Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-08-23
CHAPTER v.


What time do we startT' Sheila Fra
ser asked Lord John, as breakfast drew
to an end.
She was not alone with the young
man; an elderly lady, q poor relative
OF her mothers, was present. Had
Sheila been left to her own lnclinations,
this quiet, grim, and undoubtedly mid
dle-class Mrs. Watson would never have
been given a place in her home; but
Constance Fraser had spoken 80 direct
and to the point on this subject that
her stepdaughter had given in, aud offered
in as gracious a manner as she could the
post of housekeeper to this impoverished
connection.
do you seriously think Of going to-
dayr' he laughed, turning to the girl,
who looked very fresh and pretty in her
picturesQuely draped white serge gown.
''Why not3" demanded Sheila.
Remember the ball"
"0h, the ball ~ with an cry laugh.
my dear Lord John, could follow the
hounds for a week at a time, and then
dance through two balls"
"Sheila has excellent health" Mrs.
Watson remarked, monotonoIs!y.
Sheila rose abruptly. How slow their
friendship advanced. He was perfectly
aware that 1t was his mothers most earn
est desire to see Sheila Fraser his wife,
but he was equally well aware that he
had no such desire himself. He was in
no hurry to be married, and be certainly
would never marry for money.
| All this, however, he kept 20 himself,
and although he was so intimate with the
heiress of DinglewoOd, he had never by
word or deed given either She;la or any
one else reason to suppose that he held
any deper feeling for the girl than that
of an ordinary friend.
Later Sheila had some dinner in her
room, having ascertained that Mrs. Fra
ser would be we'll enough to accompany
her to the ball; and when the time came
she arrayed herself in her magnificent
diamonds, and even gave the charity
girl" a smile, as Audrey, overcome with
the brilliant spectacle, put her hands
together, and exclaimed aloud with de-
lighted admiration,
''Let Maxse sit up for me. Bircham, -
she ordered, and then she swept away
and Joined Mrs. Fraser's tall, elegant
figure in the hall below.
"My mistress ought not to have gone
out tonight It Is enough to kill her p
exclaimed Marshall in indignation. If
had my way. I'd have told Miss Fra
ser pretty plain what think of her,
dragging a poer, sick, suffering creature
out a cold night like this, and ell for her
selhshneSs! It's heartless, that's what
call It'll
Blrcham made no reply, although she
overheard this speech; but Audrey felt
her heart beating with sympathy, toe,
How fragile and Ill Mrs. Fraser looked
Surely Miss Fraser could not have known
how weak she was
Now, keep up the fire, and you may
50 to sleep, If you like" Bircham said
"See that Miss Sheila's slippers are
warm, and everything out that she wants
They'll ring the bell when they come
but I don't expect they'll be home till
quite morning."
Aurrey glanced at the clock and sighed
YEARLY she sat down timidly on one Of
, the richly covered chairs, and dictated tC
herself that she must not and should moi
| go to sleep. Needless to say, before hall
| an hour had gone, soothed by The warmth
the luxurious cushions at her back, anC
lulled by the silvery ticking of the clock
> she was fast asleep, dreaming of Jean
All at once she was awakened. a bel
E went pealing through the silent house
j She started from her coy nook and rub
! bed her eyes Nearly half past twelve