Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 18, Number 34, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 11 February 1888 — Page 7

J/J3

IBeffun in The Mail Dec. 11th.]

Instinctively he glanced around for signs of Valerie's presence apiece of music lay on the piano. He crossed the room and looked at the music—a song by 'Clio,' dedicated by permission to Miss Valerie Herbert," and set to words by Elizabeth -Barrett Browning. The music was trash, and he was closing the page without further notice, when some words caught his iyes: "Ye weep for these who treep? she said—

Ah! fools! 1 bid you pass them by. Go weep for these whoso hearts have bled Whnt time ihelr eyes were dry. Whom saddor can 1 say? she said." /•True! true! Heaven knows itl" the muttered, pressing his hand over his ves for a moment and then he turned, ith quickening pulse, as the dooropened, nd there was a soft frovrf rou of woman's garments, and Valerie came in, In cream shmere and amber satin, exhaling perime of hyacinth and heliotrope. "I have not kept you a minute, Colonel Jeanregard, hare I?" she said, holding out hand. "Scarcely a minute I hope you have not urrled?" ho answered, taking the rich era-cloak from the hands of Fanohon, ho followed, to place found Valerie's oulders. "There was no need. I was jnst ready."

Max wrapped the mantle carefully about er, bringing back to her the nightatDonngton, when he had told her that fairy uoens were »carce. Did he, too, recall •ufc episode? Then he drew the little hand his arm, and led her down to the .carage. -j

HALE A TRUTH.

Inexplicable of all passions. bought 1 saw Aston Lawford," said Elinor, and Max saw Valerie start r\, 4 tf"here?" asked Dallas.

BY "THE DUCHESS." i~.

CHAPTER XXVIL—AT THE LYCEUM, Lady Elinor Beauregard's carriage drew tip at the door of Mrs. Langiey's liouse ID Upper Brook Street, and the lady turned to Colonel Beauregard who sat by her. "Go up, Max, and fetch Valerie, please. There is no need for me to go in. She is ktnre to be ready, for 6he inherits the mili-

Gary virtue of punctuality." The footman had already knocked, and the door was opened as Max stepped out of I the brougham. He was shown into the drawing-room, and was for a minute alone.

'jady Elinor shook hands with her warintold her she was as punctual as Max nself, and then the carriage drove off.

Have you heard from Mr. Beauregard olyf" Valerie asked his wife, cn route. Yes, this morning. He was still not ry well but nothing really the matter, ax and I are going down to Abbot's •lgh on Saturday to stay over Monday." Lady Elinor (or rather Colonel Beaurerd for her) had secured a first-tier box, 1 they found Dallas waiting for them in vestibule of the theatre. Lady Elinor aced Valerie in the centre of the box beoen the two men, Max nearest the stage, rself taking the opposite corner next to •lias and the moment she was settled, began to look about for people she ow while everybody in the house who ild see the Beauregard box, stared at lorie. But Valerie cared nothing who here or who wasn't, or whether she is looked at or not. She only knew that 'ix Beauregard was beside her, and it *8 the mermaid and the swords again. heart felt breaking, but she was happy, mppiness that was full of Ineffable pain, 11 yet was happiness. She knew Beaurard must despise her: he was disapmted in her she had been (to all seernt) unjust, unkind, ungrateful to him: the ort to talk, and appear as usual in hts *sence, to look at him, was so great that roduced actual physical as well as inise mental exhaustion still, it was the happiness her life knew now—to be him. Truly love is the strangest, the

ver there, at the back of the opposite box," leveling her opera-glass. Beaul's eyes followed the direction indi-

at isn't Lawford," he said "that's Manager of the Theatre." Lawfonl was going to the German to-night," said Valerie, nonchalant-

might not have gone after all, as yon going, my dear," replied Lady laughing. glanced at Valerie. The girl colorshrugged her shoulders, clear to him that she had no love vjtord (how, indeed, could she have!) was going to sacrifice herself

ng of the curtain put a term to tinor's chatter, and the stage gave 'alerie and Colonel Beauregard a cuse for silence. Neither oared to

