Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-05-20

You saw her herSelf-alone-tO-dayy"
For the first time since her return to
England. | had been with my father in
the country; he was i'll. When ! returned
to London / wrote to Valerie, asking 10
see her. She answered me that or Tues
day and Wednesday she was engaged; |
was to call to-day. She put me of for af-
ternoon calls, for the turnout OF the Four
finland! When / met her she told me that
she could not marry me. ! charged her
with throwing me over for Aston Lawford,
and she could not deny 1t; she was silent
ashamed TO meet my look. WAITED for her
10 speak; / hoped that she might deny the
charge, hut she was speeches.. | implor-
ed her to answer me; / accused he: of being
mercenary and worldly, and by her shamed
silence she pleaded guilty"
Beauregard turned aside his face; for full
D minute he could not speak; and Louis
was too self-absorbed to notice that, when
the soldier broke the silence, his voice was
q little husky.
did she tell you," he asked, that she
was engaged to Lawford'"
"She told me nothing in words; she adj
mitted all by silence"
~ understand, Charters; you ne
learned your lesson. Don't let it embitter
you, and make you judge all women by
one. 1t is better to know the truth now
than when knowledge might come too
late"
81 nave loved her so long" said poor
Louis, dropping his head again, land to be
forced TO despise her"
Despise her! BeaureGard caught his
breath as II struck by a physical blow. The
word, in connection with Valerie, wen
like a knife TO his heart.
"Not that" he said, inwardly, his lips
white with pain. ooh, not that! my W
my love; SO young-so tempted! Heaven
help theel'
He turned, and laid his hand on Louis
shoulder.
"Yo- are too young. Charteris," he said,
gently, ito be merciful; and just now the
wound is too deep. But try to remember
that Valerie is heaping mp for herself in
| the future far greater suffering than she
has inflicted on you. And | think also"
he said this with a ring Of subdued passion
in his soft voice, "Slat about a woman one
has once loYed there is something forever
understanding that must make us al
ways speak Of her and think of her tender
ly."
ENcuJ Sdlu lDulSi bIItNilS' "hNh SAN
has befooled YOU and wrecked your life:"
Even when she has wrecked your life,'
said Max, quietly, and he dropped his hand
and turned away again.
But such chivalry was beyond Louis
Charters; he only thought. "The man has
not loved as / have, or been treated as Va
lerie treated me-" He said; II cannot feel
like that, Colonel Beauregard. | wish to
Heaven | had never seen Valerie! ! want
never to see her again.
Beauregard crushed down the almost
scornful words that rushed 10 his lips.
"You call this love?-a boys infatuation
In six months the wound will be healed
in a year the very scar will have vanishcd.'
lie 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:
at is better for you that you feel rs You
speak, Charters; you will the sooner learn
to forget a woman who has proved herself
unworthy of any mans love"
81 shall never forget her.' said Louis.
B]eauregard made n gesture Of impa-
tience; 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 name
at Is n heavy blow, Charters; but, for
Heavens sake! bear up under 1t like imam,
Your life may be wrecked II you give way
now. We have our lives TO live, come what
may. Forgive me-
"No,"said Louis, stretching out his hand.
"You are a noble fellow for speaking out
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 a 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 the suffer
ing which spoke in passionate words, anc
even sobs, was but rs the breeze that tiut
ters n 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 tina
call the to-mOrrows shall he as to-day" II
six months Max Beauregard will prove {
true prophet; but for the soldier, six months
six years, twice six years would be but n
one day in his changeless love for Valerie
Those are a few men who love after this
sort; but Max Reauregard was one O. tht
few.
CHAPTER XXvI.--A PASSED COQUETTE.
Mrs. Langley did not see her niece unit
the following morning, and she wisely alb
stained from asking questions. She say
that the girl looked very white, and tina
her eyes were heavy, as if she had BEEF
weeping.
"Shc imagines herself brokcn-heartcd,
thought the lady; but she will soon sc
over that. / am heartily glad THIS FOOLS.
business is done with
In the afternoon Aston Lawford called
but Valerie did not appear. Mrs. Langle
(who called such statements "tarradid
dles') said she was out.
II think she wants TO avoid me-" Law
ford said 'She puzzles me, MIS-. Langley
she is so capricious."
"My dear Mr.. Lawford," Mrs. Langle
laughed merrily, you must not expect
girl of eighteen, in her first season, To be
have like a woman of iye-and-twenty
Valerie likes you, | am sure Of that. Iwi
not pledge myself TO more
"You really think she does?' asked Law
ford, eagerly. II don't profess to under
stand women-still less girls-but some
times l feel that | am making no way wit
her"
'If you will take my advice said Mr.!