The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-05-16
CHAPTER xxi

Sheila Fraser's masked ball."
CHAPTER XXI.
A huge ballroom had been erected on
the lawn, with light. wooden walls. and
one cone shaped roof the floor was par
quet, and as smooth as ice; a smart mill
tary band was to provide music; supper
was served in another temporary room.
and the drawing room, hall and conserva-
tory were turned into lounge and prom
enade.
Audrey felt quite bewildered as she
found herself in this throng of variously
cclored forms, all with the black lace
or silk covering over their faces. She
wished vaguely she had not come. then
that she had Jack with her, or Willie
Fullerton. Suddenly Audrey became
aware that two people were talking close
to her and that they were speaking Of
her.
They cali her beauty" one woman's
voice said. Audrey could recognize neith-
or OF the two. "a small. insignificant
thing like that, with her black hair and
staring white facet Jack Glendurwood
did the worst days work he will ever
do when he married herI What can
low born and bred girl like that know
about social duties?"
And yet they say she was great
success in town."
They say-of course they say so.
Well, ask Gladys Daleswater and you
will hear the truth"
''Ah. it was sad mistake Such a
nice fellow, too; be should have married
Sheila."
II can't make out why on earth he
didn't, This charity girl business seems
to me to have been very well arranged
by Mrs. Fraser. Why, everybody knows
he has always been in love with Sheila
sight of them as we came along. his tall
gray domino beside her pale-blue one.
/ expect he tells her all his troubles.
Sheila is so fond of him. They ought
to have been man and wife, and would
have been. too. but for that pasty-faced,
upstart creature %
Audrey's limbs seemed frozen, her heart
lump of ice. What was this she had
heard? What horrible nightmare had
come over her. So this was what was
said,
'SheiIa and Jack, ~ Again and again
the phrase rang in her ears. "Sheila and
Jack 70 They had always loved: they
loved now: and she-she, Audrey, the
low-born, low-bred charity girl-she stood
between them.
A moan broke from her burning lips !:
she held one hand pressed close over the
other so tightly as almost to tear the
gloves she wore. Her brain was on fire !;
her head reeled.
She sat SO quiet she might have been
figure Of marble, not human flesh and
actual peril on board the Mona had she
felt as she. did now. She was stranded
before she had sailed beyond the sun
tipped waves of youth and youths sweet
dreamings. Suddenly she awoke with a
start A voice was calling shrilly in her
ear, and a hand was placed on her shout
der.
Lady john know it is you by your
domino-what are you doing all alone
Isn't it fun? Aren't you enjoying your
self? never was at anything so lovely
in all my life Don't you know me? 1
am Alice Fairfax. 1t is such fun being
disguised like this. But you must not
sit here all alone. Lord John is enjoy
ing himself immensely. / met him walk
ing in the garden with Sheila just now
You see, / know all the dominoes, and
can pick people out quite easily"
"You-you are sure my husband is
here. Miss Fairfax"
"Yes. He has been dancing with
Sheila. They are out in the garden Do
you want him? Shall / go and find him !:
or why not come with me, know just
where they are"
Audrey's simple, loving heart was
ablaze with jealousy. SO he had come,
and had gone to Sheila first without look
ing for her? What il those cruel tongues
had spoken true, that already he was
repenting his bargain, and turning again
to Sheila, the girl he had always loved.
81 think / will go with you, Miss Fair
fax" she said, hurriedly. She would see
for herself.
Come this way, then" Alice Fairfax
went out through the window. Lift up
your skirts, Lady John; am afraid the
paths are not too dry"
''Thsy went down here" Alice Fair
fax said. as they passed onward to a
more remote corner; "but 1 don't see
them cow. What nuisance. l thought
We should have been sure of catching
them up. All, there is Mr.. Devereux. I
will ask him if he has seen them. You
go straight ON, Lady John, l will over
take you"
The girl darted away as she spoke,
and Audrey wandered on alone, obeying
her mechanically.
when l find Jack he shall take me
home," she said to herself, very slowly.
She longed to be gone, to be away from
this horrible ball, with its laughter and
fierce gayety, and venomous tongues, hid
den behind every mask. Deep in her agi-
tated tn ,ughts, Audrey had hurried on
unconscic usly. She left the ball room
behind he. She had followed along the
path in which Miss Fairfax had set
her iirst. She scarcely realized that she
was alone, she had no desire for the
girls companionship. All at once she came
to standstill.
What forms were those just before her,
half hidden by a rustic garden house
Her eyes were blinded for an instant,
then she saw quite clearly. That was
Sheila Fraser's face; she had taken OF
her mask, and the far-away lights shone
On il, and touched the red gold of her
hair with shimmeriDg glory; and that