Max took littlo hc#d of what 'behind the footlights, his every was absorbed by the girl at bis

leaning back in the shadow, he A her covertly, mastered by the fatal tion born of a love that noun worthits object could destroy, or even In intensity. He watched every of face, every movement, the rise of every breath. nee he might have won her, but raa too latel Nay. if he had untold '-morrow, he would not lay it at of the woman who would not count re precious to her than the wealth *hole world. irop fell, and Valerie turned to making some remark about the

Dallas was answering her, when he paused, and leaning behind in a low tone: what's thai? Just look!" rard leaned forward a little, look«rd the stage and Valerie, who -I Dallas' whisper, looked, too, ny feeling of nervous fear, and of bright light leaping behind in. seen by many others that monumbers sprang up, someone calling "Fire!" linor roee with a shriek, but Hal -asp was on her arm. rn, Lady Elinor!" be said rsihei "There is no danger!** .erie had not stirred, though she

le white to see ihe people spring tf the cries of fear. will be a panic!" was all she said, breath. uregard beat down to bar, and nd on her*. be said, in a low, quiet tou,

"yon are not afraid?" The girl held her breath. Every nerve thrilled under the strong, close clasp: the sound of her name, passing his lips for the first time, rang above the shouts and screams of the people

She could not, darecf"not, look at him she could not for a moment speak, and when she could it was

And in his soft, clear voice there was the old indulgent tenderness in her possible peril she was once more to him the child he had saved from the storm, whose arms had clasped his neck, whose pure heart had known no guile. It was no more than this, she knew—no more than the strong man's tenderness for the fragile girl bnt, even so, it was infinitely precious—it was the cup of water to the thirst-maddened, the crust of bread to the starving! "You area brave child!" he said, In the same tone—"a true soldier's daughter!"

Oh! if he had but followed the wild impulse that almost mastered even the iron restraint he had put upon himself if he had only spoken the words that quivered on his lips, only compelled her eyes to meet the love that giowed in his! It was a supreme moment but the man's pride, the girl's terror of self-betrayal flung it away. It was a gossamer web that hung between them, but to each it seemed a stone wall.

And in a few minutes all danger was past. The people in the stalls succeeded in preventing a stampede from the pit and the stage-manager, rushing to the front, proclaimed that the fire was very slight, and had been subdued, and, indeed, the light behind the curtain quickly diminished, and, even while the stage-manager spoke, died down altogether. Many who had hurried to the doors returned to their seats, half-ashamed of their terror, and others, who had been standing, sat down again. "A causeless panic!" said Hal Dallas, who had had some difficulty in keeping Lridy Elinor quiet. "By Jove, Miss Herbert, you are brave!"

Max Beauregard had released her hand the instant it was perfectly clear there was no peril. She turned to Dallas with a halflaugh. "How brave?" she said. "I was not frightened!" "I was—horribly!" exclaimed Lady Elinor, still a good deal agitated. "I can't think how you can be so cool, Valerie. You didn't seem to mind a bit." "She is a soldier, Nellie," said Colonel Beauregard, "and so not afraid of fire."

How the girl's heart throbbed at these words of praise from him a second time he had commended her bravery, and yet to her it seemed there was nothing to praise she had never been less conscious of fear. "But I am not a soldier," said Lady Elinor. "and I don't feel fit for much more tonight. I would rather return home at once "You'll do nothing of the sort, Nellie," aaid Beauregard, decidedly. "I am sure Miss Herbert wants to see the play out." "But don't let me stand in the way if Lady Elinor wishes to go," said Valerie, quickly. "But Lady Elinor doesn't," said he. "At anv rate, I don't mean her to go. You are nnder my charge, you know, Nellie," he added, to her, laughing, "and you aro going to remain." "I suppose I must, you tyrannical fellow, but I shau't enjoy the play a bit. Is it really all over? And, Max, if I return home, there is no need for Valerie to go, too. she can remain "But you would want me to take care of you, Lady Elinor," said the girl, hastily, Speaking luughlngly, but in terror at the possibility of being left alone with Max Beauregard. "Nonsense, Nellie!" said her brother-in-law, quite impatiently "don't imagine yourself frightened. Valerie—Miss Her bert—will remain, and so will you. You can't turn coward when even the pit and gallery are keeping their places." "Very well," said she, fluttering her fan a good deal. "Valerie, my dear, you see me a martyr to a soldier's will. Max always makes me do what he likes." "You seem to get on very well under the tyranny, Lady Elinor," observed Dallas, smiling. "Because she requires it,y said Beauregard. "Don't yon think so, Miss Herbert?''

