The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-06-22
By EFFlE A. ROWLANDS

so bad, Miss Thwait. It is quite impos-
! sible for me to get to Cronstadt yet.
docs Audrey know you are not going
with us?"
Il have not seen her this morning" was
| the answer, given with much evloent
pain.
Jean clasped her hands suddenly. Then
her worst fears were realized, and some
thing more had, indeed, happened; some
| thing, too, very terrible, to work such
change as this.
Lord john" she said, involuntarily,
| you must please forgive me, but is your
business 50 important that you are COM
| PEELED to attend to it rather than accom-
| pany your wife on such journey as
| this"
Miss Thwait," he said as well as he
could speak, 1.-THE business am going on
| touches that which is dearer to me than
life-my honor! 1 am sure that you at
least would not wish me to neglect any
thing with which that is concerned"
II will answer for Audrey as for my
SELF" Jean said, hurriedly, IF your honor
is concerned, Lord John, no other reason
is needed but is there nothing can dol"
Give this letter to Audrey, Miss
Thwait," his voice quivered as he spoke
his wife's name. 1T is a sacred trust,
| one that would not give to every one;
put know you are her friend, you will
| comprehend and sympathize with what l
am going to do"
"Stay. Lord John you must hear me !"
Jeans gray eyes were full Of tears. Il
love Audrey better than anything on
earth. l do not ask to know the reason.
but see, alas ! only too well, that some
thing has arisen between her and you. l
| ask you now, and it Is my love for her
that urges the question, will you not see
her yourself before you start on this
journey Nwill you not smooth away the
quarrel? She is in trouble-will you not
take her to your arms?"
1T is impossible" he said quickly, but
| with such determination in his voice as
| made Jean shudder, and sent q thrill of
exquisite torture through Audrey's aching
heart, as she, at that moment, opened the
door in time to catch Jeans last words
| and her husbands reply.
By and by, when they were speeding to
when he found Jack did not join them,
| insisted on going-in a corner talking
earnestly, Audrey drew out her husbands
| letter.
"Audrey-1n future, after the events
Of last night, it will be impossible for US
| to live together. This, take it, will be
| as much your wish a. mine. To continue
to live as We have been doing would be
a mockery Of marriage, q disgrace to our
| race, 4 dishonor to our name. This, then,
is what propose to do. There shall be
no divorce: the pride and honor Of the
| Marlborough family protest against such
course. After al, you are very young
q mere child you may have erred through
ignorance, but be that 50 or not, from
hencef6rth you can never be my wife in
aught but name. Ny wife must be above
suspicion-pure, sweet, true-not a girl
who, before scarcely six months of her
marriage have gone, encourages a man
for whom she openly expresses horror and
| contempt.
| AS for Beverley Rochfort, before many
hours are over-unless he be cur, which
I take him to be-he will have answered
to me for his own part in this affair.
Audrey, am trying to write kindly;
am trying to remember your youth and
the many Disadvantages that have been
yours since the first, and you-if you
have justice and honesty in your heart
you will recognize that am not treating
you harshly. Your future is my care
This morning I have made my will.
leave you all the money I possess, to-
/ 80
property my father has just settled upon
me. Whether l live or die, I wish you
to make your home at Minister. should
like to think Miss Thwait was with you.
| Your money will be transmitted through
my lawyers. I intend to start at once
on tour of the world, giving the condi-
ton of my health as a reason for thus
relinquishing my parliamentary career.
shall be absent, perhaps, two years, and
1 leave it in your hands to judge whether
| at the end Of that time your conduct has
been such rs to permit me to occupy the
same house as yourself, and appear be-
| fore tho world in my proper position as
your husband.
JOHN GLENDURwOOD."
When Dover was reached q telegram
was brought to Jean.
| For Lady John Glendurwood," the
waiter said, inquiringly. rs that right,
madamew
| "Quite right"
| Jean hesitated only moment, and tore
it open. She gave little sound of sor-
row rs she read. It was from Marshall
poor, faithful MarshaIl-and ran thus ::
| "Mrs. Fraser died this morning. Her
last wish was that you should not travel
here, but that she should be carried home
and buried in England. I, therefore, beg
your ladyship to obey this wish. have
telegraphed for my poor mistress lawyers.
| SUSAN MARSHALL"
| Poor little Audrey! Robbed already of
the mother she had longed for so much,
loved 20 dearly, and possessed 20 short q
whilel
| CHAPTER XVI.
There was nothing to do. Audrey fell
into . sickness that threatened serious
consequences. Jean sent at once for Lord