Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-06-03

lief-"because | did not love him." Valerie
went on, fully believing that she was piling
up for herself terrible wrath for the NOR
row. "Oh, unit Constance, / know | have
been wrong, but did not think he really
cared for me. / begged him to forgive me,
but | could not marry him. / would die
sooner! People will call me false-a jilt-
then they must. know / told you that
/ loved the world, and couldn't marry
Louis because he was poor" it was the old
terror Of being charged with another love
hat made her say this-"but didn't know
what it would be 10 marry Aston Lawford."
Mrs. Langley, sitting in an armchair OPP
posite, leaned her elbow on the arm, shad-
ing her face with her hand; and even when
Valerie ceased speaking, the listener did
not move.
The girl rose and stood before her aunt,
clasping her little hands together, and
though she spoke f~alteringly, there was
not a line of irresolution in her face. Fra
gile stripping though she was, her will was
set like a wise; and the man or woman who
hoped to make her yield her ground would
have been blind indeed.
"Aunt Constance" she said, II know
you will think me ungrateful, and you
thought 1t would be a great thing for me
TO be Aston Lawforl's wife; but l cannot
obey you in this-whatever happens. lean
go back again to the country-to uncle
Wills"
"And marry Louis Charteris'" asked
Mrs. Langley, quietly, without looking up.
Valerie's lips opened for a quick mo, no
mot that" But in the instant she check
ed herself, for the thought flashed through
her brain like lightning: "She thinks |
love him. II she discovers | do not, she
will say, You love someone else?'"
She was silent.
Then Mrs. Langley dropped her hand
and rose.
Let us say no more about it tonight,
Valerie" she said. Tomorrow, perhaps,
or later, / may speak to you. But of this
| can assure you'll shall not send you back
into the country. Now, goodnight"
She kissed the girl afTectionately, and
Valerie went up to he- room with n feeling
of bewilderment.
What could it mean3" she asked her.
self. Mrs. Langley had promised not TO
be angry with her tonight; but she did not
seem even much displeased, and she had
so set her heart on this marriage. "Does
she imagine" Valerie thought, that will
yield2"
But for a time her brain felt dizzy and
confused, and she could not think distinct
ly. She was, however, terribly excited,
and felt that sleep would be an impossi-
bility. SO when Fanchon left her, she
wrapped a d~ressing-gown about her, and
sat down, leaning her %throbbing temples
on her hands.
Her thoughts were growing clearer now,
more defined. In the quiet Of the night
they travelled to Abbot's Leigh, and saw
the death-chamber with its tall tapers, and
the soldier, stern and calm, in his silent
watch by the dead. Long time they dwelt
there, and then they anne back to the queS-
ton that had perpleXed her.
Had the shock OF the terrible news from
Abbot's Leigh softened Constance Lang
ley's heart-for q time at least? But that
connection Of ideas was the flash Of revel-
alton. The news from Abbot's Leigh
Gerald's death made Max owner OF all!
With the smothered cry Of n wounded
creature the girl fell on her knees, hiding
her face from the light in shame II an
guish.
Was this it?-that Aston Lawford was
to be cast aside for Max Beauregard?
The words, not understood at the time,
came back TO Valerie, and beat upon her
brain with pitiless clearness:
and Max Beauregard is lord Of Abbot's
Leigh!'
Yes, even in that dread moment. Con-
stance Langley, almost in the presence of
death, thought Of the gain Of that death,
and grasped the gold that fell from the stiff
ening fingers.
And he will think that ], too, schemed
. win him, in the very hour that | knew
he had wealth. Oh, Heaven! he will think
even this of me.' Valerie moaned, the
burning tears forcing themselves through
her fingers. "Oh! how can | bear it? what
shall / do? If | could only die! He will
know that | refused Aston LawfOrd on the
very day-in the very hour-I knew his
brother diedl What else can he think but
that ! nm the base, wretched schemer /
seem to be? Why should he believe better
Of me after what he knows already? OH
the shame burns into my soul-that she
should want me to win him after all that
has passed-to win him, Of all men on
EARTH"
What could she seem, to Max Beaure-
CARDS high sense of honor, better than the
hapless creatures ws) sell their souls for
money? Only the Mayfair market is Ii
censed by custom; and to the other market
custom gives no license, and no open re.
cognition.
81 wonder" the girl whispered to her.
self, drearily, when, hours later, she lay,
too utterly exhausted by the tempest of
passion that had shaken her, to even feel
strongly, II wonder if he will ever know
that / was true and faithful, and loved
him from the first, just because / loved
him? Oh! it would have been better-far,
far better-if had never known him!'
CHAPTER XXXI.-FOR HIGHER QUARRY.