The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-06-17

as Dall0S.
THAT would make eight said Lady
Elfnor, counting on her fingers, with
power to add to their NUMBER and to
morrow we will call in Upper Brook
Street."
She had little hope that Mrs. Langley
would be engaged; she felt certain that
that astute matron had calculated on the
likelihood of Abbot hrcceiying guests
this autumn, and would take good care to
hold herself and Valerie free for an invita-
ton.
Would Max-even knowing what he did
and having so high a standard of woman
ly dignity-be proof against the wiles Of
such a siren as Valerie HerbertY
CHAP. xxxv.-INyITED TO ABBoT's LEIGH.
s'Lady Eltnor Beauregard-Colonel Beau
regard, y announced the footman, throwing
open the drawing room door in Upper
Brook Street; and Mrs. Langley, who was
alone, rose, and went forward with out
stretched hands.
place u hommes, this time;'' she
said, laughingly, to Lady Elinor, as she
gave Max first greeting. How good of
you to come so soon. Colonel Beairegardl
am SO sorry" kissing Lady Elinor, .'that
Valerie is out; but I,expect her home very
shortly. She went to the Grosvenor with
Mrs. Dudley"
''rhen we may hope for the pleasure Of
seeing her. Now, Mrs. Langley" cried
Lady Elinor-the two ladies were seated
side by stde-'are you and Valerie olsen
gagged for three weeks from the twenty
fifth OF Julyy"
Il think So" said Mrs. Langley, though
cha l. pa,,, -arf,o%I,, wall ~ ar - "
and she took up u little book from a table
near. and glanced throughi its pages. "Yes,"
she said, 1--WE are"
Then please book the date for Abbot's
Leigh. We mean to have a small party
this year of friends, whom one can ask to
stop longer than a few days, and who can
be happy without dances and private the
a~tricals, which, of course, we cannot have
yet"
I'VE shall be delighted. " said Mrs. Lang
ley, wondering If Colonel Beauregard de-
sired this. or only yielded to his sister-in-
laws wishes. 81 thought l heard a car
riage stopv' she added; shat is Valerie"
How, she asked herself, in some trepida-
ton, would the young lady receive Colonel
Beauregard! Mrs. Langley had carefully
abstained from speaking of him as a posi-
BILE pdfSSsbut surely the girl could not be
SO perverso rs to snub hiini
And newell. for n year he had not seen
Valerie, and now she was coming; yet there
was no change in his face, even when her
hand touched the ~dOor-handle. &
The door opened, and she came in--the
"Fairy Queen" with a gray Gainsborough
hat above her glittering curls, and q dress
of gray satin and plush; In her left hand
she held her ~gloves-and for a second she
paused, and a curious, half-reckless ex-.
preston, that had been on her face at the
moment she entered the room, gave way
to something softar-a blending OF shame
and dread-ns Max B~eauregard rose and
Went forward to meet her, and light color
rose In her cheek. Her large gray eyes
alk avs, in his heart, looking into his-did
not meet them now. she gave him her
hand, and he feltit tremb1e in his clasp.
and the color in her cheek deepened.
.They told me- she said, n little hur-
rfedly, that you and Lady Elinor were
here. How. do you do, Colonel Beaure-
gards"
Certainly not a more cordial greeting
than she had accorded more than a year
ago to Max Beauregard, the younger son;
but to him this was a sign that the girls
better nature would assert itself, She
could not meet him face to face and greet
him with ordinary cordia1ity. knowing
what her intention was, and that he must
know 4 too. And only that she was in
, some sort prepared for the rencontre, her
confusion would probably have been much
more apparent. She was but an appren-
tice in the matchmaking school, poor
child
1--WE are fortunate not to have missed
seeing you," Max said, gently, for 1 dare
say Mrs. Dudley wanted to run off with
you"
She didl l am glad l didn't CO." said
Valerie, lnughing, and crossing the room
MS she spoke to shake hands with Lady Ell
inon
"And now zoe are going to carry you Off,
my dear!'' exclaimed that lady, thinking
with dismay, even while she spoke, that
Valerie looked distractingly lovely.
Garry me of-wheres' repeated the
girl, looking quickly from the speaker to
her unit.
mot now,' explained Mrs. Langley,
"but in the end of July. Lady Elinor has
invited US to stay at Abbot's Leigh for
three weeks, and you will be delighted to
hear that I have accepted the invitation"
It was well for Valerie that she had 40.
quired In the fashionable world no small
measure of self-command, and was able to
reply, with ready smile and words, turning
to Lady Ellnor:
How kind OF you'll Tint will be q great
p%leasureI"
"And as Valerie has never seen Abbot's
Leigh" said Mrs. Langley, turning to
Beauregard, s will have to be restricted
i'll her royings among its treasures"
II hope not he said, smiling, "only l
imagine her tours OF inspection would be
something like a royal progress. And re
member, Valerie, that you need not bring
your horse with you. ! have three beau.
ties, pure-bred Arabs, for you to choose
from; but II Of the three, II you allow me
to make the choice, will especially suit
you.n
Thanks, so much. OF course I would
accept your c~hoice-you would know best
In such a case.'k
Even as she spoke came the bitter
thought, HE will think 1 am trying to
make myself amiable to himp' and she
turned from him, US If to listen to what
Lady Eiinor wus saying, Diminishing the
matter.
Someone" said Lady Elinor, laughing,
called those three Arabs the three lovely
Cummings, and the na1me has stuck to
them. Max makes such a fuss with them.
Which Of the three did you mean justn now,
MAXI"
.Zoe.n
"The gem Of the trioi But she is very
spirited"
Valerie can ride o spirited horsep' said
! Beauregard, smiling, as If the idea OF her
needing a quiet one was rather amusing,
II hate quiet horse. = said Valerie, care.
lcssly.
And all this time she was saying to her.
self:
How he must desp'se mel how false,
how contemplate l must seem to him
And yet he is SO kind, s6generous-makes
me welcome to his housci Twill find out
whether aunt Constance worked that in.
vitation. He cnnnot really wish me % co.
She certainly never dreamed that Max
Beauregnrd had In fact, bsen the wire.
puller. and not the tnaturally1 suspected
aunt ConstnIlce.
Ten was broughtup, and shortly after
ward Lady E.inor and Colonel eauregnrd