Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-02-07
CHAPTER XII.-fContinued.)

Sheia-by accident, of course-was Just
coming down the stairs as Lady Dales-
water was ascending them.
There was a mutual start. and then a
cordial greeting. Sheila was looking won
derfully pretty in her long sealskin man
tie. her rudy, golden hair making Dit
of bright color beneath her neat nat u
match. Lady Daleswater was pleased 10
approve Of her probable future slsterln-
law
''You here. Miss Fraser she exclaim-
cd This is quite delightful surprise
] pictured you in Mountberry, enjoying
yourself"
II was compelled to come to London
on business matters. and" Sheila added
with tiny sigh that did not escape Lazy
Daleswatcr'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 aIarnist, you know"
Sheila assumed a sad, anxious LOOK
although in reality she was not aware
exactly how Jack was at that partlcu-
lar moment. and had never been very
much frightened even at the verdict OF
he London doctors.
Il am afraid he is very ill., she said
in a low voice
Lady Daleswater did not seem much
impressed
Il 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
SCI is with your"
Sheila explained that her chaperone
was her cousin, Mrs Watson.
We shall remain in London for little
while" she said, land | hope to see a
great deal of you. Perhaps | may be
able to prevail on you to come down to
Daleswater House when I go back there.
1t will be very dull, my dear Shella
but"
But my dear Sheila" would have glad
~ welcomed months of dizziness 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 immedi-
ately. at his wife's instigation, went
were. and the very same afternoon, as
Stella sat yawning over a novel by the
fire, the door opened and Beverley Roch-
fort was announced. She started up Gag
eriy to greet him.
Where have you been? l thought you
were never coming back" she declared.
II have been busy" he said. II have
not been wasting time, | assure you. You
wonder what took me out of London?
Well, l will tell you. l went down to
soothe the last moments of Roderick Ans
truther. Yes, it sounds curious doesn't
it? But Fate for some strange reason
brought this man to our rescue just when
we needed him."
How can he help us?" asked Sheila,
incredulously, although her face was
flushing with excitement. More espe-
cially if, as | understand you to infer,
he is now dead"
You shall see, Miss Fraser. Ans
truther met me out in Africa he then
went under another name. | always liked
the man, there was something grim yet
wonderful about him. When he found
| was coming to England he gave me a
packet of papers to bring to his law
yers before delivering them l took the
precaution of sounding these lawyers
first and rs easily as possible I soon
discovered my companions real name.
Needless to say, | did not deliver the
papers. more especially when l 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. l at
once travelled off to seek him, and, of
course, had to tell few dozen lies or so
10 explain why | had done so. Fortu-
nately, the man was too i'll to protest
or question much; all he asked, all he
wanted, was to see Constance Fraser, and
confess the truth of his treachery toward
her and his <-vother.'
And you call this helping US, Mr..
Rochfort?
"As Roderick is dead, and did not con-
fess to Mrs. Fraser, | certainly do. To
please him | drew up a sort of written
statement, to which he managed to scrawl
his name just at the very last Here is
the document Shall | tell you what it
contains, Miss Fraser?"
Sheila nodded her head
This is the last dying confession of
Roderick Anstruther, in which he owns
70 having separated his brother from his
wife for sheer malice in which he also
confesses that his brothers child did
really die. and that the girl now living
is the offspring of secret marriage be-
tween himself and some country woman. y
And she is that really?" Sheila asked,
"No, certainly not. Audrey, according
to her uncle's dying confession. Is the
child of Frank and Constance Anstruther
You forget. l am reading what l wrote,
not what Roderick Anstruther told me r.
write"
brow cleared.
This document then goes on to will
the whole of the dead mans fortune and
possessions to this aforesaid child of
his on one condition, viz, that she be-
come my wife before six months elapse
If she refuses, she is to be placed once
more in the Female Orphan Asylum till
some definite and equally disagreeable
abode is found for her. You will see
that I have been very careful and very
explicit. Miss Fraser. l have left moth.
ing undone that can possibly help u.s."
You forget, she may always refuse.
Sheila said. gloomily. This is not what
had expected"
Il am not so nervous of failure" Bev,
erley returned. Audrey will be a rich
woman if she becomes my wife. and hel
lot will not be an enviable one if she
refuses"
There is Mrs. Fraser to be faced"
Mrs. Fraser will cease to have any
guardianship over the girl when this doc
ument is read
Who will be her guardian?" asked
Sheila.
II am left the one sole and entire
guardian of Miss Audrey Anstruther
To deceive him was easy, to explain t.
the lawyers a trife more difficult; but
1t was soon done. When you peruse thi:
paper carefully you will see that the rea
son Roderick Anstruther reposes such
trust in me is because a few years age
saved his life at the risk of my own
and because we were firm and never part
c4 friends out in Africa together. l give
myself great credit for those two lies