The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-07-25
CHAPTER VII.

B1-euss tHe week lnhI lOlloWtN us W tnc
vury apparent change that had come over
Sark Glendurwood. He came to Dingle-
1.ood nearly every day, but in an almost
pa8nfeS manner he gave her to understand
efkat his visits were to Mrs. Fraser, and
not 60 herself. 49,.
S4a raeked her brain to find the real
rsascu. Was it jealousy of Beverley
Esesiort, with whom she certainly had
Gi~oed, though very mildly, since he had
c~slze on the scene; or was it caused by
cshe knowledge that, as day after day
went by, the poor Marquis of Iverne's
GpI&itfon grew worse, and he, John Glen
dGs~ood, would be to certainty in the
dsfF mans place and heir to ,he dukedom
@of0re many months had elapsed?
Zhe thought Of this approa hing event,
a. SSsed hardly be said. whetted Sheila's
aRSvzness and intense desire to become
EaCa Johns acknowledged fancee. S!M
aaEEht worry and think until she was
srsssd. hut she would never srcss the real
cUEsSn @f this change, never dream tina
Er uas her unwomanly cruelty and indif-
tkrszsCr 20 Audrey that had opened Jacks
syss &C her true character, an6 planted
tatE first seeds of contempt ia his breast
csBxoTd her.
HE had got the whole story from Mar
affa1i, who cleaned it from Audrey, and
csasziniy Miss Fraser's cocduct did not
sruzA well when her furious temper and
faex wirulent abuse of a poor. nervous,
Eaz&nrafIy shy creature was detailed in u
SzEaa. collected manner.
AIRS Fraser knew nothing about her
xn@E maid until Marshall, sreing her 50
msra better, Ventured to tell her, and was
EnsFrc than repaid for her kind action at
Sdts pleasure her mistress expressed In
hssvfng the girl about n-r.
Aa for Audrey herself, she seemed to
bss En one lonE, pleasant dream. Mrs.
Eraser's sweet, low voice and delicate
nasaSsty. her gently uttered thanks and
csar&fGevation for the comfort of those
aSssat her was new and delightful SEN
ssa6Rsu; Marshalls patience and ready
v2l. more than pleasant, and her life so
pTae~fni and happy thar she c.uId hardly
ssEk5ice IL was herself who lived II and not
MEsSt5er.
Mrs Fraser made no further remark
aESSIt Audrey's eyes, nor did she seem to
rxsrCgnfxes that vague, curious likeness
aa1sat had so startled her. She was still
Srsn1ined 60 her room. But she was not
dSsE !. sine had plenty of visit -s. Miss
ErSser came first thing in ti-- morning
ard ciatted in a desultory fashion with
Essr stepmother, and after her came Mrs.
Thsfngafe, who wss we.comed eagerly by
Eas 1nvaiid.
Audrey was never in the room when
CHE Tecfcr's wife called, our she always
nmasced now tenderiy Mrs Fraser spoke
siD ner when Mrs. Thorngate had gone
nnray again, and what a flushed, eager
EssJh there was on the waa face. At
6IEHE Audrey had been afraid to meet Miss
Ers4cr, bat beyond frown ard sharp
,yFance at the girl Sheila said nothing
ssse knew better than to object to any
arrangement her stepmother might make.
Gne afternoon, toward the end of the
wEsrs, Mrs Fraser sent the girl out for a
N3la-
You have sat long enough over that
sseUinss; brisk walk will do you good;
'1sa@S3es, expect my lawyer down from
LsnGsn oil---on important business"
Arc Jon happy with ale, my. cEild?"
,sale asked in low tones, a sob sounding
nm Yf IT, were behind her voice.
oh! $50 happyv' Audrey cried.
fsuse2ing beside her. ~ wrote and told
Lean now good you were 10 me, and
krard from her this morning She says
Ysu are"
KISS me-" murmured Constance Fras-
qSE. gazing up into the lovaiv girlish face
sYmsSt hungrily. certainly passionately.
Audrey laid her cool !irs on those of
cse older woman.
FL love you," she whisps.e ed, involun-
enxIly-
My dear! Ny dear."
Mrx- Fraser clung to he. :or NOM
unt, then with another kiss and ten
DIR smile waved her on.
~Tt must be true I feel IL here" she
snSd 60 herself, as she was alone, and
sgae pressed her hand to her heart. "Oh,
7araven! If this comes to me, how shall
II ghank Thee for Thy gooiness?"
AUDREY soon equipped herself She no
hunger wore the hideous black bonnet,
INIT a smaller one, with bright crimson
sshbon as relief to her dacS ;scks. Mrs.
Eraser had sest Marshall +eso the vii
kEye, and had bought he CIR, many gar
nenrs, which provoked wonder and in
.sHpse pleasure in Audrey's breast She
.snuid not bring herself to realize that
SAcy were all for her.
IL wns a bitterly cold day, but Audrey
did mot seem 20 feel it; she planted aer
Nands I'm her warm muff, and danced
aInng. singing gayly to herself from very
sxuberance of spirit. The world was
be9utifui, after all--so her simple, child
RuF, heart determined She v-,s 1uito
s4ch, for she had four good friends
ekere was her sweet mistress, and dear
Mrs Thorngate, and Marshall, and King
Arthur! She did not know which she
1isced best. She walked down orc of the
secluded paths, and shrank, so she
sAcught. out of sight as she saw party
4se people coming Up from the lake. where
skating was In high SWING. Sheila, in