Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-05-27

"A oeggarly worship, Nellie; but | know
1 am wrong-according to the great un-
written canon. / am content TO he right
by the written one. Goodbye for the
present, dear. promised to meet Dallas
and some other fellows at the Rag this
evening"
he kissed her gently and vent out.
CHAPTER xxIx.-Two LETTERS AND A TELE-
GRAM.
1t is not an easy thing to write mn offer
OF marriage; at any rate Aston Lawford
did not find it SO. And then he had, in adj
dition, the task Of making Valerie Herbert
understand clearly, without expressing it
harshly, that the offer would not be re-
newed If she should think fit to play the
coquette and refuse him. or course it
would be. Lawford was thoroughly infat-
uated. Had his love been Of n nobler type
he would scarcely have tolerated so long
the girls cavalier way of treating him; and
this Valerie knew quite well. Where she
made q mistake was in not even crediting
him with a. much affection for her as he
really had. She thought her beauty pleas
ed him, and he wanted to have n lovely
woman at the head of his establishment,
and TO marry the belle Of the season. And
though she knew her power over the man,
she certainly did not grasp its full extent.
But why did not Aston Lawford see Va
lerie and plead his cause in person.? 1t
must be owned that In the first place
albeit he would not have confessed 1.-THE
was afraid Of the willful beauty. She
might refuse to be brought to bay; treat
his proposal with b~ddinqge; or with some
or her hundred woman's wiles place him
at n disadvantage; a letter was plain black
and white; there could be no mistaking it,
or pretense Of doing so. Next, Mrs. Lang
ley was sure to see the letter before a reply
was returned, and II Valerie was inclined
TO play fast and loose" her aunt would
prevent IL; for, Notwithstanding Aston
Lawford's disclaimer of coercion pro-
nounced in Max Beauregard's hearing, the
ironmaster was by nc means above putting
on the thumbscrew If it should be neces-
sary. But that ii would be necessary never
for an instant occurred to him. Valerie
would In reality jump ut the offer, which
indeed She ought TO accept rs doing her
great honor. She had absolutely nodower
but her beauty; and here was n man of
vast wealth and recognized,position-a man
twice her age, who might, If he chose, have
married a peers Misunderstanding her
out for the distinction OF being his wife.
How many letters Mr.. Lawford tore up
before composing one that satisfied him It
were bootless TO enumerate. He was the
whole morning locked up I'm his study; but
he succeeded At length, and despatched the
missiye by a servant to Upper Brook Street.
Valerie had just returned with Amy Lin
wood, Hal Dallas, and Lord Westbrook
from the morning ride, when the letter was
put into her hands. She started as she
glanced at the address, but put the letter
into her pocket until "a more convenient
season." Mrs. Langley could not have
seen it, for she had gone to luncheon with
q friend.
Valerie quickly changed her habit, and
then all four sat down to luncheon, and
there was much talking and laughing. If
there was one heavy heart there, there was
no outward sign Of 1t.
Have you decided yet whose party you
are going to join for Henley, Miss Her
bertY" asked Lord Wcstbrook. "Ouly
three days now. DO tel! ulor'
"Why do you want 10 know"
why do Iwantt to know Doesn't every
.bodyH How you do tease
Naturally. Well, / al going with Lady
Stonend's people. sent in my adhesion
last night"
"GloTidtl"
Wont Lawford cut up roughi" said
Dallas, In an undertone TO Amy; and AMY
nodded a little vaguely, and glanced I'M
easily at Valerie, Wa the girl growing a
perfectly reckless coquettes Why this UNI
mistakable snub TO a man to whom she
was almost engagedp
Whom are you going with, Mr.. Dallas"
she asked.
with Beau and Lady Elinor, and three
or four others. l wish you were of the
party" added Hal, lowering his tone.
Amy colored, and changed the subject.
Shortly after luncheon Valerie's guests
departed, all having other engagements,
and the girl was alone.
With a sinking at heart she took her way
to the boudoir, and, sitting down in a low
fduteuil, drew out Lawford's letter.