Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-07-15

and consigned to Westbrook for safe GUS
tody.
"Ohl 1t Is hot!' cried the widow.
ut Is delicious!" said Valerie. "And
we shall soon be in the woods again."
pointing ahead to the hill clothed with
thick foliage.
The girl was almost dancing along now.
Beauregard watched her, but turned to
Mrs. Dudley.
ut is a steep path for somo little way"
he said, "and then q regular climb-that
Is, II you care TO get to the top. Once there,
you have a magnificent viewv'
II shall go to the top" declared Valerie,
promptly.
And will go where you do" said Lord
Westbrook, lowering his voice.
THAT is if | will let your replied Beau
ty, nonchalantly. "And perhaps you can't
climb"
Try mel' returned the young man.
1T will be a good test" said Colonel
Beauregard. "Do you feel inclined for it,
Mrs. Dudley"
"H'ml not very. Miss Herbert Is q cat.
amount | begin to think"
Valerie laughed.
Lets go on and commence the ascent"
she said to Lord Westbrook.
IAN right" said he, eagerly.
But, as Valerie started forward, Beaure.
CARDS voice stopped her.
valerie, you mustn't try that ascenttill
l am there"
"Why not'" she asked, not exactly de-
flantly, but just n little rebclliously.
Because there is u good deal of danger
If you don't go the right way, aud it is
f1nk1iGl plinaIiY,r Nrha,, -, 4. - l.
swered, quietly.
Il will take good care Of her." said Lord
Westbrook, somewhat piqued by this au-
thoritative interference.
81 don'tdoubt that, my dear fellow" said
the other, smiling, but as you don't know
the place any better than Valerie does, you
might both come down together. Go
ahead If you choose no added to Valerie;
only promise me you won't attempt the
climb"
Every well, /" said she, carelessly. Come,
Westbrook," and as they started of to-
gether half running, she added inpatient
ly, IL can't keep on at this pace! How
Mrs. Dudley does dawdle! Colonel Beau
regard must be mad that he has to walk
SO slowlyr'
perhaps he doesn't mind" said Lord
Westbrook. 81 shouldn't care how slowly
l walk by your side.'
Don't talk n~onsense!" said the girl, col
oring slightly. 81 am sure | should get
tired OF walking slowly with you, or any
one"
This last was not exactly true.
Don't say thatV' said the young man,
trying to check his companions rapid pace.
"Youd don't mean 1t, do your"
81 do, Look here" said the girl reso-
lutely, and Stacking IA little, III you are 60.
ing to be absurd | shall drop back TO the
Others
Absurd exclaimed the young man. a
good deal disconnected. "Youare not very
merciful"
There isn't much need for mercy that |
can see," returned Valerie, quickening her
pace n little. "Now, don't look doleful or
you'll spoil all the pleasure of the walk for
both OF us. Do be asensible fellow for once
in a way!"
II declare" cried Lord Westbrook, half
laughing, half vexed, "you do treat hearts
like playthings."
Hearts," Valerie laughed n ringing,
reckless laugh. "Who talked of heartsi
You don't mean to tell me that yours il
involved? If so, it is about the seventh
time"
mo, moi VOW and protest."
And | ' vow and protest." said Valerie,
pausing at the stile that separated the
moorland from the hill-path, and facing
round on her companion with mocking
laughter in her gray eyes, looking lovely
enough to turn the heads Of a dozen st.
Anthony's, that | am not going to listen
to a declaration with Colonel Beauregard
and Mrs. Dudley not three hundred yards
OF; also that | am not going any farther
than thiS.n
How cruel you are to mock me-"
Il wonder how often you have said that"
said Valerie, serenely. "Oh, don't protest.
like the player-queen," as he was about tc
eagerly interrupt. Il have lived two years
in the beau monde, and / know the whole
gamut backward and forward and dodg.
ing, No more, please. Colonel Beaure.
gard has quick eyes md ears, and you are
looking vastly too sentimental for the oc.
casion.'
81 don't believe you have an atom of real
feelingg" said Westbrook, in a savage un.
dertOne.
II am glad you have found that out,"r
pied Valerie, composedly, cit will save
both of us a great deal of trouble. Don't
you know that penniless beauties can't af.
ford feelings, nor can poor anybodies. All
the same, it wasn't very polite of you tc
tell me the truth so bluntly; but I'll for.
give it, as we have hitherto been very good
friends, and change my mind about going
on, if you will be sensible"