How she hated that "Miss Herbert!" and if she had regarded the man as a friend only, she would have reminded him that, having already omitted it, he would pleasr her best by doing so in future but she war tongue-tied.

Lady Elinor came unexpectedly to the rescue, interposing before Valerie could reply: "For shame, Max, trying to get Valerie on yonr side! And I am sure she doesn't want you to call her 'Miss Herbert' anj longer. Do you, Valerie?"

Alight color crossed the man's bronzed face, his dark eyes flashed. He answered quickly: "You take Miss Herbert at a disadvantage, Nellie!" "Ah, but," said Vaierie, in a low tone she had colored a little, too, bat laughed *s she spoke, to hide deep feeling—"I would much rather you dropped my surname. 1 bate formalities, you know." "And I am the last man to bold by them,* he answered, in the same manner "bnt, ol course, in these the lady must be the arbiter.**

It might seem a small thing, and yet If was much to both of them, this breaking down of a barrier which seemed to Ignore friendship. It waa generous, too, in Max Valerie thought, with swelling heartmost generous, not to remind her, by even the inflection of a tone, that she had sc acted as to imply that she scarcely cared tc remember the past, and certcinly not tr encourage more than mere acquaintanceship in the present She had been cruel and unjust to him, and he had thrust the dagger into the sheath when she herseli had put it naked into hi* hand*

One* more the curtain rose, and theph* went on: and gradually Lady Elinor grew more tranquiliaed, though she hailed with satisfaction the fall of the given curtain. "You're glad it Is all over, eh, Nellie?* asked Colonel Beauregard, qutafcaUy, at he took np Valerie's mantla "Wicked fellow! Yea. I am and I aa (fed Sir, Lawford wasn't in the honap, fix

TERRE HAUTE

fp4*

only

a whisper—only

four words: "No," she said "not the least!" Afraid, with him by her side! Afraid, when his hand held hers! If flames had enwrapped the whole building she could have blown no fear—for herself!

SATURDAY

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pies ,,'adoq 1 'UAIOU^ 9A«q PIUOAI an,, ,/saqstr o% paonpai aou jbm. 9fiaiT?A ains 0? uempBin 9^n punoj SuiqsDJ uaaq 9A«q PIUOAV oq never have that, Valerie—fortunate girll Thanks, Mr. Dallas."

And Lady Elinor at length tripped out of the box, and

Max

followed with Valerie.

"Fancy!" said Lady Elinor, when biddipg adieu to Valerie in Upper Brook Street, "how time flies! Henley next week, and the season nearlv over! I hope the weather will be fine!" "Yes, indeed. Good-night, and thanks so much for my pleasant evening. Goodnight, Colonel Beauregard."

The door closed upon her, and as Max returned to the carriage, Lady Elinor said: "I suppose she will go to Henley with the Lawfords?" "I suppose so." "And there will be a splendid wedding in the autumn?" said Lady Elinor, leaning back among the luxurious cushions, and closing her eyes. "Well, I think Valerie is wise. Lawford will make a very good husband,"as husbands go and she will have every wish gratified. What more can a girl require?" "They don't seem to require more." "Ah, you have romantic ideas, Max you area regular Bayard. What a pity! You might marry millions if you chose.¥ "What nonsense you talk, Nellie," he said, laughing. "If you must chatter, chatter about Henley." I

But Lady Elinor yawned, and relapsed into silence. There would be no Heifley for her this year, nor for Valerie but neither of them dreamed of this now.

