The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-07-15

n AFTE - y y
stretch OF woodland beyond, and gained q
bit OF open moorlsnd. Here Mrs. Dudley
elevated her scarlet umbrella; but Valerie
was gniltless of such an article, also OF
gloves, which she had long ago pulled of
and consigned to Wcstbrook for safe Gus
tody.
"Ohl It'll hotl,, cried the widow.
1t 10 d~eliciOusl" said Valerie. aAnd
we shall soon be in the woods again"
pointing ahead to the hill clothed with
thick foliage.
The girl was almost dancing along now.
Beauregard watched her, but turned to
Mrs. Dudley.
sit is steep path for some little way,''
ne said, and then a regular climb-that
Is, II you care to getto the top. Once there,
you have a magnificent vlew!''
Il shall go to the top" declared Valerie,
promptly.
And / will go where you do, said Lord
Westbrook, lowering his voice.
III is II l will let youl' replied Beau
~, n~onchalantly. And perhaps you can't
climb"
Try mel' returned the young man.
ut will be a good test,n said Colonel
Beauregard. ''Do you feel inclined for 1t,
Mrs. Dudley.p
"H'ml not very. Miss Herbert is q cat,
!; amount | begin to Think
Valerie laughed.
Lets go on and commence the %ascent,'
she said to Lord Westbrook.
"All right" said he. eagerly.
But, as Valerie started forward, Beaure-
CARDS voice stopped her.
Valerie, you mustn't try that ascenttiIl
I em there.p
Why not'" she asked, not exactly de
family, but just u little rebelliously.
Because there is a good deal of danger
II you don't go the right way, and it is
tickllsh climbing when you d." he an
swered, quietly.
Westbrook, somewhat piQued by this au-
thoritative interference.
II don'tdonbtth TINT, mydear fellow said
the other, smiling, ''but as you don't know
the place any better than Valerie does, YOU
might both come down together. Go
ahead If you choose" he added to Valerie;
only promise NE you won't attempt the
climb.''
Very well, = said she, carelessly. Come,
Westbrook," and as they started off to-
gether half running, she added Impatient
~, Il can't keep on at this pacel How
Mrs. Dudley does dawdlei Colonel Beau
regard must be mad that he has to walk
so slowlyr'
Perhaps he doesn't mind" said Lord
Westbrook. Il shouldn't care how slowly
! walk by your side"
Don't talk nonsensel" said the girl, col
oring slightly. 81 am sure l should get
tired OF walking slowly with you, or any
one"
This last was not exactly true.
Don't say that!' said the young man,
trying to check his companions rapid pace.
you don't mean 1t, do your"
lido. Look here" said the girl reso-
lutely, and Stacking u little, ''if you are 60
ing to be absurd shall drop back to the
Others"
"Absurdw exclaimed the Young man. a
good deal disconnected. "Youare not very
merciful."
''rhere isn't much need for mercy that I
can see" returned Valerie, q~uickening her
pace a little. Nov, don't look doleful or
you'll spoil all the pleasure OF the walk for
both OF us. DO bel sensible fellow for once
in a wayW
II declare, " cried Lord Westbrook, half
laughing, half veXed, "you do treat hearts
like playthings,"
"Hearts'" Valerie laughed a ringing,
reckless laugh. "yYho talked Of hearts,
You don't mean to tell me that yours is
involved? II SO, it is about the seventh
time"
mo, mol vow md protest."
And l vow and protest." said Valerie,
pausing at the stile that separated the
moorland from the h%ill-path, aud facine
round on her companion with. mocking
laughter in her gray eyes, looking lovely
enough to turn the heads of a dozen ST,
Anthony's, that / am not going to listen
to n declaration with Colonel B%eauregard
a 4 Mrs. Dudley not three hundred yards
off; also that I am not going any farther
than this"
How cruel you are to mock me-"
"Iwonder how often you have snid that"
said Valerie, serenely. 'Oh, don't protest,
like the pl~ayer-queen," as he was about te
eagerly interrupt. II nave lived two years
in the bcda monde, and ! know the whole
gamut backward and forward and dodg.
ing. No more, please. Colonel Beaure.
gard has quick eyes and ears, and you are
looking vastly too sentimental for the oc.
casion."
II don't believe you have an atom Of real
feclingt' said Wcstbrook, in a savage un.
dcrtone.
II am glad you have found that out re.
pied Valerie, composedly, sit will save
both of us n great deal OF trouble. Don't
you know that pcnniless beauties can't at.
ford feelings, nor can poor anybodies. All
the same it wasn't very polke OF you tc
tell me tho truth so bluntly; but I'll for.
give 1T, as we have hitherto been very good
friends. and change my mind about going
on, II you will be sensible.n
.E9--E-E Is. .sHL -r.-.EEar
CHAPTER xLI.-A sPRA1N.
Lord Westbrook crossed the stile In
silence, and held out his hand TO nssist Va.