Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-11-16
THE CHARITY GIRL 1
By EFFLE a. ROWLANDS


for Australia, and might be absent for
years, perhaps forever. SO after all,
Sheila had been partially successful, for
she had separated this man and wife.
Ut was deputed to Jean to tell Audrey
that her husband was gone, but she let
two days elapse before she preached the
subject of his name. The at Of weeping
had done good rather than harm.
IF only we had him here now, all
would be as right as ninepence," the
doctor had said to Jean on the morrow
following Jacks hurried departure.
But he is not here, and he will not
come, SO we must think Of what will be
best under the circumstances"
The young doctor had a look of warm
admiration for Jean. What courage, de-
termination and common sense she pos
sessed, and wthai how large a heart
Certainly Willie Fullerton was to be en-
wed
81 am afraid she will fret when she Is
told ALL" Jean added, thoughtfully; "still
it is best all should be known. l shall
keep nothing from her, either now or in
the future" and so, when at last she
spoke of Jacks departure, Jean very
gently but thoroughly put all the facts
before Audrey that Mr.. Fullerton had
managed to CLEAN about the masked ball
and its miserable results. She was shown
Murray's confession, signed and attested
by Sheia Fraser. She was given all the
information there was to give, and then
Jean very sensibly, and with more than
ordinary tact, went softly away, and left
her alone to fight the battle out by her
self.
When they met again there were tear
stains on the girls white face, but she
was wonderfully quiet.
Twill you send for Jacks mother,
please, Jean, and ask her to come home2
Now-now 1 am alone I should like her
advice. 1t Is only right and proper as
his wife l should consult his mother"
Ten days later news came to Mount
berry that Craiglands was preparing to
receive her grace of Marlborough, who
was returning with her son, Lord Iverne,
and her daughter-in-law, Lady John Glen
durwood. and, as may be supposed. the
village was greatly exercised in its mind
over this intelligence, having had its
curiosity whetted considerably by the
vague and unsatisfactory rumors that had
been circulated about the same said Lady
John.
Dinglewood House was shut up, and II
was understood vaguely that Miss Fraser
was visiting, though where no one exact
ly knew. II was generally voted annoy
ing that Sheila should have been absent
just now. She could have thrown light
on a good deal of what was perplexing,
and have, moreover, given the reftl &C
count of what had happened at the Dali /;
whether 1t was true that Lady John had
fiirted and behaved so abominably, or
whether DIR. and Mrs. Thorngate were
correct In saying that somebody had lmi-
tated her ladyship's domino, and cleverly
tricked the whole room Of guests into
imagining that 1t was Lady John who SO
thoroughly disgraced herself and her hus-
bands name. Then Sheila, too, could
have given the exact history as to what
had occurred between Lord John and his
wife, and what was the meaning of all
the extraordinary rumors that had beer
circulated.
But Sheila was not on hand to be
questioned. and. in default OF encourage
ment, il was really wonderful how SCOT
the excitement and curiosity began tC
die away and how readily everybody grew
to consider Audrey as having been mos
injured by the trick that had been Sc
wantonly played upon her. In fact, by
the time Christmas was due, Lady Johr
and her doings were a theme too old t
be mentioned anywhere, and the affairs
at Craiglands would have been passe,
over as almost indifferent and uninterest
ing, but that, just as the joybells wey'
proclaiming the birth of a new Christ
child, the Icy fingers of the death ange
were laid upon the heart of Duncan. Mar
; quis of Iverne, and he was taken from
| his bed of suffering to a reign of peac
J and rest.