Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-05-27


tone Of security which stung the girls
pride; It was like making q merely formal
offer of that which was certain of accepta-
ton; no doubts, no fears, but a compliment
sense Of the honor he, Aston Lawford, was
doing her, Valerie Herbert, in Offering her
his hand and heart, and millions.
Suddenly Valerie rose up, letting the
letter fall to the floor, and clasping her
hands above her head.
Have l." she said, through her teeth,
half aloud, "given him the right to speak
TO me like thisp lie seems more to be
claiming his property-as if l were so many
tons Of iron''-with a short laugh-"than
asking me for the greatest gift a nan can
aski'
She sank down again, hiding her face In
the cushion of the chair.
"Ah! how differently he would write!'
was whispered in her heart, but not by her
lips; "but, then he would come TO me
would e%ntreat, rs he would never entreat
for life. Ali" starting up, md pressing
her hands on her temples, flushing with
bitter shame, even In her solitude, mt the
thoughts that thronged into her brain, and
made her heart beat To s~ufIocation, 81 am
mad to dream SO! This letter, I" she stopped
and picked ii up. Yes she added, slow.
ly, II have been wrong; | have not been
wholly just to him. To hide my own So
cret | have gone too far; and aunt Con.
stance will have u right to be angry. All
the world will call me jilt. Lett! let aunt
Constance send me back TO Wexford. ]
would not marry Aston Lawford to save
myself from the most horrible death that
cruelty could inventl'
She went TO her davenport and threw I'D
the lid.
Yes" she said, 'he shall have his an.
swer soon; l will not keep him waiting
Then once more she paused. mo, / must
not write hastily. Unjust try not TO wound
him. Oh. does he love me-if only a littleI
l have been wrong-wrongv'
She dropped her face on Ter clasped hands
on the desk, sobbing bitterly.
But by-and-by she raised herself, and,
when she had grown calmer, drew paper
toward her, and began to write. She, too,
cast aside not n few letters before she could
write one that she could send, and she was
far from satisfied with this. Thus it rem:
DEAR Mr.. LAwFORD:
Your letter was given to me this after.
noon, ana ! am complying rs quickly rs |
can with your request for a speedy answer;
Tor, indeed, there is no necessity for delay.
] might, II ! took more time for considera-
ton. say better what | have to say: but IL
l Delayed replying for n month my answer
wOuld be still the same. know that YOU
DO me u great honor in asking me 10 be
your wife-an honor that, for some reasons,
l do not deserve-but forgive me when |
say mat | cannot accept your offer. | will
not deny that | may Though not intention.
DllXl hnNn lnl al IN WA, N lffGn,aYt nn
swer; but entreat you TO believe that |
neVe supposed you did more Than admire
me, rs Others have done. For my fault in
inns ! ask your pardon, making no excuse,
though ! might plead some; still | was
wrong. q urge that aunt Constance
laNors your suit; but though | would please
her in all things possible, | cannot in this.
| know you would do your Utmost to make
me happy; but ! do not love you, and with.
out love all that the world could give mo
would not make mo happy. You warn me,
courteously but firmly, not to tritle with
you further, and reject your offer TO prove
my power, while, in truth, | nave no inten.
ton OF lnal rejection. Let mt say, then
believe me or not, as you will-that | am
writing this TO you from my heart-thutn no
earthly power could make me, no tempta.
ton could induce me, To become your wife.
l refuse your offer now and forever; and
am certainly not vain enough TO believe
that after this you will ever wish to renew
IL. Ever yours faithfully,
VALERIE MAUDE HERBERT."
Continued Next Wcek.)