Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-07-15

Halt a Truth.
By 1.-THE pucHEss."

Valerie, too, played with less than her
usual skill; though-as in such cases the
woman usually is-she was more inwardly
self.possessed than her companion; out
wardly, both seemed OF present absorbed
in the game; that is, Valerie did altogeth.
er, and Max Beauregard did when she
could see his face; otherwise 1t would ap-
pear that he evolved the stratagem of the
mimic battle from contemplation of the
features and form opposite to nina novel
mode of playing chess, and not a very sue
cessful one, since it presently led to his
losing a bishop without gaining any adj
vantage. Nor was the loss a mere over
sight, but led up to three or four ill-con-
sldered moves.
"Whew-w" he said, as Valerie took the
piece; II must look sharp, Fairy Queen, orI
shall be routed horse and foot"
A slight color swept over the girls cheek
at the name he called her; but she answer.
ed, smilingly:
II thought, a few moves back, you were
laying a trap; and then, when you moved.
that pawn" touching it, II knew / was
mistaken"
"a trap? No; I was playing carelessly,',
he answered, land that won't do with you
you play far too well. / don't mean that
l was careless from undertaking your play,
but because didn't attend properly"
OH you might play badly, for you, and
beat me!' said Valerie, in perfect good
faith.
at doesn't look like it. Besides, you
have supernatural skill, you know
Then it's no use contending at all" re-
turned the girl, not thinking, until the
words had left her mouth, the significance
they might seem charged withal; but she
did not change color, and added almost di.
rectly, not daring to lift her eyes: "But
certainly we shall not test the truth before
luncheon at the present rate"
1--WE can finish it another time, he said,
not seeing the board at all for a minute
1t was merely a confused mist-he only
saw Valerie and heard the cry of his own
heart in answer to her words: Heaven
help me! 1t Is no use contendhgl'
But he quickly rallied, and forced him.
self TO closer attention, and, by a few mas.
terly moves, almost retrieved his position.
Are there any plans for this afternoonP"
he asked, presently.
II don't KNOW haven't heard of any,"
"Would you go for a walk There are
som lovely walks about-over the hills
and among the woods, where horses can't
GO"
"Who else can walk?o
mo one like you; but Mrs. Dudley can
do a fair distance. Westbrook and Dallas;
Travers not much; Nellie won't walk in
hot weather, nor will Angela. Is Miss Lin
wood a Pedestrian"
Valerie laughed.
"She calls four miles a long distance"
"We mustn't count on Dallas, them said
Beauregard, quietly. But If the others
will come, will your"
The girls heart beat fast. For the last
week or more Beauregard had almost
avoided her, and now this twice he sought
her so~ciety-for the chess-game and for the
walk; and in both cases he had carried the
day-in the first by o coup de main, in the
second she could not possibly refuse with
out making refusal much more marked
than acceptance.
Il shall be very happy to come" she said.
Thanks, so much. / do trust the other
W will be amenable. Your move, Va
lerie. All! the luncheon bell! Never
mind. / will take the game down on a
StdtH quo board, and we can finish it some
other day-if you like. that is!'
"Ohl should like to finish itl'' exclaim-
Valerie, rising; and Max rose, too, and
went to fetch the stdtu quo board. The
tennis-party anne trooping in from the
lawn; Dallas and Amy Linwood turned up
from somewhere else; and all went into
the house.