The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1907-07-20
CHAPTER XVII.

shS AttiC 1OLtu6S a WCdly WYNN dAeCA ehos
evening when jean had crept down and
as gently as possible had told him of
Audrey's strange aversion to seeing him.
ut is only a whim," Jean said, hur-
riediy; I'VE must humor her"
That same night it was, when they
were sitting alone in the tiny dining
room, that Jack suddenly poured out the
whole miserable story into Jeans ears !;
the story of that ball; of how he had
been hoaxed into driving over to see Mr..
Benson, who had never sent for him of
all the horrible things he had heard about
Audrey; and, lastly, of how he had come
upon her in the summer house, with Bev-
erley Rochfort at her feet kissing her
hands.
Put yourself in my place, and Judge
as / judged. Do not view things as they
are now, or you will be harder upon me
his weary, aching brow on his hand.
Il will not be hard upon you at all.
Lord john" Jean said, very gently "for
think l should have been misled as you
were by such apparently strong circum-
stantial evidence. l am glad you have
spoken out to me. and 1 only wish Au-
drey had done the same, for then we
might have arrived at the truth"
what is it you meanW Jack asked,
looking up at her, eagerly.
81 mean that / now am convinced that
Willie is right, and that there was some
plot connived against you both at that
ball. l have no definite proof, only a
woman's intuition to work upon, but that
shall be enough. This must be sifted,
Lord John, sifted to the very dregs. l
love you BOTH" she continued, tears dim
ming her eyes. you have been more
than good to me, and now that Audrey s
mother is gone feel must be friend,
sister and mother in one. You will see
that am right, and that you and my
dear one were both the victims of some
conspiracy. On the face Of it the whole
affair Ia absurd. Don't you love each
other better than all the world? shall
write to Willie and tell him all my
doubts"
And the result of that letter was to
put Willie Fullerton on the track Of
Murray, whom Jean seemed convinced
could throw some light on the subject.
A week had gone, and Audrey was
day of convalescence, and Jean was sit
ting with her, reading. Downstairs Jack
was trying to comfort himself, when sud
denly a familiar voice accosted him, and
he found himself shaking hands with
Marshall. Marshall, grown older, and
looking very wan in her simple black for
her beloved mistress 1t somehow com
forted Jack to see her; she seemed to
bring back little of the sweet influence
that had surrounded Constance Fraser.
She had come direct from seeing Mr.
Fullerton, who had briefly told her all
and she now asked to see Audrey at once
Let me nurse her, my lord" she en-
treated; ''her, my dear's own child. Will
you go up and tell her I'm here, my lord
Perhaps I'd best not go straight without
saying"
Jacks face flushed; he hesitated then
he rose and went out of the room. He
could not bring himself to tell Marshall
he was forbidden his wife's presence.
He went steadily upstairs and stood
outside the door. The handle was turn
ed, and from within came the sound of q
faint, low voice. He meant to have call
ed Jean, but the sound Of that voics
stopped him.
1t was Audrey speaking. His hear
beat violently, then turned as cold a,
iron in his breast. She was speaking o.
him, but how bitterly! Each word seem
ed to go through him like knife! Jear
had been pleading his cause, but he onl!
heard Audrey's answer.
81 refuse to see him, Jean; I refuse 1,
Ii
yes; / know you think me a foolisl
child, fretful invalid; but I am NOR
than this. / may not be very old Ii
years, but have suffered as much a
any woman of fifty. Do you forget al
he wrote in that awful letter? Oh, Jean
Jean! You don't know how his word
have struck home! He says / hav
wronged him-l, who-who--who-
Her voice grew choked for a moment
but she soon mastered her emotion. "No
Jean; there can be no friendship or kind
ly feeling between US. As he has judge,
me. 80 let me live; my pride and m
honor will support me without him.
II trust shall never see him again;
shall be happier when know he Is ia
away. He said he was going on a tou
Oh the WOTiu. why uocS ne not start
Why does he add to his former cruelt
by staying here"
audrey, you are unjust. you are un
like yourself; you judge your HUSBAND
most cruelty. If you could only knoy
how he has suffered"
Audrey broke In with a hard, bite
laugh.
II see he has won your heart, Jean
Well, we will say no more, except that
am firm. and that II Lord John has an
pride left he will not force himself upo
me, but 60 at once"
But Jack heard no more he did no
know that the hard, contemptuous ton
suddenly broke with little gasping sob
be did not see the thin, small hands cove
the white, lovely face; he did not kno,
that Jean had slipped from her chat
and was holding Audrey's weeping forr
elasped in her arms. No, he knew non
Of this, for he had gone straight dowr
stairs. he had picked up his hat and u
ster, and opening the door, be had wall
ed out into the wind and rain, lookin
neither to the right nor the left, turnin
bis back deliberately on all that he bel
dearest in life.
Before the dawn was broken will