The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-08-01
.oscdy, she was this delicate aristorat.s


close to her new-found mother.
1T is too beautiful, too beautiful to
be real!' was all she could say; and
then, as she felt the soft, tender lips
pressed to her brow and checks, she be-
gan to wake from her dream. E..
"Tell me, tell me how it all happened,
how you found that was not dead"
1T was your face that first seemed to
whisper hope" Mrs. Fraser replied.
when you came in that morning it was
as though Frank stood before me again.
You have his very eyes; the expression
in them Is exactly what lived in his. l
began to wonder, to dream. 1 was not
happy till l had learned your history.
Now you know why have had SO many
long chats with dear Mrs. Thorngate.
determined to confide in her; I knew
could trust her, as, indeed, that has been
proved. At once she took matters into
her own hands. She communicated with
her husband, who made every investiga-
tfon about you, my darling, and discov-
cred, thank heaven that when you were
placed in the home through the influence
OF Sir Henry Buistrode, certain things
belonging to the woman supposed to be
your mother were deposited in the care
OF the matron, Miss Irons. l examined
these few poor things-an old satchel
Bible, a bundle of old letters; and In
the satche, hidden away in the lining,
we discovered the certificate Of your birth,
together with the last letter Roderick
must have written T, the woman before
she died. Oh, my darling! my darling !"
she cried, holding Audrey pressed close
to her. How can l ever describe the
exquisite JOY that came to me when I
knew what heaven had sent me? I
seemed to live again-to grow, as I once
was, strong and full of courage. kiss
me, my child, my baby! Kiss me, and
let me hear you say you have forgiven
re for my cruel dcsertion of you"
Forgiven you. Oh, my poor, dear,
sweet, new mother, don't say such 4
thing! When l remember how you must
have suffered how cruel that wicked
man has been to hide me from you all
these years, l feel almost mad"
That eventful night ended in more ex-
element, for the report spread to the
house of the discovery of Jack Glendur-
wood, insensible and horribly wounded,
and In the tumult that ensued Sheila
worked off some of her violent feelings
She broke in abruptly upon the length
eped conference between Audrey and her
mother, and blurted out the news r-ith-
out any warming bet her eyes glistened
gladly as she saw the color leave Audrey's
face and lips. and heard the moan that
came from the sorrow-stricken heart.
Constance Fraser turnet pale, too, but
the sight Of her childs face gaze her
courage. AS though she had read 1t in
large letters, she knew the truth then.
1T may not be so bad Sheila, These
things are always exaggerated" she said,
aS she put her hands tendcrly on Au-
drcy's shoulders. ut seems to me in
credible hat Jack should have been at
tackled like this. Surely sucir - man can
have no enemies"
"Hc has ben robbed of all the jewelry
and money he had onthat will be clew."
She;la said, apparently with indifference,
but watching Audrey keenly as she spoke.
Al! at once she seemed to realize that
things were not so bad for her. This
sudden illness of Lord Johns might,
after all, prove good friend to her.
At any rate. it would separate him
from Audrer, and that was a great deal.
She noticed with the kcenest pleasure
the anguish that had dawned on the
young girls face. She must not let her
step-mother notice her hatred of the girl
:l2t i.@a stepped in between her and her
happiness.
But l am forgetting" she said, In q
frank, pleasant manner. II have to offer
all sorts of congratulations to you, NAM
ma. Why, it is like fairy story. And
so this pretty little girl is to be my
sister, She had come up to the slender
drawn-up figure. "We must be good
friends, you and I, Audrey" she said.
gliblly. Let us seal that bargain with
a kiss"
ed. This was not what she had expected;
her generous, noble heart was deeply
touched and she tremh;sd vsibly.
Thank you, dear SIcirs." was all she
-. ut sic gave TIE s:rl a look Of
unuttcrable gratitude. You have al
ways been kind to me. II should
like to think you and my Audrey were
friends"
Sheila stood silent for a moment, then,
laughing softly, she pressed her lips to
Ardrey's check.
There. 1t is done." she said. And
now for the latest news of poor Jack"
Andrew had stood motionless all
through this little scene; but her mothers
hand felt the tremble that ran through
the young frame. She fathomed only too
we'll all that her child was suffering. Al
the door closed on Sheila, and they were
alone once more, she wrapped her arms
round the slight figure.
"My dar,ing!" she said, in tones Of the
deepest tenderness.
Audrey gave little cry. and turning.
cluns 10 her new-fouad comforter and
prosector.
''Oh, mother. mother.' she whispered
brokenly; and II love him so! What
shall l do if he des?"