Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1907-08-14
THE CHARITY GIRL
BY EFFIE A. ROWLANDS
~N~N~N~0~@~
BY EFFIE A. ROWLANDS

dreams, had she conjured up 80 many
lovely things as were massed together in
Sheila Fraser's apartments, with their
silken hangings, their dainty furniture,
costly ornaments, and the hundred and
one appointments which finished every
corner.
"It Is like fairyland," Audrey said
over and over again In her hew ilderment.
She hardly liked to tread on the Per-
sim rugs and furs thrown on the floor,
and she held her breath as she stood be-
side the ivory toilet table, and gazed at
the brushes and array of bottles and 9TH
er knickknacks in old Dutch silver.
IF Jean could but see themw was
her thought.
She was quite dazed with all the love-
illness about her, and gave little cries of
surprise and delight as BRIGHAM lighted
the pink-glebed lamps and stirred the fire
into q blaze.
She felt It must be somc delicious,
heaven-sent dream, and that presently
she should wake and find herself In her
cold, hard bed at the home. the bell
Changing the time to rise.
NSASAn oEtiVdi ulbpclIcO tDlS IeellUS,
and, as the young lady entered, she seem
ed to bring a rush of cold air with her
that destroyed the illusion Of fairyland.
my bath at once !" she ordered, sharp
ly; and then, looking across at Audrey,
she added: "You must remember to have
1t always ready for me when have been
out hunting, Maxse. Birchain, you have
told her everything~
Yes, miss, everything"
Let her remain here aud watch you
tonight"
Audrey stood In a dusky corner with
her hands folded, as Miss Fraser, having
plunged into her bath and thus refreshed
and invigorated herself, sat before the
long, ivory-mounted duchesse mirror, and
put herself into Bircham's hands to have
her hair dressed.
Audrey thought she had never seen
anything 20 beautiful as Sh4ila Fraser's
hair; every thread seemed Of FURNISHED
gold as the brush went through It, and
the lamp light shone on It, ard when by
and BY her young mistress stood adorned
for dinner in black crepe gown, with
diamonds Ilittering In her wavy tresses
and around her white throat the girl
was quite dazed.
1t had been such long, wonderful day,
full Of such agitation and 30 many new
experiences.
CHAPTER ~.
Audrey woke with a start the next
morning, and her first thought was how
angry Miss Irons would be that she was
late. The faint, golden rays of the Feb
ruary sun were streaming in through the
sides Of the blind; the bell was not ring
ing. She looked about her In . dazed.
mechanical fashion, sitting r> N bed,
with her mass of black hair tossed loosely
on her shoulders.
Where was she? Surely that was not
Jeans bed In the other .orner7 Jean
never snored like that. She rubbed her
eyes, shivered little with the cold, and
then was wide awake. She was not in
her old bedroom, but In her new, and
that sleeping form across In the other
corner was not Jeans small, thin one,
but the large-boned, heavy frame of
Bircham, her fellow-servant.
She shut the door quietly and went
down stairs, and brushed away briskly
at the riding habit and other garments
for a good half hour; then, with . shy
laugh, she determined to 90 on to the
servants quarters and reconnoiter.
II must meet the others sooner Or
later" she thought.
A rosy checked housema;d was busy
with her broom and stopped to courtesy
as she saw what she took 70 he a guest
inc hn
there were always two or thres strangers
at Dinglewood. Audrey was gazing out
Of her lovely dark blue eyes with deer
pleasure and interest at the fresh won.
ders that met her gaze at every turn
her young. buoyant, nervously excitable
heart thrilled as with delight at the carv.
ed oaken panels, the full-;enytb costume
portraits, the figures In armor that stood
in their inches, as though guarding the
old house as their dead and gone wearers
did in the days Of yore. The bousemaid',
respectful courtesy first provoked a smile
and then a little sigh.
II want to find the kitchen; am |
going wrong?" she said, and then she put
out her hand. II am the new maid, Au
drey Maxse! Shall we be friends7 What
- your manner II It - IKE your f0cs
it is sure to be nice"
The housemaid stared at her IN amaze
ment; but when she saw that AUDREY
still held out her hand, she put her owl
rough palm into 1t, while she grinnet
good naturedly.
II baint bad frens with no one,
baint, and likes you! Why, I took 70,
for q lady. There! My names Lisa
What's yourn, did you say7"
Audrey explained all that was neces
sary, and then Eliza showed her the way
to the housekeeper's room, the servants
hall and the kitchen.
"You come down tho wrong stairs,
she said. "Them's the ones you mus
use," pointing to her right. Heres tn,
kitching. Ny! Don't the hrekkus smell
nice? Amt You 'ungry? You must cal
lot, and then you'll get red cheeks
Here's Mr.. Downs!" and Eliza broke OF
to giggle, as q young man-a very goot
imitation Of q gentleman-sauntered II
through the open doorway that led t.
the courtyard. thence to the stables ant
the kitchen garden beyond. "He's Lore
JOhn'a vallev" abe whisnered In . Io,f