Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-03-21
CHAPTER IV.-(ContinuedO

of the upper ten. His money. his po-
litical views, and his power, is 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
q friendship, with Sir Edw IN Gascoigne,
an mpecunious but most aristocratic
baronet. BY Sir Edwin's a:i. Mr. Fra
ser was returned in the Conservative
cause, and his step planted On the first
Iung of the ladder. He was decidedly
clever man. and although too mean anl
nisgardly to be altogether popular, he
was not long in finding some friends.
Among these, however, could not be class
cd Constance Gascoigne,- Sir Edward 5
second and only surviving daughter. Miss
Gascogne was a very beautiful girl, but
she had won the reputation Cf having a
bitter and unkind tongue. Every one
knew that Constance Gascoigne did not
share in her fathers infatual,on for Mr..
Fraser. and yet she electrified the whole
social world by suddenly becoming his
wife. There was the nine days gossip,
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 tor one al
ways thought that young Frank Anstru
ther's sudden death had great deal to
do with it. Constance was :padly in love
with him. poor girl Well. she has done
;,,
Is rolling in money-pos -ively 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 neghborhoo'l, and pos
sessed the entree of the best houses in
London when they stayed there for the
season; and, bearing this in mind, it
wa 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 a ranking jealousy
for the delicate, aristocratic. still beau
tiful woman who had been her fathers
Constance Fraser, and she was just a 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
afectionately considerate 70 the girl
whose guardian she was.
Sheila turned away from the mirror
with a frown, and throwing herself on her
lace-trimmed pillow, again tcok 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. | am a fool :" she said to her
self, and she laughed shortly. Il was
only half awake just now, and what if !
this girl is pretty, how does that affect
me? | am Miss Fraser. of Dinglewood |
and heiress to good hun1tad thousand
pounds. | don't think | reed trouble
my head about servant maids face"
She read through the rest of her letters
and then rang her bell sharply. "Why
up. or Jack will be off Lcfore | have
half dressed -
The bell rang sharply in he 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 it, because Bircham had
pointed it out to her the evening before
she had knocked gently, and on receiving
an answer. she had gone tim!dly in. The
room was large, airy and pretty; it was
hung with dainty chintz, and was, COM
pared to Sheia's magnificent apartment,
simple beyond description; vet Audrey
fjlt. in a sudden and indescribable way.
that she liked it 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 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 nervously. saw
a delicate, lovely face lying on the pillow.
WHO is it, Marshall!" inquired Mrs
Fraser in a low, but singularly sweet
voice.
IF you please, IL am come from
Miss Fraser"
Audrey stammered out the message as
easily as she could. She Vas not exact
~ frightened, and yet her heart was hut-
tering, for she felt rather chan saw that
Mrs Fraser's eyes were fixed upon her.
Marshall was replying in a brisk yet re-
spectful way when her mistress stopped
her. She stretched out a fragile hand,
white as snow, toward the girl.
who are you?" she asked in eager,
hurried tones. "Where 90 you come
from? Come nearer! Come close! l
want to see your face. i"
If you please, ma'am. th's is Miss
Fraser's new maid as Mrs. Thorngate
as got for her." said Marshall.
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. Involuatarily Audrey
had drawn nearer, and had pet her small.
work stained fingers into those other del
icate ones Mrs. Fraser pushed the girl
round with her face to the Light. paused
for an instant, and then gave one broken,
so5bing cry: