain; the tempest would have way, and o
ly ceased when it had exhausted.its victim
beyond the power OF weeping any more.
Il shall be stronger nowl' she said,
drearily. to herself. slowly rising to her
feet, and almost staggering to u fauteuil
near, into which she sank, weak and trem-
bling.
'Stfonger-much stronger-better able
to say goodbye to him. Oh, my heort! il
itwould only cease aching!;' She stretched
out her hand for Tho flowers, and laid
them in her lap, looking down on them in
passionate woe, rs II they had been living
things.
MAX" she said, softly, and now the
rich color mnntlcl over cheek and brow
her breast heavcd. her breath cam quick
and short, you love me!-.ycs!-you love
mel oh. Heavensv" She claspcd her hands
over her eyes with a smothered cry; land
yet we must partl you cannot help moi,
is too late; l cannot blot out the past; but
Ican live a nobler life in tho future; and ]
have done no wrong-I have lone no
wrongl Oh, will no voice from Heaven
whisper the truth to him, and cave us both
from this misery!"
She rose by-and-by, and put tho flowers
back in the box again. though not till she
had kissed them many times, then she
locked the box, and placed it in the drawer
and locked that also.
The rest are intown," she said; g Unjust
see to them laterl''
It was by this time nearly eight o'clock,
but Valerie remained in her own apart
msnts. She knew Colonel Beauregard was