Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-08-21
THE CHARITY GIRL |
BY EFFfE A. RoWLANDs.
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back ~ her pillow insensfb:e. Audrey,
trembling In every limb, Mastered to obey
Marshall, as she directed her to rsing
some eau-ds-cslssns and salts from the
large ehintshung dressing table; she did
ret know why, but the siynt Of Mrs.
FraseTs death-hks facs panied her ~
yond description. Marshall evileatly
was net unused to this sign Of weakness
in her mistress.
SHED one # her bad nights" Audrey
heard her nstter; "pssr lamb! knew
IL when 6rst saw her this morning. Poor
Miss Constance! Peer, pretty Miss Con-
stancew
She whisked away Z tear while she rub
bed some Of the soeat across the pale
brow, and held the salts to tbs delicate
nOstrils.
I've been with her ever since she were
q child" she said, huskily, to Audrey,
who stood with her hands tightly clasp
ed together; "and she'll never be nothing
to me but Miss Constance, poor dear"
Isis she always ill?" Why was 1t
that Audrey could not control her voice?
Marshall nodded her head, and just
then the bell pealed through the corridor
again, and Mrs. Fraser opened her thickly
friRged eyes with q start and looked
blankly around her. Marnhall motioned
Audrey away. Audrey reluctantly with.
drew her case from that sweet, suffering
face, and with the memory o; those deep
blue eyes clinging to her, che returned
to her mistress room.
Another fainting ft?" observed Sheila,
l suppose she won't be able to 60 to the
GlasteA hunt ball tonight. Maxse, you
seem to me inclined to dawdle. can't
have lazy people about me. Birchan,
my white serge tea gown. suppose the
breakfast gong has soundeiy"
Yes, miss, ten minutes ago; and
met his Iordship a-goin' down as come
up. You'll just have time to run into
Mrs. Fraser's room and"
Il shall have nothing of the kind"
retorted Sheila stamping her root i'm
patiently, as Audrey's cold fingers moved
slowly in their task of hnttoninR her
dainty shoe straps. "You must 70 in
and tell Mrs. Fraser I will rec her after
breakfast. Bircham, this girl is simply
a clumsy fool! If you can't teach her to
manage better than this she must COP
Audrey's eyes were blinded with hot
tears. She was doing her very best, but
Sheila had no pity for her awkwa rdness,
and could willingly have kicked her for
looking SO beautiful.
CHAPTER v.
"What time do we start?" Sheila Fra
ser asked Lord John, as breakfast draw
to an end.
She was not alsne with the young
man; an elderly lady, q poer relative
OF her mothers, was present. Had
Sheila been left to her own ,nclinations
this quiet, grim, and undoubtedly mid
dle-class Mrs. Watson would never have
been given place in her home; but
Constance Fraser had spoken 80 direct
and to the point on this subject that
her stepdaughter had given in, aud offered
in as gracious a manner as she could the
post of housekeeper to this Impoverished
connection.
DO you seriously think Of going to-
dayr he laughed, turning to the girl.
who looked very fresh and pretty in her
picturesquely draped white serge gown.
"Why mott" demanded Sheila.
Remember the ball."
"Oh, the ball !" with an cry laugh.
my dear Lord John, l could follow the
hounds for a week at a time, and then
dance through two balls"
"Sheila has excellent health" MIRA.
Watson remarked, monotoners!y,
Sheila rose abruptly How slow their
friendship advanced. He was perfectly
aware that 1t was his mothers most earn
est desire to see Sheila Fraser his wife,
but he was equally we'll aware that be
had no such desire himself. He was in
no hurry to be married, and be certainly
would never marry for money.
All this, however, he kept 20 himself.
and although be was SO intimate with the
heiress of Dinglewood, he had never by
word or deed given either She:la or any
one else reason to suppose that he held
any deper feeling for the girl than that
of an ordinary friend.
Later Sheila had some dinner in her
room, having ascertained that Mrs, Fra
ser would be we'll enough to accompany
her to the bail and when the time came
she arrayed herself in her magnificent
diamonds, and even gave the charity
CIR" q smile, as Audrey, overcome with
the brilliant spectacle, put her hands
together, and exclaimed aloud with de-
lighted admiration.
"Let Maxse sit up for me, Bircham, /"
she ordered, and then she swept away
and Joined Mrs. Fraser's tall, elegant
figure in the hall below.
my mistress ought not to have gone
out tonight! 1t is enough to kill her !"
exclaimed Marshall in indignation. IF
I had my way, I'd have told Miss Fra
ser pretty plain what think Of her,
dragging a poor, sick, suffering creature
out q cold night like this, and all for her
selfshness! It's heartless, that's what
l call it!'
BRIGHAM made no reply, although she
overheard this speech: but Audrey felt
her heart beating with sympathy, too.
How fragile and i'll Mrs. Fraser looked !
Surely Miss Fraser could not have known
how weak she was!
Now, keep up the fire. and you may
60 to sleep, il you like" Bircham said.
"See that Miss Sheila's slippers are
warm, and everything out that she wants.
They'll ring the bell when they come,
but don't expect they'll be home till
quite morning."
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