CHAPTER XXVIII.i'j'jiW,

MR. LAWFOBD'B PERPLEX ITT* ff

Four days Ijefore Henley Regatta, an(l Colonel Beauregard and his sister-in-law were alone together—a not very frequent condition of things.

It was just before afternoon tea, and she was reading a society paper—especially the items about the Marlborough House ball two night ago. where Valerie Herbert had been the belle and he was reading a letter from Mrs. Fanshawe. "I actually heard from Valerie Herbert the other day," wrote the lady. "She rarely writes now. I suppose old friends don't count. Not along letter, and what I should call superficial. I never was so disappointed in anyone. And it seems she is going to marry Aston Lawford—not that she says so, but others do. Perhaps she will be happy in her way. She seems to have grown hard and worldly. I only hope you haven't let her make a conquest of you, as she has of all the other men, for such a girl could never make you happy."

Beauregard closed the letter, and, rising, walked into the conservatory, and sat down, leaning his forehead on his hand. "Happy!" he said, inwardly. "No! I must honor as well as. love the woman I make my wife I must know that her love is for me, not for mine but oh, Heaven! if I could tear this love out of my heart! Useless to try it is a very part of my lifenay, I must carry it with me beyond the grave!"

He rose after a few minntes, and turned back to the drawing-room and as he entered, the door opened, and Mr. Lawford was announced.

Lady Elinor dropped her jkf$er, and held out her hand cordially. "Delighted to see you!" she exclaimed. "You are just in time for a cup of tea. How fortunate! Max, ring the bell, please."

Mr. Lawford shook hands with Colonel Beauregard, and sat down by his hostess. "I have been reading about the ball at Marlboron th House," continued Lady Elinor, while "leauregard threw himself into an orui-ch: opposite, and wished Aston Lawford ai—well, at home!

The little lady saw that her visitor looked "glum," and she wanted to "draw him out," convinced that the capricious beauty of the season was in some way accountable. "H'm," he said "have yon? A brilliant affair——" "Indeed it was! And Valerie danced with the Prince. She carried off the hon

ors—ca

va sans dire. I saw her dress be

fore she went it was a dream—a marvel— a "A poem in satin and lace," concluded Beauregard, gravely. "Rossetti in fabric. Pray don't underratel" "Be qniet Max! don't be sarcastic! Did you see the dress, Mr. Lawford?'*, "No," he replied, grimly "but she was at Lady Nonpareil's ball last night!" "Indeed! And h"w many times did you dance with ber? Come—confess!" "I am not in a mood for fostinir. Lady Elinor,*' said Lawford a little gruffly. "What!" she said, startled. "You dont moan that—" "That Miss Herbert has refused me—no! I haven't asked her yet bnt I shall do so, and speedily. Her aunt preaches patience but mine is tired out. She has had tether enough to flirt with all the world, and bring men to her feet onlv to spurn them!" "Take carer said Lady Elinor, warningly "she may deal the same with yon, thinking to beckon you back at ber will." "She la too wise for that!" aaid Lawford, with the consciousneu of possessing overwhelming advantages, "and she would hardly dresm of flying directly in Mrs. Laagley*s face, with the alternative of being sent back to the countryl" "Not," he added, quicKy, for he knew how Colonel Bt^nregard would look upon anything like coercion in such a case, and dreaded some sarcasm "not that I would accept, on any terms, an unwilling bride bnt then I know she is not ten willing—«he simply trying to stretch her power to its utmost limits and no man will be played with too long! "Is she not gotni #tih your party to Henley?" asked Lady Elinor, after a panae, gliding off, diplomatically, £rom the main qiwwl inn "Sha has given no deflate answer yat, though I know she haa over a doaen invi tations,** "Dear, dear: die plays the coquette to the top of her tat Bnt 0o*!$ thlnfc

EVENING MAIL.

there's much to fear in fact, you know," said Lady Elinor, decidedly, "she could hardly draw back now—it is too late everyone talks of the affair as settled. Her aunt says right and left that it is. She can't for a moment mean to throw you over finally even if, out of sheer coquetry, she does so at first. But then, certainly, Mrs. T' igley wonld interfere." "I shall make her understand," ton Lawford, with a heavy frown, "that I don't intend to be thrown off, and beckoned back at will."

