Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-02-14
CHAPTER XVI.


ing and was sitting before the fire on a
low stool, playing with one of Jacks
dogs, who seemed to adopt her as their
mistress while he was i'll, when the door
opened slowly behind her.
The duchess had had this little room
arranged for the girl especially; it was
a dainty place, fit nest for so exquisite a
bird
Il do believe Pat could speak if he
liked, mother dearest" Audrey laughed
softly, not looking round.
IF any one could make him speak,
you could" voice answered her. softly.
The girl sprang to her feet, while Pat,
shaggy, rough-haired Dandy Dinmont,
ran forward with a whine of pleasure to
greet his master. Audrey's face was first
rosy and then white.
"Oh! What have you been doing?"
she cried in deepest anxiety. You
you"
Il am walking across the room," Jack
laughed, very gently; land | assure you
1 feel better every step l take.
Audrey's heart was beating so wildly.
it seemed to send thrill through all her
limbs She was startled, and was very
shy and nervous. She had no idea he
was so well as this it was a great shock
to turn round and see him standing there,
smiling with his eyes and lips as he had
smiled that first day of their meeting.
Well" said Jack, as he came to a
standstill before her, 'are you not going
to say something to me, Audrey?"
Il am very glad"
There she stopped, for he had sud-
denly thrown his arms about her and
drawn her close to his heart.
"My dearest, my sweetest wife, he
murmured passonately while flood of
color rushed into her cheeks. MY own,
my very ~ and them before she was
aware of it, he had stopped and kissed
her lips softly, whispering tender words
all the while.
With an almost inarticulate cry she
buried her face on his breast and chung
to him with a force which was the sweet
est sensation Jack Glendurwood had ever
experienced. He saw then how wise the
old doctor had been, and was grateful
to the common sense that had prompted
him to end the unsatisfactory condition
of affairs.
BY and by he sat down in the big
chair, and she nestled on the floor beside
him, and holding and kissing her hands
alternately, Jack unfolded his plan for
taking her away directly.
'Sentance says l must CO. he added,
plaintively, as he waited for her answer.
1T will cure me entirely"
'Then"-she blushed quietly-"then let
us so at once. my-my darling"
And so, when Constance Fraser entered
the room a little while later, she found
the two sitting together, and learned that
| as soon as everything could be arranged,
the young couple were ready to start
With smiles and deepest blessings. they
took their departure few days later.
| Audrey bought a present for Jean in ev-
cry foreign town she visited, and when
the season was over Jack had promised
she should have her poor little school
| friend TO stay with her for as long as she
liked.
They had not settled where they would
live permanently, but they were both in
| clined to Craiglands. Lord Iverne was
| going to be taken abroad by his mother to
| some mineral waters, and the poor fell
| low had expressed a wish that his brother
and his bride would make Craiglands
their home for a time
! 1T will be so near mother" Audrey
had said, and Jack had not told her that
Mrs. Fraser would no longer inhabit Din
| glewood House. He felt that it would
| give her so much pain, and, besides, he
was so ashamed and angry with Sheila
for her cruel conduct. that he determined
not to discuss her just yet.
There was no need to let Audrey
know how Sheila had behaved, for Mrs.
Fraser would go to Cronberg with the
Duchess of Marlborough, and would in
| all probability reside abroad for a few
months.
Audrey exclaimed with pleasure as
they drove into the pretty grounds at
| Nottingham, and was so lost in gazing
| at them that she was quite unconscious
| of the sensation her appearance was
causing the crowd of fashionableS. Of
course. they had done nothing but discuss
| the John Glendurwood marriage. and now
tie sight of the young mans handsome
and well-known face revived the curl
osity and gossip afresh.
Jack Glendurwood is here with his
wife, Have you seen them? What is
she like? A nurse girl, wasn't she? Of
course she is awful? What hardihood
to bring her out so soon: she must be
raw. however pretty, What will Sheila
Fraser and Lady Gladys Daleswater dc =
These and dozens of quick questions and
remarks of the like sort ran like wiidfre
through the throng.
Jack was very calm. He lifted his
darling down and gave a few directions
to the groom, while Audrey looked around
tr-r. a picture of exquisite simplicity and
Indispensable loveliness in her soft white
silk dress, with little high white bon
net browning her dark locks. she was
not only beautiful. she was that most
desired of all things. good form"