The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-10-10
THE CHARITY GIRL |
BY EFFIE a. ROWLANDS
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CHAPTER xxx.
By EFFKE q. ROWLANDS


0and aud would have spoken, but Au-
drey swiftly loOsened her hold, gave her
one smile, and then was gone, leaving
only the fragrant scent Of her garments
and the divine elements of peace and
gratitude behind her.
Quickly as she walked, Audrey was
sonse time before she reached Craiglands.
She turned to the stables first, and gave
orders that her small brougham should
De prepared at once. Then she quietly
sntered the house aud went to her own
room. Eliza was there. arranging her
simple dinner toilet. Audrey told her
she was going out again at once.
Tell Miss Thwait not to be alarmed
u shall be home in en- hour" she said.
Her sight was blurred and misty as
she opened her jewel case and took out
a. packet of notes-bank notes forwarded
os her by Mr.. Sampson duly according to
Jaek's written orders, and never touched.
Andrew secured the notes in an envel-
ope. put them into her muff and, leaving
her room, went very quietly down the
way she had come, just as Jean, her
chss.Ss flushed as with some exceeding and
great joy, ran once more into Audrey 5
chamber to find her and bid her come
<f0wu an soon az possible.
Eliza repeated the message she had
been given and Jeans face fell, while
sGrrething of alarm came into her ex-
precision.
Can she know, and have gone away to
escape -" Her murmur was uufin-
txhed, for an she came out of the room
an eager hand caught hers and an almost
'cineked voice mutterei:
Well, does she know-my darling?"
Audrey has gone out again, Lord
Tverne. Her maid says she has this in
axant gone out. IL don't understand"
Jacks hand dropped from it's hold
II do" he said, with bitterness pass
fnx all words. ''She has heard of my sud
den arrival, and she has gone away to
svuid me. Will she never forgive me?'
~Oh, this is nonsense! You are nerv-
osrs" Jean was beginning, when Jack
broke in fiercely:
But she shall not go. She Is my wife,
bound to me by her own words and vow.
L have wronged her, but / have repent
ed heaven knows! She shall hear me
u will follow. She cannot have gone far
Forgive me, Miss Thwait, if am rude or
urakind, but my case is desperate. How
do We know she Is not running away
again? No; l must not stay here pratt
ing; l must follow her, and | will !"
He turned away, but looked back, implor-
tngiy. keep my mother in ignorance till
till you hear from me-"
Jean had no time to utter protest or
renark, for he was gone. Down the
sw..ex l. a.
rnce in his boyish days, Jack rushed.
his bronzed, handsome face pale with asi-
sstion, longing and apprehension, and
ss he caIae to the er.rScce he caught a
E3eam of carriage lamps disappearing in
the distance. r ~"
(which way did her ladyship go?" he
asked Martin, curtly. .,
II heard her say to the edge of the
Dinglewocd grounds, my lord, and then
90 wait for her there ..
Martin looked troubled he did not
know what to make of all that had hap
psned of late. ...-.
Jack pushed his hat over his eyes. and
without another word strobe out into the
Snow and darkness. His brain was reel.
ing he scarcely knew what thoughts fill.
ed his mind, save that beyond, in the dis.
'eznce, was Audrey, his lovely girl-wife,
whom for brief time he had doubted
but who now shone forth with even
stronger rays as jewel above price
And she would not see him She shun-
ned him She would not forgive.
The brougham rolled slowly on: the
1nan stole rapidly behind it. At last
they reached spot Mrs. TAorngate had
described to Audrey as Rochforts hidin2
place. Audrey stopped the carriage and
got out.
Jacks heart throbbed with love and
agitation as he caught glimpse of her
lovely face beneath the light of a lamp
She was speaking to the coachman, but
hs could not hear what she said. Then
she turned and walked into the grounds
Jack quickened his steps and followed
her; a sense of uneasiness came upon
aim. What was she doing here? She
reached path Mrs. Thorngate had spok
EN- of. Here she stopped. Jack stood
still also. He was about dozen yards
from her, but he had drawn into the
shade, and could not be seen.