This was more than Max Beauregard Could stand. He rose and walked across the room, and sat down, taking np a book. "Max thinks he is de Prop," said Lady Elinor, in a low voice, and with a smile. "But pray don't let me drive him away, Lady Elinor!" "Ob, never mind! The tea will be up directly. But, if I may be permitted to offer advice, Mr. Lawford, deal gently with Valerie she has a very strong will, and has been so petted and spoiled, that I really don't think she realizes there is a point beyond which even a beauty may not go!" "I am too fond of her," said he, "to be otherwise than gentle: but I am no boy to be a girl's sport—to be encouraged one minute, and snubbed tho next!" "Why, no! you are quite right there. Shall you see her before Henley?" "I shall write to her, Lady Elinor." "Ah! the best way, perhaps, nnder the circumstances. Here comes the tea!" said Lady Elinor, relieved in more ways than one. "Max, come here!"

Colonel Beauregard dropped his book and came forward, and conversation then turned from Valerie.

By-and-by Lawford took his leave, f' "I hope soon," he said, as he shook hands with Lady Elinor, "to have to ask you for your congratulations!" "I hope so," said she. "Remember me to your sister."

The door closed on Valerie's suitor, and Lady Elinor subsided into her chair. "Poor, dear man!" she said. "But really, Valerie treats hira badly." '''He's an insufferable cad!" said Colonel Beauregard, shortly. "Forgive me, Nellie 1" "Certainly. It came out with all your heart, Max. You never liked Lawford, I know, but he is not a cad." "Bah! A man may have better blood than he has, and be a cad to the core of his souL Heaven help the woman who marries him for his millions! She will be mated to a clown indeed!" "Ah, Max," said Lady Elinor, with a genuine ring of pathos in her voice, "there are not many men like you.' You have a standard too high for ordinary people to come up to. Most of us are made of poor clay after all, and worship the golden calf." "A beggarly worship, Nellie but I know I am wrong—according to the great onwritten canon. I am content to be right by the written one. Good-bye for the present, dear. I promised to meet Dallas and some other fellows at the Rag this evening."

He kissed her gently and went out,

CHAPTER XXK.—TWO LETTERS AJJD A TELEGRAM. It is not an easy thing to write an offer of marriage at any rate Aston Lawford did not find it so. And then he had, in addition, the task of making Valerie Herbert understand clearly, without expressing it harshly, that the offer would not be renewed if she should think fit to play the coquette and refuse him. Of course it would be. Lawford was thoroughly infatuated. Had his love been of a nobler type he would scarcely have tolerated so long the girl's cavalier way of treating him and this Valerie knew quite welL Where she made a mistake was in not even crediting him with as much affection for her as he really had. She thought her beauty pleased him, and he wanted to have a 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 Valerie and plead his cause in person? It must be owned that in the first place— albeit he would not have confessed it—he was afraid of the willful beauty. She might refuse to be brought to bay treat his proposal with badinage or with some of her hundred woman's wiles place him at a disadvantage a letter was plain black and white there could be no mistaking it, or pretense of doing so. Next, Mrs. Langley was sure to see the letter before a reply was returned, and if Valerie was inclined to "play fast and loose," her aunt wonld prevent it for, notwithstanding Aston Lawford's disclaimer of coercion pronounced in Max Beauregard's hearing, the ironmaster was by no means above putting on the thumbscrew if it Bhould be necessary. But that it would be necessary never for an instant occurred to him. Valerie would in reality jump at the offer, which indeed she ought to accept as doing her great honor. She had absolntely no dower but her beauty and here was a man of vast wealth and recognlxecCposition—a man twice her age, who might, if he chose, have married a peer's daughter—singling her out for the distinction of being his wife.

How many letters Mr. Lawford tore np before composing one that satisfied him it were bootless to enumerate. He was the whole morning locked np in his study bnt he succeeded at length, and despatched the missive by a servant to Upper Brook Street.

