Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-04-22
CHAPTER xvII.-Ar THE WELLESLEY.

CHAPTER XvII.-AT II WELLESLEY,
"Miss Valerie Maude Herbert, by her
aunt, Mrs. Langley" read out the Hon.
Dudley Fenton, from the Morning Post,
one morning In May.
He sat In a window Of the very aristo-
cratic Wellesley Club, much patronized by
officers in crack regiments, but where OF.
ficers in the Trades Union" or any other
condemned regiment, would inevitably fall
to obtain omission.
A good number Of men were lounging
about the m~orning-room, several near the
window. A young guardsman exclaimed:
Didn't she make a sensation-that'sall all
They say she'll marry O duke"
"They always do say that of a new beau
ty," remarked Mr.. Fenton, in n o that
would have done credit to Chesterfield.
as the duke named"
"Ohl come, you know she might IL she
chose"
Maybe; but she's not sure Of having the
old lady's tin, and dukes look after the
main chance in these days like the rest Of
us"
'Likely as not, too, lded another man,
she'll play fast and loose with all suitors
till they get tired, and she'll have to marry
whoever she can get"
"Aston Lawford, for instance, worth a
pot Of money but iron," said Dudley Fen
ton. "He was with them in Venice, you
know, and / believe he is spoons on la belle
Valerie"
"Aston Lawford is n good match for any
girl" said q marquis eldest son, Lord
Westbrook; che belongs to the Nottingham
Lawfords, a good old family"
"Ah, indeed, so l have heard I remem-
Der. Pity he took to iron!"
"Wish / had" laughed his lordship; and
the Hon. Dudley twisted his moustache
superciliously, but secretly wished he had.
"Of course" observed an older man,
standing near, "Mrs. Langley means to
marry the child off this season. Hands
without hearts, or, at any rate, hearts
don't count"
mo" said Lord Westbrook. LAUGHING,
"they lave their innings afterward, ehH"
"Ay, that's Il" returned the other, grave
ly; but l dare say the girls willing enough
to sell her beauty for horses, carriages,
diamonds, position, and pin-money.
They're brought up TO it. Thus runs the
world away"
you've seen Miss Herbert!" asked a
6eCOnu RuaTCSilan.
Last winter-before they went abroad.
The loveliest creature | ever beheld and rs
fresh and innocent as a daisy. No doubt
that is all gone by this time. The panther
must nave found out that she has claws.
You young fellows had best take care!"
He turned toward the door, while the
young men laughed. They were all will.
ing TO take the risk. just then n tall,
rather handsome man, with brown hair
and a thick brown beard and moustache,
came in, and someone said:
"There's Beauregard."
"Beauregardp' exclaimed one Of the
men. ANY news Of his brother, 1 won
der?"
Couldn't very well be," said Lord West
brook, who was in the Coldstreams; "why,
April. They ought TO be home within ten
days or a fortnight"
"Of course; l forgot. How do, Mr.. Beau
regard?"
80 your brothers coming home at last,
crowned by fresh bays and laurels!' said
Lord Westbrook, with n mock theatrical
air. "What chance have we stay-at-homes
among the ladies against these fire-eaters,
fresh from deeds of d~erringdo,' and in
some cases, notably in Beau's, cookbook
ing into the bargain?"
Gerald Beauregard laughed.
ut doesn't concern me, you see,"he said;
"for Pm out Of it,"
'Well-behaved mani Doesn't even la
belle Herbert tempt you to fiirt."
"She would tempt an ~anchorite; but l
should certainly get into Lawford's black
books"
Nonsense! Is it really likely to be a
matchP should think it would be moth
ing under q coronet the first season."
"But there isn'ta coronet in the market"
said Mr.. Beauregard; "and Lawford is one
of the best parts OF the seasoI-certainly
the richest"
'.And favored by Mrs. langley"
"Most certainly. | am not at all sure
that Mile. Valerie would play the obedient
niece to order. She is a vast deal more
than a mere beauty. She has character;
but ten to one she'll marry for money and
independence. Mayfair is not agood school
for developing what are called the higher
qualities"
So they chatted on, passing from Valerie
Herbert to the Academy, the Derby, the
new play, the turnout or the Four-in-hand
and other topics of the hour.
And far away at sea n was dreaming
now in hope, now in dread, always In
doubt.
HAS the world spoiled her! has she for
gotten me, or only remembers me as one
she dare not love? That other love was
but a fancy-at best, a girls, a child's love
for a brother. But has it strengthened,
changed? Has she learned what passion
Island not for me' The thought drives
me madl Oh, Valerie, Valerie, you cannot
be lost to me! Such love as mine cannot
be all in vain!"
CHAPTER xvIT.-wEARING II MASK.
Sand pray, Amy, why shouldn't go to
the meet on Aston Lawford's coach"
So spoke Miss Valerie Herbert, leaning
back in a low chair In her own boudoir,
her hands clasped behind her head, show
ing every curve Of the beautiful white
arms as the loose sleeves fell back from
the elbows, her great slate-gray eyes fixed
I'm uuizzical archness on the pretty face OF
Amy Linwood, who sat opposite at the lit
tie inlaid tea-table.
That intimacy. SO easily formed between