The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-09-12

ssDsut As tsYls her all bis sxvubies.
Sheila 10 % fond of him. They ought
! to have been man AID wife, and would
have been, too but for that pasty-faced,
upstart creature"
Audrey's limbs seemed frozen, her heart
lump of ice. What was this she had
heard? What horrible nightmare haS
come over her! So this was what was
said!
"Sheila and jack" Again and again
the phrase rang in her ears. "Sheih and
Jack !" They had always loved; they
loved now: and she-she, Audrey, the
low-born, low-bred charity girl-she stood
between them.
A moan broke from her burning lips;
she held one hand pressed close over the
other SO tightly as almost to tear the
gloves she wore. Her brain was on fire;
her head reeled.
She sat so quiet she might have been
figure of marble. not human flesh and
blood. Not even in that one moment Of
actual peril on board the Mona had she
felt as she did now. She was stranded
before she had sailed beyond the sun.
tipped waves of youth and youths sweet
dreamings. Suddenly she awoke with q
start. A voice was calling shrilly in her
ear, and hand was placed on her shoul.
der.
Lady John-I know it Is you by your
domino-what are you doing all alonel
Isn't it fun? Aren't you enjoying your.
self? l 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 new.
You see, / 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 20 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 Sbeila first without look
ing for her? What II those cruel tongues
had spoken true, that already he was
repcnting his bGr-siy. and turning again
to Sheils the girl he had always loved.
Il think | will go with you, Miss Fair.
fax" sac said, hurricd!y. She would see
for herself.
Come this way. then Alice Fairfax
went out through the window. Lift up
your skirts. Lady John; l am afraid the
paths are not too dry"
They went down here Alice Fair
fax said. rs they passed onward to a
more remote corner; 'but | don't see
them now. What a nuisance! l thought
we should have been sure of catching
them uD. Al. there is Mr.. Devereux, I
will ask him if he has seen them. You
go straight on, Lady John, l will over
take YOU"
The girl d2rtcd away as she spoke,
and Audrey wandered on, alone, obeyins
her mechanically.
when | 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 gaycty. 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 conpanionship. All At once she came
to standstil.
What forms were those just before her,
half hidden by n rustic garden house?
Her eyes were blinded for an instant,
49, s." ssw quite clearly. That was
her mask, and the far-away lights shone
on it, and touched the red gold Of her
hair with a shimmering glory; and that
tall, strong figure in the gray domino!
All. did she not know that only too well?'
With sckering pain Audrey noted the
attitude Of those two; hsw 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 its
wealth OF ruddy gold hair. rest against
the mans breast She caught the MUIR
mur of mans voice, and then the an
gWcr that Ehci!a gave. clear and shrill az
a bolL 'Dh. Jack Jack! my darling"
ard then, with 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.
TO he continued)