Valerie had jnst returned with Amy Linwood, Hal Dallas, and Lord Westbrook from the morning ride, when the letter was pnt into her hands. She started as she glanced at the address, bnt pnt the letter into her pocket until "a more convenient season." Mrs. Langley could not have seen it, for she had gone to luncheon with a friend.

Valerie quickly changed her habit, and then all four sat down to luncheon, and there waa much talking and laughing. If there was one heavy heart there, there was no outward sign of it. "Have you decided yet whose party yon are going to join for Henley, Miss Herbert?" asked Lord Westbrook. "Only three days now. Do tell me!"

"Why do you want to know?" "Why do I want to know? Doentaraf body? How yon do teaser* 'Naturally. Well, I am going with Lady Stonend's people. I sent in my adhashm last night." 'QUfriatT

Won*t Lawford hA vp raaghr" aaid Dallas, in an undertone to Amy aztd Amy nodded a little vaguely, and glanced uneasily at Valerie. Was the gtri growing a perfectly reckless eoqnette? Why this unmistakable snub to a man to whom alas was almost engaged? "Whom are yon going with, Mr. Dsn—,* sbeasksd. "With Bean and Lady Bbw, and three or fonr others. I wish yon wan at the party,** added Hal, lowering Us tone.

Amy colored, and changed the subject. Shortly after lunaiwon Valerie's gneete departed, all having other

and the girl was alone. With a sinking at heart she took her way to the boudoir, and. sitting down in a low fanteuil, drew out Lawford's letter. "Asking to see me?" she said to hefself, trembling. "I cannot see him! and yet how cou^d I refuse? Have I been unfair to him? If 1 had only one true friend! Mrs. Fanshawe would have been but I dare not be my natural self even to her. She writes to him—she might suggest to him that I cared for him. No, No!" she eovered her face, "it is mv own fault that I have made all my friends enemies."

Forcing back her tears resolutely, she slowly opened her letter. The very first words startled her. She flushed to her brow then she read on steadily to the end, turned the page, and went back, and read through again. After that she sat for several moments perfectly still, the burning color in her face fading gradually away, and leaving her deadly white but there was a dangerous quiver abont the delicate nostril, a dangerous light in the dark eyes.

And yot there was more feeling in the letter than she had given Aston Lawford credit for, and her heart smote her heavily. He asked her to be his wife: he told her he loved her deeply and sincerely, and would in everything study her happiness. That sounded conventional, but there was a true ring in it, too. Then he reminded her that she had treated him with some caprice but he was sure she had not intended to wound him. He weighed somewhat on her annt's approval of his suit, and intimated delicately, but clearly, that "he desired a sincere and decided answer, for which he trusted she would not keep him waiting long.

But from beginning,to end there was a tone of security which stung the girl's pride it was like making a merely formal offer of that which was certain of acceptation no doubts, no fears, hat a complacent sense of the honor be, Aston Lawford, was doing her, Valerie Herbert, in offering her his hand and heart, and millions.

Suddenly Valerie rose up, letting the letter fall to the floor, and clasping her hands above her head. "Have I," she said, through her teeth, half aloud, "given him the right to speak to me like this? He seems more* to be claiming his property—as if I were so many tons of iron"—with a short laugh—"than asking me for the greatest gift a man can askl"

She sank down again, hiding her face in the cushion of the chair. "Ah! how differently he would write!" was whispered in her heart, but not by her lips "but, then he would come to me— would entreat, as he would never entreat for life. Ah!" starting up, and pressing her hands on her temples, flushing with bitter shame, even in her solitude, at the thoughts that thronged into her brain, and made her heart beat to suffocation, "I am mad to dream so! This letter," she stooped and picked it up. "Yes," she added, slowly, "I have been wrong I have not been wholly just to him. To hide my own secret I have gone too far and aunt Constance will have aright to be angry. All the world will call me jilt. Letlt! letaunt Constance send me back to Welford. 1 would not marry Aston Lawfortl to save myself from the most horrible death that cruelty could invent!"

