The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-07-11
CHAPTER Iv.-(Continued.)

Trying to force his way into the rank
of the upper ten. His money. hia po
litical views. and his power. l~ desrmn
ed by the fact of his being large en-
ployer OF labor, and. therefore, OF con
trolling large percentage OF votes
brought about an acquaintance. and ther
friendship, with Sir Edwin GascoiSne
an impecunious but most aristocratit
taronct. BY Sir Edwn's a:d. Mr Fra
ser was returned in the Conservative
cause, and his step planted cn the hrs'
rung of the ladder. He was decidedly
clever man, and although tco moan ans
niggardly to be altogether popular, he
was not long in finding sme friends
Among these, however, could rot be class
| ed Constance Gascois1e, S;v Edwards
second and only surviving daughter. Miss
Gascoisne was a very beautitu! girl. but
she had won the reputation of having a
bitter and unkind tongue. Every one
knew that Constance Gasco!sne did not
| share in her fathers infatuaion for Mr..
Fraser, and yet she electrified the whole
! social world by suddenly beoming his
wife. There was the nine days gossip.
and ttcn the Fraser marriage became
q thing Of the past. although there were
come of Constance's wOlen friends who
still discussed the subject.
There has been something mysterious
about the girl for the las, 'wo years."
cried Mrs. Fanfare. the biggest scandal
mongei. OF the time, and ! .or one at
ways thought that young Frank Anstru-
ther's sudden death hal great deal 10
do with it. Constance was :ps1ly in love
with him poor girl Well. sA- has done
very well in one snnSe. This Fraser man
Is rolling in mo2ey-p>sl.ieely rolling,
my dear"
In vague, yet uncertain. way Sheila
felt that it was only through her step
mothers popularity and unloub.ed social
position that she was racei7sd and wei
coined as the friend OF the county fami-
hes around the neighborhoo-i, and pos
sessed the entree of the ',est houses in
London when they stayed there for the
season: ard, bearing this IN mind, it
was only natural she should be very care
ful to keep on good terms with one who
was so very Indispensable to her. Deep
down in the girls shallow pIeterse OF a
heart there lurksd 4 ranking jealousy
for the delicate. aristonratic. still beau
tiful woman who had heon .er fathers
wife SAela had never qui.c understood |
Constance Fraser. and she WAS Just a lit |
tie biz afraid Of her; sh-a sncw how bit |
ter the sweet. refined voice could ring |
sometimes, and how conrem9tuouSly the |
pale lips could curve when occasion mer- |
tied ir. She felt vaguely ;hat Mrs. Fra |
ser knew her al her exact worth; and |
Tet the young stepmother had never, BY |
word or sign, been anything lut kind and |
lfreetionately considerate 10 the girl !
whose guardian she was.
Sheila turned away from the mirror
nth frown, and throwing herself on her |
ace-trimmed pillow, ssain icok up her
atters. The frown vanished rs she read |
ne warm and pressing invitations from
wo or three of the best houses around to |
lncheon, dinner, tea, and The ike.
Bah | am a fool." she said to her
elf, and she laughed shorty. Il was
My half awake just now. and what if |
MS girl is pretty. how does that affect
le? L am Miss Fraser, of Dinglewood.
nd heiress to a good hund,ad thousand
ounds. | don't think l need trouble
~ head about servant maids face"
he read through the rest OF her letters.
M then rang her bell sharply. WHY
oesn't the girl come back? | must get /
p or Jack will be OFF Lctore l have
ali dres~ad :"
The bell rang sharply in he corridor
utsIde, but Audrey neither understood
or needed It's purpose. Sha was veF
frightened and very full Of pity at that
arucular moment.
sac had CO." direct. as Miss Frasor
ad c'mmanGo.! her, to Mrs. Frasar's
DOM; she knew it. because Birchanl had
olhted 1t out to her tho evening before:
ne had knocked gently, and on receiving
n answer, she had gone tim!dly in. The |.
oom was large, airy and pretty; il was
ung with dainty chintz, and was. com
ared to Sheilas magnificent apartment,
imple beyond description vet Audrey
cit, in a sudden and indesc-ibable W.
Rat she liked it much bette: it was so
reSh and dainty looking, dirl there was
4enty OF room ID move about \ fire
vas burning brightly, and large bowl
+ daffodils and tulips made spot of
olor in the window. \ woman. IN
ihIte mob cap and large apron. was iust
'lacins tTay by the bedside. and Au-
rey' raising her eyes very n"ry oasly. saw
delicate, lovely face lying on the p,IIow
WHO is it, Marshall:" inquired Mrs
raser in low, but singnlarly sweet
oice.
IF you please, II am come from
liss Fraser"
audrey stammered out the MESSAGE 10
es!ly as she could. She was not oyoct.
frightened, and yet her heart was fut.
eFlns, for she felt rather than saw thqt
irs. Fraser's eyes were fixed upon her
iarshali was replying in brisk ye. re-
pecttul way when her mistress stonnct
'tr' She stretched out a fragile hand
'Alte as snow, toward the girl.
Who are you?" she asked in eager
urrled tones. "Where 60 YOU come
rom! Come nearer Come close, 7
rant TO see YOUR face /"