The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-05-20
CHAPTER xxv1I.-Ar THE LycEuM.


Lady Elinor B~enurcgard's carriage drew
Upper Brook Street, and the lady turned
to Colonel Beauregard Who sat by her.
$50 up, Max, and fetch Valerie, please.
There is no need for me to go in. She is
sure to be ready, for she inherits the mill
tary virtue of ~punctuality."
The foot,uan had already knocked, and
the door was opened rs Max stepped out Of
the brougham. Ho was shown into the
d~rawing-room, and was for n minute alone.
Instinctively he glanced around for signs
of Nalerie's presence; a piece of music lay
on the piano. He crossed the room and
looked at the music-a song by "'Clio,'
dedicated by permission to Miss Valerie
Herbert" and set to words by Elizabeth
Barrett Browning. The music was trash,
and he was closing the page without fur
Their notice, when some words caught his
eyes:
y weep for these who weep? she said
All! fools! ! bid you pnss them by.
Go weep for these whosc hearts have bled
What time their eyes were dry.
Whom Sadder can i say? she said"
TRUE! true! Heaven knows it!' the
man muttered, pressing his hand over his
eyes for u momcnt; and then he turned,
with quickening pulse, as the door opened,
and there was a soft frolefr08 OF woman's
garments, and Valerie ca,ne In, in cream
cashmere and amber satin, exhaling per-
fume of hyacinth and heliotrope.
II have not kept you a minute, Colonel
Beauregard, have II" she said, holding out
her hand.
"i.ssarcely a minute; l hope you have not
hurri>3v he answered, taking the rich
opera-clAsk from the hands Of Fanchon,
who follo,,ed, to place round Valerie's
shoulders.
''There was ns need. l was just ready"
Max wrapped tie mantle carefully about
her, bringing back u her the night at Dom
nington, when he hnc Told her that fairy
queens were scarce. I'D he, too, recall
that episode? Then he draw the little hand
on his arm, and led her down to the car
rage.
Lady Elinor shook hands with Der warm
ly, told her she was as punctual IS Max
himself, and then the carriage drove Off.
Have you heard from Mr.. Beaureeard
latciy!" Valerie asked his wife, en- route.
Yes, this morning. He was still not
very well; but nothing really the matter.
Max and are going down to Abbot's
Leigh on Saturday to stay over Monday"
Lady Elinor Tor rather Colonel Beaure-
gard for herr had secured a lirst-tier box,
and they found Dallas waiting for them in
the restibule of the theatre. Lady Elinor
placed Valerie in the centre of the box be-
tween the two men, Max nearest the stage,
herself taking the opposite corner next to
Dallas; and the moment she was settled,
She began to looa about for people She
knew while everybody in the house who
could see the Bsaurcglrd box, stared at
Valerie. Bat Valerie cared nothing who
was here or who wasn't. or whether she
was looked at or not. She only knew that
Max Beauregard was beside her. and it
was the mermaid and the swords again.
Her heart felt breaking, butshe was happy,
q happiness that was full of ineffable pain,
and yet was happiness. She knew Beau
regard must dcspise her: lie was disap-
pointed in her; she had been Ito all seem
Ing) unjust, unkind, ungrateful to him: the
effort to talk. and appear as usual in his
presence, to look at him, was so great that
1t produced actual physical us we'll us in
only happiness her life knew now-to be
with HIM. Truly love is the strangest, the
most inexplicable of all passions.
i eIlD'Sut 1 SIM .AStOu- LlNlDtu, Sdlu
Lady EliIor, and Max saw Valerie start
slightly.
"Where9" asked Da"as.
Over there, at the back OF the opposite
stage-hox.n leveling her o~pera-glass. Beau
regards eyes followed the direction indi-
Gated.
''That isn't Lawfcrl.' he said: that's
the manager of the -Theatre."
"Mr. l4uwford was going to the German
opera tonight said Valerie, nonchalant-
".
''IIe might not have gone asternll, us you
were not going, my DEAR replied Lady
Elinor, laughing.
Max glanced at Valerie. The girl color
ed, but shrugged her shoulders.
1t was clear to him that she had no love
for Lawford (iiow, indeed, could she hare,)
and yet she was going to sacrifice herself
to hint
The rising OF the curtain put n term to
Lady Elinor's chatter, md the stage gave
both Valerie and Colonel Beuurcgard a
good excnse for silence. Neither cared to
talk, but MIX took little heed Of what
went OH behind the footlights, his every
thought WAS absorbed by the girl at his
side.
Often. lennins back in the shadow. he