She went to her davetiport and threw up the lid. "Yes," she said, "he shall have his answer soonf I will not keep him waiting." Then once more she paused. "No. I must not write hastily. 1 must try not to wound him. Oh! does he love me—if only a little? I have been wrong—wrongl"

She dropped her face on her clasped hands on the desk, sobbing bitterly. Bnt by-and-by she raised herself, and, when she had grown calmer, drew paper toward her, and began to write. She, too, cast aside not a few letters before she could write one that sho could send, and she was far from satisfied with this. Thus it ran: "DKAB MR. LAWFORD: "Your letter was given to me this afternoon, and I am complying as quickly as 1 can with your request for a speedy answer for, indeed, there is no necessity for delay. I might, if I took more time for consider tion, say better what I have to say but if I delayed replying for a month my answer would be still the same. I know that you do me a great honor in asking me to be

Journot

wife—an honor that, for some reasons. do deserve—but forgive me when 1 say that I cannot accent yonr offer. I will not deny that I may (though not intention ally) have led you to expect a different an swer but I entreat you to believe that I never supposed you did more than admire me, as others have done. For my fault in this I ask your pardon, making no excuse, though 1 might plead some still I was wrong. You urge that aunt Constance favors your suit bnt though I would please her in all things possible, I cannot in this. I know you would do your utmost to make me happy: but I do not love you, and without love all that the world could give me would not make me happy. Yon warn me, courteously but firmly, not to trifle with you further, and reject your offer to prove my power, while, in truth, 1 have no intention of final rejection. Let me say, thenbelieve me or not, as yon will—that I am writing this to yon from my heart—that no earthly power could make me, no temptation could induce me, to become yonr wife. I refuse your offer now and forever and I am certainly not vain enough to believe that after this you will ever wish to renew it. "Ever yours faithfully, "VALERIE MAUDE HERBERT."

It was characteristic of Valerie that her first thought was to despatch the letter without even showing it to her aunt but this, on second thought, seemed uncourteous, even ondutiful. She would wait at least until the latest hour she could send that night. She would not keep Lawford in suspense until to-morrow.

Evening passed into night, and Mrs. Langley did not return home. At last, a little after ten o'clock, Valerie rang the bell and sent a footman with the letter to Mr. Lawford's house in Carlton Honss Terrace.

The messenger conld not have been thirty paces from the honss, when Valerie, who was in the drawing-room, heard the carriage stop, and the next moment ber annt's step came up the stairs with unusual rapidity. Valeria, who had been mnsing, with no small apprehension, orer the contest she expected, bnt in which she was fully prepared to conquer, sprang to her feet with anew fear. Had anything happened that Mrs. Langley was so hurried? The door was almost bent open before the girl wss more than half way to it, and Mrs. Langley, her face flushed and agitated, her whale mien denoting great mental disturbance, entered, and dropped into a chair. "Aunt Constance!" exclaimed Valerie, springing to her side. "What is the matter?" "My dear,** said lbs. Langley, recovering herself a little, **I have been greatly startled and Shocked. They kept me at the Seitons* to dinner, and then I went on and called at tiie Lawfords'. wanted to see Aston, and they told me that Lettfe had called in Whitehall Gardens this afternoon and was told Oat Elinor and Max had been summoned to Abbot's Leigh at two o'clock this mgrnlng. Gerald

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dangerously ill." Valerie clasped her hands with a cry of dismay. "And a later telegram," continued Mrs. Langley, "said that it was violent inflammation of tha lungs, from a chill, and there was great danger." "Oh, aunt Constance," exclaimed tho girl, her eyes blind with tears, "how terrible—how terrible for them all!" "He may recover," said Mrs. Langley, more composedly. "He is not yet forty, and has a strong constitution. Aston Lawford told me," she addod, looking at her niece, who stood silent, too shocked for speech, "that he had writ ten to you to-day.'*

Valerie started, flushing crimson. "Yes," she said, confusedly, "he—I—oh* please never mind that now!" "But I must mind it, child! You havfi, not answered him yet?" 2 "Yes, I have. He asked me not to delay, and I kept the letter as long as I could for you to see. I only sent it just before you came in."

