The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-04-27
CHAPTER Iv.-(Continued. }

/ L
| He Immediately sent the girl to a
Partisan school, and then he set about
trying to force his way into the ranks
of the upper ten. His money. his po-
litical views, and his power, as determin
ed by the fact Of his being large en-
ployer of labor, and, therefore, of con-
| trolling a large percentage Of votes
brought about an acquaintance. and then
friendship, with Sir Edwin Gascoigne,
an impecunious but most aristocratic
taronet. BY Sir Edwin's aid. Mr. Fra
ser was returned in the Conservative
cause, and his step planted On the first
rnng of the ladder. He was a decidedly
clever man, and although too mean and
niggardly to be altogether popular, he
was not long in finding some friends.
Among these, however, could not be class
ed Constance Gascoigne, Sir Edwards
second and only surviving daughter Miss
Gascogne was a very beautiful! girl, but
she had won the reputation Of having a
bitter and unkind tongue. Every one
knew that Constance Gascoigne did not
share in her fathers infatuat;oh for Mr..
Fraser, and yet she electrified the whole
social world by suddenly becoming his
and then the Fraser marriage became
thing of the past, although there were
some of Constance's women friends who
still discussed the subject.
There has been something mysterious
| about the girl for the last two years"
| cried Mrs. Fanfare, the biggest scandal
monger of the time, ''and for one al
ways thought that young Frank Anstru-
theirs sudden death had great deal to
do with it. Constance was nadly in love
with him, poor girl Well, she has done
very well in one sense. This Fraser man
Is rolling in money-positively rolling,
my dear"
| In a vague, yet uncertain, way Sheila
felt that it was only through her step
mothers popularity and undoubted social
position that she was received and well
coined as the friend Of the county fami-
lies around the neighborhood, and pos
sessed the entree Of the hest houses in
London when they stayed there for the
season; and, bearing this In mind, it
was only natural she should be very care
full to keep on good terms with one who
was so very indispensable to her. Deep
down in the girls shallow pretense Of a
heart there lurked q ranking jealousy
for the delicate, aristocratic, still beau
tiful woman who had been her fathers
wife. Sheila had never quite understood
Constance Fraser, and she was just lit
tie bit afraid of her; she knew how BIT
ter the sweet, refined voice could ring
sometimes, and how contemptuously the
pale lips could curve when occasion mer-
tied it. She felt vaguely that Mrs. Fra
ser knew her at her exact worth; and
yet the young stepmother had never, by
word or sign, been anything lut kind and
affectionately considerate TO the girl
whose guardian she was.
Sheila turned away from the mirror
with frown, and throwing herself on her
lace-trimmed pillow, again took up her
letters. The frown vanished as she read
the warm and pressing Invitations from
two or three of the best houses around to
luncheon, dinner, tea, and the like.
bah l am fool ~ she said to her
self, and she laughed shortly. 81 was
only half awake just now, and what II
this girl Is pretty, how does that affect
me? l am Miss Fraser, Of Dinglewood,
and heiress to a good hundred thousand
pounds. l don't think peed trouble
my head about servant maids face p
She read through the rest of her letters,
and then rang her bell sharply. "Why
doesn't the girl come back? l must get
up, or Jack will be of before I have
half dressed"
The bell rang sharply In the corridor
outside, but Audrey neither understood
nor needed its purpose. She was very
frightened, and very full Of pity at that
particular moment.
She had gone direct, as Miss Fraser
had commanded her, to Mrs. Fraser's
room; she knew 1t, because BRIGHAM had
pointed it out to her the evening before
she had knocked gently, and on receiving
an answer, she had gone timidly in. The
room was large, airy and pretty; 1t was
hung with dainty chintz, and was, COM
pared to Sheila's magnificent apartment,
simple beyond description vet Audrey
felt, in a sudden and INDISPENSABLE way.
that she liked 1t much better; It was so
fresh and dainty looking, and there was
plenty of room to move about. A fire
was burning brightly. and a large bowl
of daffodils and tulips made a spot OF
color in the window. A woman, in a
white mob cap and large apron, was Just
placing a tray by the bedside, and Au-
drey, raising her eyes very narvously, saw
q delicate, lovely face lying on the pillow.
/ "Who is 1t, Marshallr" Inquired Mrs.
Fraser In low. but sinsularly sweet
voice.
IF you please, IL an come from
Miss Fraser"
Audrey stammered out the message as
easily as she could. She was not exact.
ly frightened, and yet her heart was fiut-
tering, for she felt rather chan saw that
Mrs. Fraser's eyes were hxed upon her.
Marshall was replying in brisk yet re-
spectful way when her mistress stopped
her. She stretched out a fragile hand.
white as snow, toward the girl.
/ Who are your" she asked in eager,
hurried tones. where co you come
from? Come nearer! Come close !
want to see your face. l."
IF you please. ma'am, thu Is Miss
Fraser's new maid as Mrs. Thorngate
as got for her." said MarShail.
Mrs. Fraser had pushed herself up In
bed; her deep blue eyes were shining like
stars. and a rush of color had come into
her white cheeks. Involuntarily Audrey
had drawn nearer, and had pot her small,
IL. A.