The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-07-29

IL wax mnuuenlng even 10 ASK SuCh men
tai questions concerning Valerie; and yet,
horrible as they were, he could not quite
dismiss them; he could not say such DELHI
crate calculation of chances was impossible
to her; and yet, there was ever the para,
dox which the girl presented to all that
she had done-all OF which she might lar
guing from past acts) seem capable. She
made no effort to win the man for whom
she had abandoned a rich sutton (yet that
might be ~profoundest coquetry); she was
30 fresh, so pure, SO innocent; in her face
no guile; in her acts, in her looks, none of
the arts Of the coquette. Could design so
completely, SO successfully, wear the mask
Of innocence?
No wonder these things perplexed Max
Beauregard, lacking, rs he did, the key to
the truth-seeing only Through a glass
darby"
1t was not till heal the close of the even.
ing that he approached Valerie's couch,
and asked her II they should finish the
chess-ganle sometime tomorrow.
Yes" she said, amy time you like"
NAY, put it the other way"
Valerie shook her head.
sit would be all one to me-" she said.
81 shall have to keep still, SO one time
would be like another; and you may only
have n few times you can call your own"
An ingenious plea for me-thank you
for 1t; and If you are not inclined to play
when l ask you, will you refuse9'
But I shall like to play nnytAse."
Suppose you were reading a fascinating
novel;"
81 wouM prefer chess"
Very well, I see I must take you Mt your
word.n
So they parted for the night.
The next morning Valerie's foot was
much better; and Max told hef that anoth.
er days complete rest, and partial rest TO,
a dny or two afterward, would make Erich.
ard himself again." though Of course, she
could not walk any distance for a fortnight
or more.
In the morning nothing was done but
general pottering, of which Valerie was the
center; and Mrs. Langley waited patiently
for an opportunity of seeing her niece
alone. 1t came ut last, Just after luncheon,
when the girl had gone to her dressing.
room to change her dress, and was resting
her foot a little before going down again.
Valerie looked up, vaguely apprehensive,
as her aunt entered the room, but she said
nothing. Mrs. Langley sat down by the
COUCH, racing ner niece.
~ hope your foot will be quite we'll by
Saturday" she said-this was Tuesday
cas- we have to leave on that day"
.Oh, it will be alright before thatl' said
Valerie, carelessly.
We'll enough. at any rate, to travel.
We are due ut the Morton's on Saturday
evening, You see."
"Yes."
Mrs. Langley drew from her pocket an
envelope.
II received these letters" she said. ives
teIday, while you were out. Read this"
She placed an enclosure III Valerie's
side OF the room.
velope, and the blood rushed holly to her
brow. Aston Lawford!
She opened the letter hastily, her fingers
trembling, q bright scorn IN her eyes.
Not many w~ords-asking her, begging
still frec-to give him some hope Of win
ming her.
If Valerie had been the coquette she was
believed to be, here was a triumph indeed
to make her heart swell; without an effort
oA hSA p0ht, SAlS kAhu w NUN DIG aIdA CA5t
aside ~socoolly for a higher prize, came back
to her feet ~again-abased himself to the
very dust before her.
But Valerie clenched the letter in her
hand, setting her teeth hard to keep back
from her lips the scorn that blazed in her
dark eyes, that made her bosom heave, her
whole frame tremble.
Mrs. Langley seeing that her niece had
read the letter, came back to the couch.
well" she said, nothing Of the girls
aspect lost upon her, nor yet the crumpled
letter still held In the little hand. "He is
a constant lover, is he notf'
"Loverl"
Valerie proved, by the manner in which
she uttered the word, how much contempt
can be thrown into a single word.
"What then, my dear!'
"What thenSn Valerie laughed, and tear
ing the letter up, scattered it on the ground.
"Infatuated slave! Don't call such slavery
love. This man believes-told me-that I
befooled, tricked him, led him on-then
threw him over for a more brilliant prize
and now he thinks l have failed to grasp
that prize he comes back and grovels at
my feet; a spaniel would have more spirit
"a whipped hound might have more
prider"
Heaven pity the man Of whom woman
spoke with snch ineffable scornl
Mrs. Langley grew white, and rose.
II hardly thought, Valerie" she said,
almost sternly; shat you would regard q
mans devotion In this light You are not