The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-09-26
CHAPTER XXvI.


Glendurwosd and Fullerton, and he came
in hot haste from vain search for Bev.
erley Rochfort. There was nothing to BE-
done but wait Audrey had fallen into
stupor. Her dear mother was buried
without the presence of her beloved child
For three days and nights Jean sal
beside Audrey's bed, watching and dread,
ing for the moment when that fair, frail
face should grow even whittier, the faint
low breathing even fainter. Three long
weary days these were; but il she found
them terrible, how much more so did the
one who had nothing TO do put to pace to
and fro in the wet. leafess garden, his
hungry eyes fixed always on the low,
square window which hid his darling from
his view? The doctors forbade Jack Glen.
durwood from entering his wife's sick
room. lie had crept in for few mo-
ments the night he arrived-no argument
or threat could keep him out; and as he
had bent over the girls silent form, call
ing to her in his ssony to speak to him,
she had opened her eyes. and at sight OF
him she had given one little scream, and
then had reIapsed into Inconsistencies
in which condition she had remained for
three days and nights. When reason re.
turned Audrey was better, and Jear
sought out Jack and told the good news.
And may l see hcr-vhen" he asked,
eagerly. When may see her? My darl
ing. My darling
THE doctor will tell you. Perhaps to-
night"
As Jean sat by Audrey's bedside that
evening, resting back wearily in the chair,
now that all extreme anxiety was gone,
a small. sweet voice came from the pill.
low. and she was alert at once.
jean" she s7id, after a little pause
"is-Ja--is NY husband here?'
'Yes. darling ho has been here nearly
all the time. DO you want to see him ?"
"No 10, no. / will not see him, Jean.
If you love M. send him away! shall
90 mad if he is here. Promise, Prom.
ise! You must: you shall!
ut shall be as you wish. my dearest"
Jean said. softly. You can trust me?"
"YeS-trUst-you-al she mur
INJURED, and in a few seconds she was
as!eop.
CDrs'rn"c Fraser had been brought
over to Enclend and laid beside her moth.
er in an old-;oslio1Pd country church.
ward. | hal been simple funeral
enough. though flowers had come from
far and nrrr. High and low. rich and
Hoor, ono and all. had sorrowful thought
foc tn sweet. gentle woman, who had
:ncT,ted J better sojourn on earth
EheiIa was left to herself and her not
very agreeable reflections. The masked
ball had cost her an enormous sum. Lady
DaIcSwGtpr had never offered to take her
away with her: she had absolutely no no.
tion CT whGt had happened to Jack and
Audrey. Beverley Rochfort never made
The least s.En. and to crown all, Murray,
the whilom maid at Craiglands, and her
much TOO c!evrr accomplice, took matters
into hnr own hands and bolted one night
with eli tAe Available jevelry and lace she
could Icy h'" hands upon.
I,2rnr21 beyond al expression at the
loss OF hor property. Sh"ila at once put
the lllt:Gr into the hands of the police,
I'D, in f'cs. was far more interested in
tits NI&!y than she was at the death Of
hrr rto~~:othpr
Iu, more dioagreeable condition Of
things than this awaited Sheila when
Tie report Of Audrey's disappearance
spread q Mountberry. She was fairly
frightened: ignorant of what might really
happen. she conjured up all sorts Of evil
that would be visited upon her when the
whole truth wGs given to the world, as
it mos. probably would be. She eagerly
searched for Rochfort, to force him to
exoneratc her from blame in the mischief
they had brought about. but like a coward
he was hiding from it's consequences.
Then ore day she had frantic visit
from Alice Fairfax, who was in great and
terrible fear lest something would hap
va! - h-r %rn h"I soon Willie Fuller
rob. who hA to.Giy stated that it was
Lord Johns intention to sift out the
whole gossip that had been spread about
his wife. and clear away much that he
could not understand.
Ard il so, we shall be ruined, Sheila,"
so5bed Alice Fairfax; but, anyhow, I
shall toll the truth, and say you asked
me to do"
"Yor dare to turn on me!' Sheila
I1SEcN. llF!DuSly. NDilc with ahSci, uhV
then she would have proceeded to fur
ther chuilit,Dns of wrath had not the
door of her room been opened at this
momcrt and Mr.. Fullerton announced by
the waiter. 4 glance at the two flushed
faces void have satisfied Willie as to
their ru'It. { he had not. at that mo-
,ae,!t. ~ ~ 10 his pocket complete
confession SGD by Murray. whom Daw-
IN. st2 .latcrtiye, had easily found-this
had becn doro at Jeans suggestion-and
who discovering that her chance Of .
hriIlis@t career on Sheila's jewels was
briefly ,cut short, cased her conscience and
her spite by disclosing the whole plot.
Wilie's interview with Sheila was
short AMI . the point; and when he left
TIE reon he carried with him her sigma
turc sni few words at the bottom OF
Mrrray's confession tcstifying that all
tho maid had .-rittnn was true.