Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1907-08-24
CHAPTER Iv.-(Continued.)

OF the upper ten. his money, his pO-
litical views, and his power. as determin-
ed by the fact of his being large en-
ployer of labor, and, therefore, of con-
trolling large percentage Of votes,
brought about an acquaintance. and then
friendship, with Sir Edwin Gascoigne,
an impecunious but most aristocratic
taronet. BY Sir Edwin's a:d. Mr. Fra
ser vas returned In the Conservative
cause, and his step planted On the first
RING Of the ladder. He was . decidedly
clever man, and although too mean and
niggnrdly to be altogether popular, he
was not long in finding some friends.
Among these, however, could not be class
81 Constance Gascoigne, Sir Edwards
second and only surviving daughter. Miss
Gascoigne was very beautiful girl. but
she had won the reputation Of having a
bitter and unkind tongue. Every one
knew that Constance Gascoigne did not
share In her fathers infatuation for Mr.
Fraser, and yet she electrified the whole
social world by suddenly becoming his
wife. There was the nine days gossip,
and then the Fraser marriage became
thing of the past, although there were
some OF Constance's women friends who
still discussed the subject.
There has been something mysterious
about the girl for the last two years !"
cried Mrs. Fanfare, the biggest scandal
monger Of the time, r'and for one al
ways thought that young Frank Anstru-
Tiers sudden death had a great deal to
do with 1t. Constance was nadly In love
with him, poor girl Well, she has done
very well in one sense. This Fraser man
Is rolling in money-positively rolling,
my dear |"
In vague, yet uncertain, way Sheila
felt that it was only through her step
mothers popularity and undoubted social
position that she was received and well
coined as the friend of the county fami-
lies around the neighborhool, and pos
sessed the entree of the best houses in
London when they stayed there for the
season and, bearing this in mind, 1t
was only natural she should be very care
full to keep on good terms with one who
was so very indispensable to her. Deep
down in the girls shallow pretense of
heart there lurked q ranking jealousy
for the delicate, aristocratic, still beau
tiful woman who had been her fathers
wife. Shela had never quite understood
Constance Fraser, and she was just lit
tie bit afraid of her. she knew how BIT
ter the sweet, refined voice could ring
sometimes, and how contemptuously tho
pale lips could curve when occasion mer-
tied it. She felt vaguely that Mrs. Fra
ser knew her at her exact worth; and
yet the young stepmother had never, by
word or sign, been anything Lut kind and
aH <oI -. l.
whose guardian She was
Sheila turned away from the mirror
with frown, and throwing herself on her
lace-trimmed pillow, again took up her
letters. The frown vanished As she read
the warm and pressing invitations from
two or three of the best houses around to
luncheon, dinner, tea, and the like.
Bah +! am fool p she said to her
self, and she laughed shortly. II was
only half awake just now, and what if
this girl Is pretty, how does that affect
meY am Miss Fraser, Of Dinglewood,
and heiress to good hundred thousand
pounds. / don't think l need trouble
nay head about servant maids face |"
She read through the rest OF her letters.
and then rang her bell sharply. "Why
doesn't the girl come back? l must get
up, or Jack will be off before l have
half dressed !"
The bell rang sharply in the corridor
outside, but Audrey neither understood
nor needed its purpose. She was very
frightened, and very full of pity at that
particular moment.
She had gone direct, as Miss Fraser
had commanded her, to Mrs. Fraser's
room she knew it, because Brcham had
pointed 1t out to her the evening before
she had knocked gently, and on receiving
an answer, she had gone timidly in. The
room was large, airy and pretty; 1t was
hung with dainty chintz, and was, COM
pared to Sheilas magnificent apartment.
simple beyond description; vet Audrey
felt In a sudden and indescribable wav.
that she liked it much better; 1t was 40
fresh and dainty looking, and there was
plenty OF room to move about. A fire
was burning brightly, and a large bowl
of daffodils and tulips made spot of
color in the window. A woman, in a
white mob cap and large apron, was Just
placing a tray by the bedside. and Au-
drey, raising her eyes very nervously, saw
. delicate, lovely face lying on the pillow.
who is it, Marshall?" INQUIRED Mrs.
Fraser in 4 low, but singularly sweet
voice.
III you please. II am come from
Miss Fraser"
Audrey stammered out the message as
easily as she could. She was not exact
~ frightened, and yet her heart was fiut-
tering, for she felt rather than saw that
Mrs. Fraser's eyes were fixed upon her.
Marshall was replying in a brisk yet re-
spectful way when her mistress stopped
her. She stretched out a fragile hand. \
white ~ snow, toward the girl.
Who are you'll" she asked In eager,