Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-12-27
CHAPTER ".

AuuTey woke Win a start the next
morning, Inc her first thought was how
angry Miss Irons would be that she was
late. The faint, golden rays OF the Feb
ruary sun were streaming IN through the
sides of the blind the bell was not ring
ing. She looked about her in a dazed.
mechanical fashion, sitting r2 ri bed,
with her mass of black hair tossed loosely
on her shoulders.
Where was she? Surely that was not
jeans bed in the other r0tner? Jean
never snored like that. She rubbed her
eyes, shivered a little with the cold, and
then was wide awake. She was not in
her old bedroom, but in her new, and
that sleeping form across in the other
corner was not jeans small, thin one,
but the large-boned. heavy frame of
Bircham, her fellow-servant.
She shut the door quietly and went
down stairs, and brushed away briskly
at the riding habit and other garments
for a good half hour thea, with a shy
laugh, she determined to go on to the
servants quarters and r~econnoiter.
Il must meet the Others sooner or
later" she thought.
A rosy checked housema;d was busy
with her broom and stopped to courtesy
as she saw what she took 70 be a guest
coming down the wide oaken staircase
there were always two or 9h%ee strangers
at Dinglewood. Audrey was gazing out
of her lovely dark blue eyes with deep
pleasure and interest at the fresh won
ders that met her gaze at every turn {;
her young, buoyant, nervouSly excitable
heart thrilled as with delight at the cary
ed oaken panels, the full-ieugtb costume
portraits, the figures in arm0r that stood
in their inches, as though guarding the
old house as their dead and gone wearers
did in the days of yore. The tousemaid's
respectful courtesy first provoked a smile
and then a little sigh.
Il want to find the kitchen; am 1
going wrong?" she said. and then she put
out her hand. 81 am the new maid. Au-
drey Maxse! Shall we be friends? What
is your name? If it is ike your face
it is sure to be nice"
The housemaid stared at her in amaze
ment; but when she saw that Audrey
still held out her hand, she put her W
rough palm into it, while she grinned
good naturally.
81 baint bad frens with no one, I
baint, and 1 likes you! Why, I took you
for a lady. There! Ny names Lisa.
What's yourn, did you say"
Audrey explained all that was neces-
sary, and then Eliza showed her the way
to the housekeeper's room, the servants
hall and the kitchen.
you come down the wrong stairs"
she said. "Them's the ones you must
use." pointing to her right. Here's the
kitching. My! Don't the hrekkus smell
nice? Amt you 'ungry? You must eat
a lot, and then you'll get red cheeks.
Here's Mr.. Downs" and Eliza broke off
to giggle. as a young man-a very good
imitation of a gentleman-sauntered in
through the open doorway that led to
the courtyard, thence to the stables and
the kitchen garden beyond. Hes Lord
Johns valley" she whispered in a loud
voice to Audrey, "and such a SWELL
Mr.. Downs smiled with much superb
ority as he caught Eliza's ingenious tone
of admiration. He was soon chatting and
joking with her, while Audrey. who felt
an indescribable vexation AMI dislike arts
ing within her at the mans presence.
went to the doorway and walked out
into the courtyard. 1t was so clear
and fresh in the cold morning air that
she soon lost her vague discomfort, and
began to make friends with the half dozen
dogs of every sort and description, who
came from the stables to inquire into
the new arrival. A voice from behind
broke her silence. and, turning. with a
frown, she saw that Downs had followed
her.
You'll get cold out here, miss" the
young man said, fixing his eyes on her
exquisite face with astonished admira-
ton and you're much coo pretty"
Audrey drew herself up. She was very
young, and she had never h6d occasion
TO feel the sort of angry resentment
that this mans bold stare awakened in
her breast. She was too nervous to make
any reply, but she turned round quickly
and went indoors before he knew what
she was doing.
"0h! That's her sort, is IL" observed
Mr.. Henry Downs to himself. who's
she, I'd like to know, though she is so
pretty, to give herself airs Ike a queen?
Well. We'll soon take that out of her. or
my name amt Downs
-Ahu. dispensing Il lew KICKS 10 the
dogs. the man walked away down the
courtyard to give his masters order to
the head groom.
Audrey, TO her great relief. found that
a message had come for her 10 go to Miss
Fraser's room at once. Sheila Fraser
was lying in her iuxuriant t+d. her red
gold hair thrown over the pillows in pic
turesQue confusion as Audrey entered.
Light my fire at once she ordered.
sharply then pull up the blind, and give
me those papers and letters, Maxse."
Audrey stirred the smoi1aring embers
into a blaze. threw sons wood on to it.
and then drew back the SiI&en curtains.
Miss Fraser took the letters anC stared at
the girl.
Il don't think l shall IKE this girl"
she said to herself. she is evidently
stupid, and stares at one in an uncanay
fashion. Go to Mrs. Frascr's room
you know where it is-give her my love.
said, shortly.
She lay quite still as audrey went
sway, then, with a sudden movement. she
slipped from the bed, went across the rich
carpet to the mirror. and gazed silently
at her own image. Never before. in the
whole of her life. had she ever viewed
her own reflection with snything but
pleasure. What was it that Jared her
now? Not only the lack oe symmetry
in feature, the difference IN coloring-
was it not a certain air of u~naccounta-
bic refnement-a something that bespoke
the patrieian in Audrey's face. and that
was wanting in her own?
She was not patrician born-she vas
of the people. Her father had been a
hard-headed Scotch merchant, born of re-
spectacle Scotch tradesfolk her mother
the rich and only daughter cf a Cumber-
land brewer. They were wealthy they
had land. they had retinues Of servants.
bu. still they were beyond the sacred
inner social round. Sheila conld remem-
Der distinctly the days before her moth
er's death; she was only 4 girl Of eight,