The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1899-07-15
CHAPTER xL.-oyER ruE nuns

AHas II hllAHos
"a walk to-day, In all this HEATH" said
Lady Elinor, at the understandable. "Ibe-
lieve there are only two people here who
could have proposed such a thing"
II plead guilty. snid Colonel Beaure-
gard, as his sister-in-law looked toward
him.
for such serviceg"
soldiers can be found. Who will join the
coors2''
II, for one," said Lord Westbrook.
"And ~ said Mrs. Dudley, IF you don't
go too far, and climb too much.'
Are you good for a>climb over Mervyn's
Hill, and through the woodsf" asked Beau
regard.
The widow made a QUO
"H'ln!-yes-part of the way" she said;
"and Va,erier,
"Oh! Valerie can do her twelve or fifteen
miles, md climb like a goat,,'' said Beau
regard.
Nonsense! Can you, Miss Herbert?"
"Yes," said Valerie. amused at the ques-
ton. why not>"
why not7 Ican't walk twelve miles,
| Colonel"
with good rests you can" he answered;
"or ten, at any rate. Any more volun-
teers?'
But Amy shook her head; Dallas held
his peace; and Angela, after biting her
lips, suggested riding instead.
But you can't ride over these hills, and
In the WOOD" snid Mrs. Dudley, who had
mentally appropriated Max Benuregard,
and handed Valerie over to Lord West
brook.
Mrs. Langley said nothing; the walk
commended itself to her, but she was not
going to arouse Naleric's a~ntagonism.
1T is not for me to decidc'' said Beaure-
gard. II put it to the meeting"
Up went Mrs. Dndley's, Valerie's, and
Lord Westbroo4l's hands for the walk, and
only Angela's for u ride, the rest giving no
vote ut ull.
"The pedestrians have It'll" cried Lilias
Dudley, laughing; aud Lady Elinor con
cealed her annoyance in q smile.
Colonel Benuregurd WAS alone on the
terrace, luunging against the balustrade,
smoking II cigarette, when Valerie appear
ed, attiretl in a dress of the serge, cream-
colored, with open red collar, n red sash,
n Il ja!inty little crimsonc cap on her head.
Ma fang away the cigarette, and sur
veyed the lovely picture before him, with
q hal~1-unconsciolis smile in his dirk eyes.
"You are u soad soldier, Valerie" he
said, always quick and pnnctuaI. " Then.
after II seconds pause, You Ind on a
| gown made like that the first time l saw
you"
Valerie, pulling on herlong gloves, start
cd and colored, her heart leaping up with
a wild bound. He had never before spoken
of that dry; and his doing SO now almost
startled her put of her seif-possession-
not quite-she turned aside with Il half
laugh:
$50 / had! Fancy remembering thatp'
81 have n good memory, ''he said, a little
dryly. 81 remember Il great many things
besides th,t!''
Very likely with a shrug. Il, for my
part, often find that one month chases an
other out OF ones hend!n
"OftenI-not Rlways-a wise distinction.
Then you can remember or forget at willy
So convenient l wish I could.D
Exactly" returned Vnlerie, coolly, as
II he had spoken in good faith, and not sar.
castically; and as she spoke sha plucked q
rosebud for her dress, farming her back to
him to do this. II wish,p she added di,
rectly, the others would come. WHAT a
time they aret' &
Lord Westbrook appeared at that mo-
snent, and Mrs. Dudley a few minutes later,
and they started for the walk-yaierle
with her young heart in a tumult of pas
sionate emotion, and resolving to show
Max Beauresard that, among the things
convenient to forget, he himself held
foremost place. 10 which endkshe kept by
Lord Westbrook's side, and whenever the
'ath Obliged separation Into couples, nj
WED Colonel Benuregard to lead with
frs. Dudley, or fall behind; rs the case
light be, land Beauregardmade Il oattempt
interfere with this arrangement; wheth-
ne acguiesced init, or intended 1t to last
iroughout the walk, was another matter.