Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-04-29
CHAPTER xIx.-HoME AGAIN,

Lady Elinor Beauregard TO her husband,
as the Plymouth train clanked slowly into
Paddington station, and the people who
had collected on the platform-some wait
ing for friends, others attracted by having
heard that some OF the Egyptian officers
were coming by this train-pressed eagerly
forward. Several officers were among the
cr0wd, ready to welcome their comrades,
and there was n sudden waving Of hands
and loud "huryahl" as bronzed faces look
ed smiling from the carriage windows.
Another minute, and scarlet and blue,
and black, were mingled together, and
everybody seemed shaking hands with
everybody else, and there were stitled sobs
from women, and mems voices were sus-
piciously husky; while men and boys who
had nobody to shake hands with, played
chorus, and cheered Justify.
AS for Colonel Beauregard, his brother
officers seemed inclined to wiring his hand
Off; n it was sometime after the other
officers had departed with their friends
that he was permitted to go with his broth
er and sister-in-law to the brougham in
waiting close by.
But at length all three were seated in
the carriage, and then Gerald bent forward
and grasped his brothers hand again.
"By Jove! old fellow" he said, with the
true E~nglishman's instinct to hide deep
emotion by speaking lightly, Egypt seems
TO agree with you! You don't even look
much more bronzcl, and you seem as well
as possible"
"And as handsome as ever" added Lady
Ellnor, smiling, who was as fond of her
brother-in-law as a cold, selfish nature can
be Of anyone.
GLOW women f~,atter!' said Max, laugh.
ing. "Give me a kiss, Nellie. Pm sure J
can return your compliment. Yes, Gerald.
/ never had an hours illness, and never o
wound worth the name!'
THE heat would kill me-" said Gerald:
"but you can stand any amount OF It.
You've come home at the right time, Max.
for all the fun of the season."
Beauregard smiled.
GAY; it hardly seems like nine months
6 since ! was here last, and yet every.
thing looks strange. l shall have scores OF
questions to ask presently. Is Angela with
you, by the way'"
He did not care whether she was or not,
but he would not have them speak OF
Valerie here and now, though he longed
with un~speakable longing to hear of her.
Lady Elinor answered:
"No; | wish she could have come, but she
could not leave papa. We must try and
have her up"
Beauregard smiled to himself. He was
far too keen-witted not to see through his
sister-in-law's %stratagems. If she only
knew that, were women Us scarce as blue
roses, he would never have lost his heart
TO Lady Angela Musgrave!
He should like to see her, he said; and
then asked after two or three others; and
by the time his questions were answered
the carriage stopped III Whitehall Gardens,
and all the servants were in the hall to
receive 1.-The Colonel"
He shook hands cordially with all, from
the h~ousekeeper TO the kitchen-maid; o
few were strangers, and, with n soldiers
%quickness, he picked out these from the
other faces; but he greeted all warmly, and
thanked them for their welcome, which,
indeed, touched him deeply, for the genu-
ine delight with which he was received
was not to be mistaken.
You should nave seen the fuss Mrs.
Gray (the housekeeper) made over your
rooms, Max" said Lady Elinor, laughing,
"She hardly liked me to say a word, and
she busted them with her own hands half
q dozen times"
"Ah, you soldiers!' cried Gerald; "you
have a lucky time of It with the womeni
They all run after y~ou-young and old,
they're all alike!'
"Well then, Gerald, begin the goose-step
its never o. late to mend!' returned
Max, and he went laughing into his dress,
ing-room.
During dinner conversation was about
the war, friends in Egypt and friends at
home; but Colonel Beauregard still took
care that Valerie Herbert was not spoken
Of.
When, however, the dessert was placed on
the table and the servants had withdrawn,
there was a brief lull in the flow Of talk.
Max broke it, plunging at c in mcdias
res.
"And So" he said, turning to Lady Eli
nor, with a half smile. my lovely partner
of the bennington ball is the belle of the
London season. How does she stand the
testi"
you ask the question:" replied Elinor,
'almost in Master Walters words; and I
might reply in Heartwell's, 'as snow stands
fire. What can be expected when a girl
is transplanted from a secluded country
life to such a blaze of adulation as Valerie
enjoys!"
II hope you are too severe, Nellie" said
Colonel Beauregard, gently. He was far
from accepting his sister-in-law's verdict
on another woman; but his heart sank with
a horrible dread.
~ don't want to be severe, Max; but
what young creature could lead such a
life as Valerie's and not be SPOILED by itS
The fuss that is made over her, the way
the men rave about her, and the girls envy
her, and copy her gewns-and she is daz-
xlingly beautiful and most charming; but
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