Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER XVIII.

1t was a week since they had carried
away all that remained of the once hand
some. merry young Lord Iverne and
buried him with pomp and solemnity in
the Marlborough vault. A telegram had
winged it's flight across the ocean to Mel
bourne, from whence Mr.. Sampson had
received a curt announcement of John
Glendurwood's safe arrival--a telegram
briefly giving the sad news of one broth
er's death to another, but no answer had
been vouchsafed and the lawyer could
not but entertain strong doubts as to
whether the new Marquis of Verne was
gone still further on his travels, and so
their message was unread.
Craiglands was very sad in those days.
The duchess seemed to break down alto
gether after her sons death. Yet, despite
all this, she was gentle and kind to Au-
drey beyond description; she could not
have given the girl more love if she had
been her own child. They were quiet
days, and peaceful, and Audrey found
many little duties to perform which help
ed to make the hours fly. She was very
pale and delicate, but she refused to al
low Jean to consider her an invalid and
was never weary of fitting about the
duchess, eager to do all and anything in
her power to alleviate the sorrow which
was expressing the mothers heart. The
only distraction was Willie Fullertons
weekly visits, when his breezy, happy
manner seemed to change the very atmOs-
phere.
Snow had fallen heavily and it lay on
the ground during the whole month of
January and onward. Despite this, how
ever, Audrey would persist in going out
as much as possible.
''Tr Iees me good" she said to Jean,
who was fearful of every cold wind that
| blew on her darling. II must go, Jean.
II feel sometimes as if l should go
mad in the housed"
| She had this restless feeling on her one
afternoon toward the middle of February.
| 81 shall walk into Mountberry. l want
| to see Mrs. Thorngate-do you mind,
| dearest?" she asked the duchess, who sat,
half doing, half dreaming, by the fire.
Take care of yourself, Audrey. Put
on stout boots! This snow is so pene-
tratingv
Audrey walked briskly over the snow,
slender, graceful figure in her heavy,
black garments, her lovely face lovelier
than ever in it's somber setting. She
was warmly greeted by DR.. Thorngate,
who was just leaving the vicarage as she
arrived. Audrey thought he looked worn
and troubled.
my wife will be rejoiced to see you,
he said, and his gaze followed the glrllsh
form in an affection that was deepened
only by admiration and respect.
Mrs. Thorngate was troubled, too, and
though she welcomed Lady Iverne with
all her old love, she was not herself.
Audrey felt panied and full of sympathy.
II am sure you would rather l did not
stay, dear Mrs. Thorngate," she said,
simply, rising and drawing on her wraps
again. You have something on your
mind and will be better alone"
Mrs. Thorngate's answer was to burst
into tears.
my heart is broken!" she sobbed.
"Oh, Beverley, my boy, my boy And l
have loved you, honored you, believed in
you so much !"
Audrey knelt down by her friend.
"Let me help you. Tell me all, she
begged, her own eyes growing dim and
misty with pity.
It was very brief story. Beverley