Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-05-23
'ar, and hand was placed on her shoul-

ear, and hand was placed on her shou
der.
Lady john know it is you by you
domino-what are you doing all alone
Isn't it fun? Aren't you enjoying your
self? l never was at anything so Lowell
In all my life. Don't you know me?
am Alice Fairfax. 1t is such fun bein
disguised like this. But you must no
sit here all alone. Lord John is enjoy
ing himself immensely. | met him walk
ing in the garden with Sheila just now
You see, l know all the dominoes, ant
can pick people out quite easily"
| "You-you are sure my husband Is
here, Miss Fairfax"
"Yes. He has been dancing with
Sheila. They are out in the garden. Do
you want him? Shall go and find him
or why not come with me, l know just
where they are"
Audrey's simple, loving heart WAS
ablaze with jealousy. So he had come,
and had gone to Sheila first without look
ing for her? What if those cruel tongues
had spoken true, that already he was
repenting his bargain, and turning again
to Sheia. the girl he had always loved.
Il think I will 60 with you, Miss Fair
fax" she said, hurredly. She would see
for herself.
Come this way, them Alice Fairfax
went out through the window. Lift up
your skirts, Lady John; l am afraid the
paths are not too dry"
'oThey went down here" Alice Fair
fax said, as they passed onward to
more remote corner; "but | don't see
them now What nuisance l thought
we should have been sure of catching
them up. All, there is Mr.. Devereux,
will ask him if he has seen them. You
go straight on, Lady John, will over
take you"
The girl darted away as she spoke
and Audrey wandered on alone, obeying
her mechanically.
when l find Jack he shall take me
home" she said to herself, very slowly.
She longed to be gone. to be away from
this horrible ball, with its laughter and
fierce gayety, and venomous tongues, hid
den behind every mask. Deep in her agi-
tated thoughts, Audrey had hurried on
unconsciously. She left the ball room
behind her. She had followed along the
path in which Miss Fairfax had set
her first. She scarcely realized that she
was alone, she had no desire for the
girls companionship. All at once she came
to a standstill.
What forms were those just before her,
half hidden by rustic garden house?
Her eyes were blinded for an instant,
then she saw quite clearly. That was
Sheila Fraser's face: she had taken off
her mask, and the far-away lights shone
on it, and touched the red gold of her
hair with a shimmering glory; and that
tall, strong figure in the gray domino
Ah did she not know that only too well?"
With sickening pain Audrey noted the
attitude of those two; how Sheila's white
hands We're clinging to the mans strong
ones; and then, as though to confirm the
truth, to allow of no remaining doubt
Audrey saw the girls head, with its ]
wealth of ruddy gold hair, rest against
he mans breast. She caught the mur- ,
nur of a mans voice. and then the an ,
wer that Sheila gave. clear and shrill as
bell, "Oh, Jack Jack! my daring."
nd then, with cry of despair, she turn
d and sped away-on, on, unheeding,
till suddenly her strength e
7ent and she stumbled against something g
r some one, and she knew no more.
ITO be continuedl