Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-07-22

Valerie gave him the pretty bit Of scent
cd cambria and lace that he asked for.
"a very dainty SHOE" Max said, longing
to kiss the trifie. "Seel'
In a minute her foot was tied up In the
handkerchief.
She burst out laughing.
"The latest in sh6esr' she said.
"The sweetest and prettiestI' was on the
soldiers lips, but he kept 1t back, and said
instead:
"Only fit for carriage wear, / am afraid"
He put her shoe In his pocket (she had
already stuffed her stocking into her OWN,
and rose.
Now, Fairy Queen" he added, ''shall
we 60 down to meet the c~arriagef"
She held up her hand to him to help her
to rise, but he shook his head, smiling.
"Do you think you can walk down the
hillside, Valerie"
II can try mustl'
"You can't put your foot to the ground,
my child. You must let me carry you
down."
"Ahl no-nol" she shrank back instinc-
lively, yet distressed even more on his &c
count. "It's all very well to call me feath-
er-wGight, but / must weigh something,
and Xbr you to carry me all that distancel
Let me stand and see II / can walk"
IF you like; but l see you know little
enough about sprains. Come! l wish I
had never q heavier burden to bear than
you are, Valerie"
She felt that he did not speak Of physical
burdens; yet had his words any application
to herselfP She looked up to him with an
unconscious, wistful appeal in her eyes.
81 am sorry TO give the trouble" she
seid, with the ndiUete of the Wexford Va
lerie--a ndtUete that might have passed for
the quintessence of coquetry in the Valerie
who knew herself ar idol, for whom any
man would do gladly whatever she should
ask or desire. Yet Beauregard knew ii
was not coquetry, else he had not answered
so softly as he stopped to lift her,
Are you sorryP am for your sake, that
there is need, not for my ownl"
Indeed 1t seemed as IL he found her "a
feather-weight." He had her up In his
arms as easily as II she had been a child,
and turned TO the hillside.
THE descent looks Steep" he said. care
you afraid?"
mot a Bit"
As If she would have feared anything
WIN lllll NOb ny ~ lOOh ulu uS ItIllIN
her Of that ride through the thunderstorm;
yet 1t must have been IN his memory as in
hers. By-and-by, when they were q little
way down the hill, she asked him:
do you find me heavyP Do l tire your
"My precious burden, nop'
lie felt the little hand that rested on his
shoulder tremble; he felt her for amoment
breathe quickly, but, not looking in hei
face, he did not see the flush that swept up
to her brow, and the blended joy and fear
that flashed into her eyes. Shen spoke
another word the rest of the way, not even
when they were drawing near the bottom
and she saw Mrs. Dudley Standing below
watching them. Nor did Colonel Beaure
gard speak; he had said too much just now
or at any rate his tone had, and he set hil
teeth that he should say no more Of the
like nature.
Gently he placed his precious burden
on the sloplng turf, to be gushed over b,
Mrs. Dudley, and the girl just raised he
eyes to his face for a second, and said earn
estly:
Thank you very, very much, Colone
B~eauregard."
He shook his head, smiling, and threw
himself ut her feet.
CONTINUED Next Week.) be