A ring, that resounded through the house* mingled with her last words. Valerie made a quick step toward the door. "Come here, child," said her'aunt, a life*" tie sternly. "What did you say?" "I said—I "J -, j,.

A hurried knock at the door, and Its tri* stant opening interrupted her. A footman came in, and handed a telfr gram to Mrs. Langley."*

She glanced at it and grew'suddenly livid. "Great Heaven!" she said. "Gerald Bcatfr rogard is dead!"

Valerie almost snatched the paper from her aunt's nerveless hand, and read, with dazed eyes: "From Colonel Beauregard, Abbot's Leigh, to Mrs. Langley, —, Upper Brook Street, London, W. "My brother died at eight this evening, of acute inflammation. 1 will write later. Nellie greatly prostrated, but in no daitger."

Gerald Beauregard dead! v• *. "It can't be true!" Valerie whispered, hoarsely, with wide-open eyes of horror. "It can't be true!"

But Mrs. Langley said, slowly: "It la only too true!" Then, after a pause, under her breath, to herself rather than to Valerie: "And Max Beauregard is lord of Ab

I* (To be Continued.)

Catarrhal Headache.

I THINK Ely sCream Balm is the best remedy for catarrh. I never took anything that relieved mo so quickly, ana I have not felt as well for a long time. I used to bejtroubled with severe headaches two or three times a week, but sinoo using the Balm have only had one and that waa very light compared with the former ones.—J. A. Alcorn, Agent U* P» R. R. Co., Eaton, Colo.

He was selecting presents for his girt before Christmas. He bought an amoer comb, a box of caramels, and a bottle of Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup, and showed himself thereby a rlgnt sensible dude, n&tv "Enterprises of great pith and mo»"\? mont" are so engrossing tho minds of men, that they negleot their own affairs, and grow old with pain, forgetting that a bottle of Salvation Oil will cure all.

English Spavin Liniment removes all Hard. Soft, or Calloused Lumps and Blemishes from horses, Blood Spavin, fe Curbs, Splints, Sweeney, Stifles, Sprains, Sore and Swollen Throat, Coughs, eto» Save^50 bv use of one bottle. Warranted, Sold by W. C. Buntin, Druggist, Terra Haute, Ind. tf. tk

Why You Feel

So weak and exhausted is because your blood is impure. As well expect the sanitary condition of a city to be perfect with defiled water and defective sewerage, as to expect such a complicated piece of mechanism as the human frame to be in good order with impure blood circulating even to Its minutest veins. Do you know that every drop of your two or three gallons of blood passes through the heart and lungs in about two and a half minntes, and that, on Its way, it makes bone and muscle, brain and nerve, and all other solids and fluids of the body? The blood Is the great nourisher, or, as the Blbls terms it,

"The Life of the Body."

Eugene I. Hill, M. D., 381 Sixth Ave., New York, says: Aa a blood-purifier and general builder-up of the system, I have never found anything to equal Ayer's Sarsaparilla. It gives perfect satisfaction."

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Is it any wonder, then, that if the blood be not pure and perfect in its constituents, yon suffer so many Indescribable symptoms?

Ayer's Sarsaparilla stands head and shoulders" aBove every other Alterative and Blood Medicine. As proof, read these reliable testimonies:

G. 0. Brock, of Lowell, Mass., says: "For the past 26 years I have sold Ayer's Sarsaparilla. In my ojpinion, the best remedial agencies for the cure of all the diseases arising from impurities of the blood are contained in thia medicine."

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$ 3*

Ayer's Sarsaparilla proves equally efficacious in all forms of Scrofula, Boils, Carbuncles, Eczema, Humors, Lumbago, Catarrh, See.-, and is, therefore, the very best

Spring and Family Medicine in use. It beat* all," says Mr, Cutler, of Cutler Brothers & Co., Boston, how

Ayer's Sarsaparilla

does sell." Prepared by hA Or. J. O. Aysr It Co., Lowell, Mass. Priee $1 ais ImMIm, $6. Worth f* boUl«.

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