Washington State journal. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1907-1911, 1907-11-06

II
dufweod. from entering his wife.s sick
room. He had crept In for q few As-
nents the night he arrived-no argument
| or threat could keep him out; and - hs
had bent over the girls silent form. call
ing to her In his agony to speak to him.
she had opened her eyes, and at sight Of
him she had given one little scream, and
then had relapsed into unconsciousness.
in which condition she had remained for
three days and nights. When reason re-
| turned Audrey was better, and Jean
sought out Jack and told the good news.
"And may see her-when?" he asked,
eagerly. when may see her? My darl.
ing! My darling"
THE doctor will tell you. Perhaps to-
night ~
AS Jean sat by Audrey's bedside that
evening, resting back YEARLY in the chair,
now that all extreme anxiety was gone,
small. sweet voice came from the pill
| low. and she was alert at once.
jean" she said. after a little panse.
"is-Ja--is my husband here"
Yes. darling; he has been here nearly
all the time. Do yon want to see hi,n?"
mo, no, no! will not see him. Jean.
If you love me, send him away! shall
go mad If he is here! Promise! Prom
Use! You must you shall"
ut shall be as you wish, my dearest"
Jean said, softly. you can trust me?"
-trust-you-always." she muir.
| INJURED. and In a few seconds she was
asleep.
Constance fraser had been brought
over to England and laid beside her moth.
er in an old-fashioned country church
yard. 1t had been simple funeral
enough, though flowers had come from
far and near. High and low, rich and
poor, one and all, had sorrowful thought
for the sweet, gentle woman. who had
merited better sojourn on earth.
Sheila was left to herself and her not
very agreeable reflections. The masked
ball had cost her an enormous sum. Lady
Daleswater had never offered to take her
away with her: she had absolutely no no.
ton Of what had happened to Jack and
Audrey. Beverley Rochfort never made
the least sign, and to crown all, Murray,
the whilom maid at Craiglands. and her
much too clever accomplice. took matters
into her own hands and bolted one night
with all the available jewelry and lace she
could lay her hands upon.
Enraged beyond all expression at the
loss of her property, Sheila ut once put
the matter into the hands Of the. police,
and, in fact, was far more interested in
this affair than she was at the death Of
her stepmother.
But a more disagreeable condition Of
things than this awaited Sheila when
the report of Audrey's disappearance
spread to Mountberry. She was fairly
frightened; ignorant Of what might really
happen, she conjured up all sorts Of evil
that would be visited upon her when the
whole truth was given to the world. a.
it most probably would be. She eagerly
searched for Rochfort, to force him to
exonerate her from blame in the mischief
they had brought about, but like coward
he was hiding from its consequences.
Then one day she had a frantic visit
from Alice Fairfax, who was in great and
terrible fear lest something would hap
pen to her. She had seen Willie Fuller.
ton. who had boldly stated that 1t was
Lord Johns intention to sift out the
whole gossip that had been spread about
his wife, and clear away much that he
could not understand.
"And II 20, We shall be ruined. Shells"
sobbed Alice Fairfax: "but, anyhow.
shall tell the truth, and say you asked
me to do"
"Yeu dare to turn on me" Sheila
flashed, furiously. white with anger, and
then she would have proceeded to fur
Their ebullitions Of wrath had not the
door Of her room been opened at this
moment and Mr.. Fullerton announced by
the waiter. A glance at the two flushed
faces would have satisfied Willie as to
their guilt, II he had not, at that mo-
ment. reposing In his pocket, 4 complete
confession signed BY Murray, whom Daw-
son, the detective, had easily found-this
had been done at Jeans suggestion and
who, discovering that her chance of .
brilliant career on Sheila's jewels was
briefly cut short, eased her conscience AID
her spite BY disclosing the whole plot.
Willie's interview with Sheila was
short and to the point; and when he left
the room he carried with him her sigma
ture and 4 few words at the bottom Of
Muray's confession tsstifyin. that all
the maid had written was true.
(Ts b continusd.)