The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-04-20
Nv EFFEE A. ROWLANDS


| toward her. 1t was John Glendurwood.
He touched Sheila's arm; he had soon
fathomed her and her Intentions. 1t
gave him pleasure to tease her, especial
| ly since he discovered that her money
would never be shared by him.
"Glendurwood has good taste, he said,
CURLY, with a disagreeable smile.
Il always knew that girl was no good !"
she exclaimed angrily. What business
has she to talk to-my-our guests in
this way? 1t is disgraceful!"
"You should blame the guests, not
her. Glendurwood sought her deliberate
| ly; that 1 can vouch for myself. She
is very beautiful ~
Il do not care to discuss the appear
ance of my servants, Mr.. Rochfort," was
SEeila's spiteful remark.
mo, nor any other person, servant or
no servant, when they have face like
this girl" thought Beverley 10 himself.
Jack was only asking after Mrs. Fra
ser, but he made no haste to join the
others when he had received an answer.
Instead, he turned and walked beside the
girl as she moved onward.
"Have you nothing to say, Audrey"
he asked, after a long pau,e.
She looked at him in shy, startled
yet inexpressibly sweet way.
Il don't know, my lord" she said,
timidly.
They were going away from the beaten
| track into a lonely and wider bit of the
grounds. Jack felt that every scrap of
moral courage and worldly wisdom in
which he had been trying to Unfold him
self ever since that night in the avenue
was fast vanishing. He had not allow.
ed himself to dwell much on Audrey's
beauty and unfathomable coarms, and
yet, despite himself, he had done nothing
else but think Of her, and now, at this
first opportunity Of being alone with her,
he forgot the wide difference that lay be-
tween them; forgot all but that he loved
her. She was so young, SO fresh, so
innocent; her beauty of mind was no less
than her loneliness Of face ard form.
Audrey" he said. He put ont both
his hands and held them toward her, the
muff dropped to the ground and her small
fingers nestle into his. Audrey" How
sweet her eyes were, how brilliant He
shook off the intoxication that was steal
ing over him. my darling, my little
child ~ he said, huskily.
She drew nearer to him aud gave q lit
tie glad cry.
"Ah! You love me-" she whispered,
you !"
"Yes, 1, my dearest, dearest onel Did
you not know it before, Audrey?"
Il knew you were my friend," she fall
tered-for something in his eyes, bent on
her, made her heart beat and the blood
mount to her cheeks.
Friend and lover, aye, little one, your
lover till I die. Are you frightened,
AudreyT'
She smiled timidly, and her head
dropped 80 that he had to catch her
whisper.
"Not frightened, only happy
With an exclamation OF joy he drew
her to him, folded his a:ms about her
and sought her lips.
He kissed her long and silently, hold
| ing her small form close to his heart
then he lifted his head and smiled down
at her.
audrey, do you love mer
She looked at him out Of her blue eyes.
There seemed to be heaven itself mir
rored In their depths, but she made no
answer. Her. speech was gone, she was
like one bewildered, yet 30 very, very
| happy. No words could come, only az
he repeated his question she c.ung to him
with a passionate gesture and buried her
face on his rough coat. A clock Ginning
five reused them.
II must go!" Audrey cried in surprise
| and dismay.
Jack laughed at her eagerness.
"Never mind, we shall soon alter that.
young lady, when you belong to me al
together. What, you will go? Well,
then, you must give me another kiss
another! Oh, darling, darling! How
have I lived without you 40 long? I
shall come early tomorrow, my sweet
one, and we will confess all to Mrs. Fra
ser, who will give us her help, know.
Heaven bless you, my dearest! Bless
! and guard you J"
Audrey smiled through tine tears that
would come, and then, turning, ran fleet
ly away.
Jack Glendurwood stood gazing tender
L. after her, all ignorant thnt a stealthv
figure in the background was creeping
after him as he walked through the
bushes. A smile was lowering on his Inns
when suddenly above his head swung a
heavy, loaded stick, and az ii came down
crash on his skull Jack gave a sobbing
cry and fell insensible 70 The earth.
Il said I'd be even with you, INV
lord. and I've kept my wortl," muttered
Henry Downs to himself; then, with
many backward glances, he riaed the coat
pockets of all they contained, sbuddered
| as he saw the blood trickling down the
white, still face, and dived In among the
bushes and left his victim to hi. fate.
Mountberry rang with gossip the fol-
lowing day. Lord John Giendurwood
had been found in the Dinglewood
grounds, robbed and half murdered, and
Audrey Maxse-a charity girl, who had
come to Dinglewood House as maid to
Miss Fraser-had turned out to be
lady born, and none other than the daugh-
| ter Of Mrs. Fraser by . previous mar
riage.
| This extraordinary piece Of news SEEM
ed to give good Mrs. Thongate unlimited
satisfaction, and she poured ont the whole