Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-14

should be at hand now to give the cue
for the last act in the comedy that for
two hearts this night would be bitter
tragedy.
Before she had time to grow angry
pale-pink domino futtered up to them
the owner gave a girlish giggIe.
"Sheila, is it you? Yes, L see it is.
Such fun have just seen the loveliest
bit of spooning you ever saw. That very
proper Lady John Glendurwood and
who do you think?-why, Beverley Roch-
fort. Oh. l assure you they were going
on like anything. They have gone to the
old summer house, and"
Sheila checked her accomplice with 50
well-acted an air of anger as to astonish
Miss Fairfax.
alice, how dare you. What are you
saying, my dear child? You must not +;
it is very wrong"
Miss Fairfax pretended to lose her tenn
per. Really she had been an invaluable
ally, and took as much delight in shar-
ing in this wicked plot as though she
were joining in the purest and best work
on earth.
Il am only telling you the truth. If
You don't believe me, go and see for your
self. /, for one, am not surprised, after
the way she has gone on tonight" and
with that Miss Fairfax founced her pink
domino out of sight.
Jack Glendurwood had made no sign !;
not even the smallest exclamation crossed
his lips. He stood erect and still, like
a statue of stone, as they were alone
ar ~ hn
Sheila.
Where is this summer house she
speaks of? Is it the old one l know"
Sheila bit her lip. She had never heard
anything so terrible as the sound of his
voice, the passionate constraint, the hol-
lowness of acute misery.
MY dear Jack" she said, laughing
nervously, you surely do not mean to say
you take any notice of that foolish
GIRLS"
"Will you answer me?" Jack replied,
fiercely.
For one moment Sheila's heart failed
her. She began to see her work in its
full vileness and sin. What if she had
gone too far? What if he should muir
der Audrey when he saw her? There
was a sound in his voice that spoke of
rage ungovernable and mad pride.
do not take any notice of such COS
sip, Jack" she said hurriedly.
All the answer he gave was to begin
to walk out into the grounds and Sheila,
nervin. herself for the last, threw herself
before him.
mo, Jack" she said in low, choked
tones, you shall not CO."
What do you mean?' His face, from
which he had torn away the mask, was
almost savage in its anger and horrible
fear. do you know what you are say
ing? Why must l not go and seek my
wife? Am l not the proper person to do
so? Answer me this, Sheia Fraser, why
do you stop me? Do you fear what
shall see and hear?"
"Yes," she said, swiftly, Il fear-for
you, Jack"
Then be assured, Sheila, I shall not
be harmed. Lead me to this summer
house, that | may know the worst"
Sheila tried to look imploringly at him,
hut he simply repeated the command
and, turning at length she obeyed him.
When they were close to tie small rustic
building she stopped.
go on alone" she said, and without
another word Jack strobe down the path.
With a gasp of fear, Sheila followed
him. What would he do, what would
he do? Cold as ice, yet burning with
fever so terrible that it almost CHECKED
him, Jack passed down the path. His
brain was on fire.
Audrey was there-Audrey, his pure
love, his darling, his wife. On all sides
she had been discussed, none had spoken
kindly. What was this awful thing that
had come upon them?
As he reached the door of the summer
house he was trembling in every limb.
His lips opened to call her name, then
closed with fierce curse. Another man
was speaking it passionately, wildly.
Audrey, my love, my love, my da.l-
ingw
With his strong right hand Jack struck
back the door and stood there, in the
dim light-a tall, avenging angel
Audrey, with one hand pressed against
the wall, was standing before him. At
her feet knelt Beverley Rochfort clasp
ing the other hand. and kissing it as he
poured out his vows of love- As Jack
appeared before them, Audrey gave one
great cry.
Jack Jack, Thank heaven you have
comet
Beverley Rochfort rose to his feet
with a low laugh. He was no coward
like Sheila. He rather hoped there would
be some excitement now.
Jack was silent scarcely a moment
he never even glanced at the man; he
looked straight at his wife.
THE carriage is waiting for you, Lady
John he said in voice which Audrey
had never heard from his lips before; iii
is time for you to return to your home. y
Audrey looked at her husband out OF
her great, blue eyes, all distraught as
they were. For the moment she had for
gotten his treac!ery at JOY in his coming
| Now, as with one heavy blow, it all re-
! turned TO her. The end had surely come
when he could speak to her like this
and how terrible was the way in which
| he stared at her. Ske had not strength
to move q limb or utter a sound.
Il request that you accompany me tC
the carriage at once" Jack said, this
| time quite fercely.
! Audrey drew her domino about her
Vaguely she felt that, bad as the horizon
! of her life had looked short hour ago
1t was doubly worse now. She did MOI
| comprehend Jacks manner. but it hurt
her to the quick. That he should speak
to her like this, and before that odious
horrible man. She put out both he1
hands. Fear of Beverley drove away her
! jealous pangs
Yes. yes; take me home. I am ready
to go. | entreat y5u to take met
Jack stood on one side for her to pass
and as he faced Beverley Rochfort aion,
for an instant. he said, very quietly:
Either your life or mine answers fol
this nights work. You understands"
Perfectly" smiled Beverley, but h,
| frowned the next moment.
A duel! This was not what he hat
anticipated, Andrew did not catch tn
hurried words, and. as she walked ava,
beside her husband. she was too deepl,
miserable to think of anything but tina
a cloud had fallen on her life; tina