Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-03-14
CHAPTER w.

Audrey woke with a start the next
morning and her first thought was how
angry Miss Irons would be that she was
late. The faint, golden rays of the Feb
ruary sun were streaming in through the
sides of the blind the bell was not ring
ing. She looked about her in a dazed,
mechanical fashion, sitting up bed,
with her mass of black HAIR tossed loosely
on her shoulders.
Where was she? Surely that was not
Jeans bed in the other 'otner? Jean
never snored like that. She rubbed her
eyes, shivered a little with the cold, and
then was wide awake. She was not in
her old bedroom, but in her new, and
that sleeping form across in the other
corner was not Jeans small, thin one,
but the large-boned, heavy frame of
Bircham, her fellow-servant.
She shut the door quietly and went
down stairs, and brushed away briskly
at the riding habit and other garments
for good half hour; then, with shy
laugh she determined to go on to the
servants quarters and reconnoiter.
II must meet the others sooner or
later" she thought.
with her broom and stopped to courtesy
as she saw what she took 70 be a guest
coming down the wide oaken staircase
there were always two or three strangers
at Dinglewood. Audrey was gazing out
of her lovely dark blue eyes with deep
pleasure and interest at the fresh won
ders that met her gaze at every turn !;
her young, buoyant nervously excitable
heart thrilled as with delight at the cary
ed oaken panels, the full-engtb costume
portraits, the figures in arm0r that stood
in their inches, as though guarding the
old house as their dead and gone wearers
did in the days of yore. Tn, tousemaid's
respectful courtesy first provoked smile
and then a little sigh.
II want to find the kitchen; am
going wrong?" she said, and then she put
out her hand. Il am the new maid, Au-
drey Maxse. Shall we be friends? What
is your name? If it is like your face
it is sure to be nice"
The housemaid stared at her in amaze
ment; but when she saw that Audrey
still held out her hand, she put her own
rough palm into it, while she grinned
good naturedly.
"I baint bad frens with no one,
baint, and l likes you. WHY, took you
for lady. There My names Lisa.
What's yourn, did you say?"
Audrey explained all that was neces-
sary, and then Eliza showed her the way
to the housekeeper's room, TIE servants
hall and the kitchen.
You come down the wrong stairs"
she said. "Them's the ones you must
use" pointing to her right. Here's the
kitching. My! Don't the hr.kkus smell
nice? Amt you 'ungry? You must eat
a lot, and then you'll get red cheeks.
Here's Mr.. Downs! :" and Eliza broke off
to giggle, as a young mana very good
imitation of a gentleman-sauntered in
through the open doorway that led to
the kitchen garden beyond. He's Lord
Johns valley" she whispered in loud
voice to Audrey "and such a swell ~
Mr.. Downs smiled with much superb
ority as he caught Eliza's Ingenious tone
of admiration. He was soon chatting and
joking with her. while Audrey, who felt
an indescribabe vexation and dislike aris-
ing within her at the mans presence,
went to the doorway and walked out
into the courtyard. 1t Has so clear
and fresh in the cold morning air that
she soon lost her vague dis comfort and
begsn to make friends with the half dozen
dogs of every sort and description, who
came from the stables to inquire into
the new arrival. voice from behind
broke her silence, and, turning, with