The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-06-08
ear, and a hand was placed on her shout

der.
Lady John-I know it is you by your
domino-what are you doing all alonei
Isn't it fun? Aren't you enjoying your
self? / never was at anything so lovely
in all my life Don't you know me!
am Alice Fairfax. 1t is such fun being
disguised like this. But you must not
sit here all alone. Lord John is enjoy
ing himself immensely. l met him walk
ing in the garden with Sheila just now.
You see, l know all the dominoes. and
can pick people out quite easily
'You-you are sure my husband Is
here, Miss Fairfax"
YES. He has been dancing with
Sheila. They are out in the garden. DO
you want him? Shall so and find him;
or why not come with me, / know just
where they are"
Audrey's simple. loving heart was
ablaze with jealousy. So he had come,
and had gone to Sheila first without look
ing for her? What If those cruel tongues
had spoken true, that already he was
repenting his bargain, and turning again
to Sheila, the girl he had always loved.
II think I will go with you. Miss Fair
fax" she said, hurriedly. She would see
for herself.
"Come this way. them" Alice Fairfax
went out through the window. Lift up
your skirts, Lady John; am afraid the
paths are not too dry"
"They went down here" Alice Fair
fax said, as they passed onward to
more remote corner; ''but l don't see
I Thought
we should have been sure of catching
them up. All, there is Mr.. Devereux, l
will ask him if he has seen them. You
go straight on, Lady John, I will over
take you"
The girl darted away as she spoke,
and Audrey wandered on alone, obeyins
her mechanically.
when l find Jack he shall take me
home" she said to herself, very slowly.
She longed to be gone, to be away from
this horrible ball, with it's laughter and
fierce gayety, and venomous tongues, hid
den behind every mask. Deep in her agi-
tated thoughts, Audrey had hurried on
unconsciously. She left the ball room
behind her. She had followed along the
path in which Miss Fairfax had set
her first. She scarcely realized that she
was alone, she had no desire for the
girls companionship. All at once she came
to a standstill.
What forms were those just before her,
half hidden by a rustic garden house!
Her eyes were blinded for an instant,
then she saw quite clearly. That was
Sheila Fraser's face; she had taken of
her mask, and the far-away lights shone
on it, and touched the red gold of her
hair with shimmering glory; and that
tall, strong figure in the gray domino !!
All, did she not know that only too well?"
With sickening pain Audrey noted the
attitude of those two; how Sheila's white
hands were clinging to the mans strong
ones; and then, as though to confirm the
truth, to allow of no remaining doubt,
Audrey saw the girls head, with it's
wealth of ruddy gold hair, rest against
the mans breast. She caught the MUIR
muir of a mans voice, and then the an
swer that Sheila gave. clear and shrill as
bell, ."Oh, Jack! Jack my darling !"
and then, with a cry of despair, she turn
ed and sped away-on, on, unheeding
unconscious, till suddenly her strength
went and she stumbled against something
or some one, and she knew no more.
Ito be continued.)