Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-06-20
CHAPTER xxx.

one smile, and then was gone, leaving
only the fragrant scent Of her garments
and the divine elements Of peace and
gratitude behind her.
Quickly as she walked, Audrey was
some time before she reached Craiglands.
She turned to the stables first. and gave
orders that her small brougham should
be prepared at once. Then she quietly
entered the house and went to her own
room. Eliza was there, arranging her
simple dinner toilet. Audrey told her
she was going out again at once.
Tell Miss Thwait not to be alarmed ;
shah be home in an hour" she said.
Her sight was blurred and misty as
she opened her jewel case and took out
"A packet Of notes-bank notes forwarded
to her by Mr.. Sampson duly according to
Jacks written orders, and never touched.
Andrew secured the notes in an envel-
ope, put them into her muff and. leaving
her room. went very quietly down the
way She had come, just as Jean. her
cheeks flushed as with some exceeding and
great joy, ran once more into Audrey 8
chamber to find her and bid her come
down as soon as possible.
Eliza repeated the message she had
been given and Jeans face fell. while
something Of alarm came into her ex-
presson.
Can she know, and have gone away to
escape" Her murmur was untin-
sshed, for as she came out of the room
an eager hand caught hers and an almost
Ghoked voice muttered:
Well. does she know-my darling"
Audrey has gone out again. Lord
Tverne. Her maid says she has this In
stant gone out. IL don't understand y
Jacks hand dropped from its hold.
Il do he said, with bitterness pass
ing all words. "She has heard of my sud
den arrival. and she has gone away to
''Oh, this is nonsense! You are nerv-
ous-" Jean was beginning, when Jack
broke in 6ercely:
But she shall not go. She is my wife,
bound to me by her own words and vow.
have wronged her, but l have repent
ed heaven knows! She shall hear me
I will follow. She cannot have gone far.
Forgive me, Miss Thwait, if am rude or
unkind. but my case is desperate. How
do we know she is not running away
again? No; l must not stay here pratt
ing; | must follow her, and | will y
He turned away but looked back, implor-
ingly. Keep my mother in ignorance till
till you hear from me-
Jean had no time to utter protest or
remark, for he was gone. Down the
stairs, three at a time. as he used to
race in his boyish days. Jack rushed,
onIc Ia oDi-
<ation, longing and apprehension. and
as he came to the entrance he caught a
;gleam of carriage lamps disappearing in
the distance.
Which way did her ladyship go?" he
asked Martin, curtly.
II heard her say to the edge of the
Dinglewood grounds, my lord. and then
to wait for her there
Martin looked troubled he did not
know what to make of all that had hap
pened of late.
lack pushed his hat over his eyes, and
without another word strode out into the
snow and darkness. His brain was reel
ding he scarcely knew what thoughts fill
ed his mind. save that beyond, in the dis
sance, was Audrey, his lovely girI-wife,
but who now shone forth with even
stronger rays as jewel above price.
And she would not see him She shun-
ned him! She would not forgive.
The brougham rolled slowly on; the
man stole rapidly behind it. At last
they reached a spot Mrs. Thorngate had
described to Audrey as Rochfort's hiding
place. Audrey stopped the carriage and
got cut.
Jacks heart throbbed with love and
agitation as he caught a glimpse of her
lovely face beneath the light of a lamp.
She was speaking to the coachman, but
he could not hear what she said. Then
she turned and walked into the grounds.
Jack .quickened his steps and followed
her; a sense Of uneasiness came upon
him. What was she doing here? She
reached a path Mrs Thorngate had spok
en- Of. Here she stopped. Jack stood
still also. He was about a dozen yards
from her. but he had drawn into the
shade, and could not be seen.