Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-09-13

| belonging to the woman supposed to ee
! your mother were deposited in the care
Of the matron, Miss Irons. / examined
these few poor things-an old satchel,
Bible, bundle of old letters; and in
the satchel, hidden away in the lining,
we discovered the certificate Of your birth,
together with the last letter Roderick
must have written to the woman before
she died. Oh, my darling my darling I"
she cried, holding Audrey pressed close
to her. How can l ever describe the
exquisite joy that came to me when
knew what heaven had sent me?
seemed to live again-to grow, as l once
was, strong and full of courage. Kiss
me, my child, my baby Kiss me. and
let me hear you say you have forgiven
me for my cruel desertion of you ~
Forgiven you Oh, my poor, dear,
sweet, new mother, don't say such
thing When remember how you must
have suffered, how cruel that wicked
man has been to hide me from you all
these years, feel almost mad"
That eventful night ended in more ex-
citement, 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
eDed conference between Audrey and her
mother, and blurted out the news with
out any warning bet her eyes glistened
gladly as she saw the color leave Audrey's
face and lips, and heard the moan that
INA
Constance Fraser turned pale, too, but
the sight of her child's face gave 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 tenderly on Au-
drey's shoulders. 1T seems to me in
credible that Jack should have been at
tackled like this Surely such . man can
have no enemies"
He has ben robbed of all the jewelry
and money he had onthat will be a clew,"
Sheila said apparently with indifference,
but watching Audrey keenly as she spoke.
All 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, 1t would separate him
from Audrey, and that was a great deal.
She noticed with the keenest pleasure
the anguish that had dawned on the
young girls face. She must not let her
step-mother notice her hatred of the girl
that had stepped in between her and her
happiness.
But l am forgetting" she said, in
frank, pleasant manner. II have to offer
all sorts of congratulations to you, man.
ma. Why, it is like a fairy story. And
so this pretty little girl is to be my
sister," She had come up to the slender
drawn-up figure. I'VE must be good
friends, you and l, Audrey" she said,
gliblly. Let US seal that bargain with
kiss"
Constance Fraser's delicate face flush
ed. This was not what she had expected;
her generous, noble heart was deeply
touched and she trembIed visibly.
Thank you, dear Sheiia," was all she
said; but she gave the girl look of
unutterable gratitude. You have al
ways been kind to me. IL should |
like to think you and my Audrey were
friends"
sheila stood silent for moment, then, |
laughing softly, she pressed her lips to |
Audrey's cheek.
There 1t is done |" she said. sand |
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
well all that her child was suffering. As
the door closed on Shei1a, and they were
alone once more, she wrapped her arms
round the slight figure.
my darling !" she said, In tones Of the
deepest tenderness.
Audrey gave a little cry, and turning,
chung to her new-found comforter and
protector.
"Oh, mother, mother I" she whispered,
brokenly; "and IL love him sol What
shall I do If he dies?''
Then, with those loving arms stiN
about her, she wept out the story Of her
simple love. It was an old and a new
story; and though her heart was torn
with anguish at this calamity that had
befallen her beloved, the girls sorrow was
inexpressibly soOthed by the remem-
brance that the heart she leaned on now
beat only for her, and would be hers
hencefoFth and to the end.
fT0 Ia Continued