The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-09-27
CHAPTER xII.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER (C0ntinued.)
Next day, about lunch time, the coun-
tess, her children and attendants, arrived,
with much clatter and Importance.
6heila-by accident, Of courss-wss just
coming down the stairs as Lady Dales-
water was ascending them.
There was mutual start, and then
cordial greeting. Sheila was looking won
derfully pretty in her long sealskin man
tie, her ruddy, golden hair making bit
OF bright color beneath her neat hat to
match. Lady Daleswater was pleased to
approve of her probable future sister-in-
law
You here, Miss Fraser !" she exclaim-
ed. This is quite delightful surprise.
pictured you in Mountberry, enjoying
YOURSELF
Il was compelled to come to London
on business matters, and" Sheila added,
with tiny sigh that did not escape Lady
Daleswater's keen ears, "Mountberry is
not particularly lively just now"
Can you give me any news OF my
brother-is he really 50 dangerously hurt!
Mamma Is such an alarmist, you know"
Sheila assumed a sad, anxious look,
although in reality she was net aware
exactly how Jack was at that particu-
lar moment, and had never been very
much frightened even at the verdict Of
the London doctors.
II am afraid he II very ILL.," she said
In low voice.
Lady Daleswater did not seem much
impressed.
II hope you are not returning home
Immediately? No? Oh, that is delight
full, and still more delightful that you
should be staying here. You must come
In and dine with me tonight. Mrs. Fra
scr is with your"
Sheila explained that her chaperone
was her cousin, Mrs. Watson.
I'VE shall remain in London for little
while" she said, "and hope to see a
great deal of you. Perhaps I may be
able to prevail ON you to come down to
Daleswater House when 60 back there.
It win be very dull, my dear Sheila !;
but"
But my dear Sheila" would have glad
ly welcomed months of dullness to get
such an invitation as this. Her spirits
rose brilliantly, and she laid herself out
to please Lady Daleswater.
Three days later the Earl Of Dales-
water arrived In London, and imnedi-
atefy, at his wife's instigation, went
down to Mountberry to see how matters
were, and the very same afternoon, As
Stella sat yawning over q novel by the
FIRE, the door opened and Beverley Roch-
fort was announced. She started up Gag
eriy to greet him.
where have you been7 thought you
were never coming back" she declared.
II have besn busy," he said II have
not been wasting time, assure you You
wonder what took me out Of LoAdon7
Well, will tell you. I went down to
soothe the last moments Of Roderick Ans
truther. Yes, It sounds curious, doesn't
1T But Fate for some strange reason
brought this man to sur rescue Just when
we needed Aim."
"How can he help usT' asked Sheila,
incredulously, although her face was
flushing with excitement. "More espe.
cially II, a. understand you to Infer.
he is now decd"
~sYou znall see Miss Fraser. Ans
tftther nass he out in Africa; he then
went unSaf another name. always liked
the man, there was something grim yet
wonderful shout him. When he found
I was coming to England he gave mo a
packet of papers to bring to his law
yers; before delivering them took the
precaution Of sounding these lawyers
first, and az easily - possible l soon
discovered my companions real name.
Needless to say, I did net deliver the
papers, moro especially when I found
that Anstruther was in England and
supposed to be dying-he had evidently
found his end coming, and rushed over
to see Mrs. Fraser before he died. at
once travelled of to seek him, and, OF
course, had to tell few dozen lies or 50
to explain why had done SO. Fortu-
nately. the man was too III to protes,
or question much; all he asked, all h
wanted, was to see Constance Fraser, and
confess the truth Of his treachery TOWARD
her and his brother"
"And you call this helping us, Mr.
Rochfortr a. ..
.'As Roderick Is dead, and did not con
fess to Mrs. Fraser, certainly do. II
please him I drew up sort Of writer
statement, to which he managed to scraw
his name just at the very last. Here il
the document. Shall tell you what i
contains, Miss FraserT"
Sheila nodded her head.
This is the last dying confession o
Roderick Anstruther, in which he own
to having separated his brother from hi
wife for sheer malice, In which he ais,
confesses that his brothers child di,
really die, and that the girl now Twin,
Is the offspring Of secret marriage be
tween himself and some country woman.
"And she is that reallyT' Sheila asked
NO. certainly not. Audrey, according
to her uncle's dying confession, Is tn
child of Frank and Constance Anstruther
You forget, am reading what I wrote
hot what Roderick Anstruther told me t,
write"
"Well?" the girl said after this, as he
brow cleared.
This document then goes on to will
the whole of the dead mans fortune an,
possessions to this aforesaid child O
his on one condition, viz, that she be
come my wife before six months elapse
If she refuses, she is to be placed one
more in the Female Orphan Asylum til
some definite and equally disagreeab
abode is found for her. You will Sc
that l have been very careful and yer,