The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-06-10
VALE RE
Half a Truth.
By 1.-THE

oAo NSSSh AofS hlS A4dy Alit. III +UIlrcN
back his head with q harsh lnugh-"ant
begs me to forgive her for having trit1et
with me. But, by Heavenl,, he went on
beginning to pace the room, "I'll bring he
to her kneesl I warned her to trife n,
more: and in spite of that warning, she Ii
simply trying to coquette-to make me bel
and entreatl Refuse mel There isn't ,
marriageable girl in society who would no
thank Heaven for an offer from Aston
LawfordI"
"Astonr, pleaded his sister.
Does that child imagine no went on
not needing her, that am to be made {
butt of-jilted, us If were n trumpery lad
fit to hold her gloves or fan, and dismissed
when he Is done with? She must have
written that letter without her aunt's
knowledge. Yes, SURELY he added, paus
ing, and speaking n little more calmly
Mrs. Langley has been out all day. Va
lerie only had my letter in the afternoon
and Mrs. Langley could scarcely have
reached home before the servant whc
brought this answer left. Why, them
he flung himself into a chair-"the mates
is soon settled. The gill, If she means re
fusal-and don't believe she does-wilI
soon have to yield"
A knock at the door, and a servant en-.
tered.
please, sir" said he, handing a letter
"this has just COM from Whitehall Gar
dens."
Lawford opened the letter quickly, and
read aloud:
"SIR:
81 have, with great. grief, to inform you
that a telegram arrived an hour ago from
Colonel Ran on ri fn cav TINT Mr. IQao,,
regard died Mt eight O'clock this evening.
Your obedient servant,
John WITTER."
A blank pause. Then Miss Lawford
who Ind started into a sitting posture. said
aston, the meaning or valerle.s letter
Is clear. Mrs. Langley dictated its pur-
port, If not its terms. You are simply
thrown over for q better catch-for Max
Beauregardln
Aston Lawford turned and looked at his
sister.
ut is true" she continued. "Mark mel
Colonel Beauregard would telegraph direct
to Mrs. Langley, as she is SO great a friend
Of Lady Elinor, she would have the news
as soon, or almost as soon, as they had it
In Whitehall Gardens. Valerie's letter
was written at once, and sent quickly, 60
that 1t might not appear so openly to jilp
you for Colonel B~eauregard. Now Mrs.
Langley and Valerie can say the girl wrote
1t before she knew even that Gerald was
Ill; and Valerie would easily convince
Colonel Beauregard of the truth of this
though on the face of it, it is n falsehood,
for she wouli not, in the first place, dare
to refuse you without her aunt's knowledge
or sanction; and, in the second place, why
send the letter so late Mt night-why not
earlier in the evening-or Tomorrow
Aston Lawford sat looking Mt his sister
listening to her without Offering to in
terrupt. When she had finished hi rose to
his feet.
II understand it ALP he said, grimly.
.'You are right. And does that girl think
she will make Max B~eauregard believe
such n transparent ~falsehood?"
Such a girl rs Valerie, Aston" said
Miss Lawford, truly enough, .'can make
any man her slave If she chooses. Butshe
IS as worthless morally as she is beautiful
,utwardly. Tear her out of your hearth
"Ay!" said Lawford, 1ercely, "but l will
lake care Max Beauregurd knows to the
Iull what n of woman it is who in
lends to spread her net for him!'' He
stopped and picked up the crumpledl letter.
"Beauregard shall see this!" lie said, and
without a word more he went out of the
.oom, needless to say, banging the doc,
after him.
Ny. sLawford waited until late the fol-
lowing day, and then he wrote to Valerie.
He owned, he said ,thathe refusal, afterthe
~nndoubted encouragement she had given
him, very much surprised him; but he was
willing to accept the decision us final, since
he could not fail to see the motives which
dictated it. Certainly he would not desire
to place his happiness in the hands of a
woman who permitted herself to be all but
engaged to one man, and on the very in
slant that nnother-hitherto ignored be-
cause he was comparatively poor-attaine
unexpected wealth, the first lover was
ruthlessly thrown over, in the hope Of gain
ing as a sutton the man who took higher
rank in the social scale in addition to his
wealth. Possibly Miss Herbert might find
that she had grasped ut the shadow and
lost the substance: and for the rest, she
would have done well to omit any pretense
of rejecting him I.awford) because she did
not love him, since love had no part or lot
In the question
With lips parched and hot, and dry, tear
less eyes, Valerie read that letter once
twice, thrice through, every word soaring
her heart as with a hot iron-not because,
in truth, she deserved it, but because she
seemed to deserve it.
1T Is not chivalrous-it is not generousi'
she said, within herself. MAX Beaure.
gard would never have written like this tc
any woman 1t is cruel; and yet, If / were
the wretched fortune-hunter Aston Law
ford must believe me, it is not more harsh
than l deserve. will not stoop to denial
A girl sunk SO low as I seem to have SUM
would hardly hesitate at a falsehood 10 save
her credit with her new prey. What does
it matterW She rose up and flung hel
right arm with u reckless, defiant gesture
.Let all the world think what it p~leases
call me iilt. fortune-hunter, anything
Since he must despisc me-hold me shame
less, mercenary. hcartless-and yet l live
how shonld care u jot, though the whole
universe cried shame upon me"
CHAPTER x11II.-vALEIIE's OFFERING.