The Western news., 1907-11-13
CHAPTER XVII.

at is only a whim," Jean said, hur-
riedly; I'VE must ,humor her"
That same night it was, when they
were sitting alone in the tiny dining
room. that Jack suddenly poured out the
whole miserable story into Jeans esrs; :;
the story of that ball; of how he had
been hoaxed into driving over to see Mr..
Bclson, WHO had never sent for him Of
all the horrible thing he had heard about
Audrey; and, lastly, of how be had come
upon her in the summer house, with Bev-
>erley Rochfort at her feet kissing her
hands.
Put yourself in my place, and judge
as | judged. Do not view things as they
are now, or you will be harder upon me
than | deserve he said, as he leaned
mis- weary, aching brow on his hand.
Il will not be hard upon you at all,
Lord John" Jean said, very gently; "for
I think | should have been mised as you
were by such apparently strong circum-
'stantial evidence. | am glad you have
spoken out to me, and l only wish Au-
'drey had done the same, for then we
might have arrived at the truth"
What is it you mean?" Jack asked,
sooking up at her, eagerly.
II mean that | now am convinced that
Willie is right, and that there was some
plot connived against you both at that
ball. | have no definite proof, only
woman's intuition to work upon, but that
shall be enough. This must be sifted,
lord John, sfted to the very dregs. l
Cove you both," she continued tears dim
ming her eyes. You have been more
shan good to me, and now that Audreys
another is gone | feel | must be friend,
sister and mother in one. You will see
that | am right, and that you and my
dear one were both the victims of some
conspiracy. On the face of it the whole
affair is absurd. Don't you love each
other better than all the world? | shall
write to Willie and tell him all my
doubts"
sand the result of that letter was to
gut Willie Fullerton on the track Of
Murray, whom Jean seemed convinced
could throw some light on the subject
week had gone, and Audrey was
wonderfully better: 1t was her first real
day Of cOnvalesccnce, and Jean was sit
ting with her, reading. Downstairs Jack
was trying to comfort himself, when sud
denly familiar voice accosted him, and
he found himself shaking hands with
Marshall. Marshall, grown older, and
booking very wan in her simple black for
her beloved mistress. 1t somehow COM
forted Jack to see her; she seemed to
bring back little Of the sweet influence
shat had surrounded Constance Fraser.
She had come direct from seeing Mr..
Fullerton, who had briefly told her all,
and she now asked to see Audrey at once.
let me nurse her. my lord" she en-
created; her, my dears own child. Will
you so up and tell her I'm here my lord
Perhaps I'd best not go straight without
saying"
JSck's face flushed; he hesitated; then
@he rose and went out OF the room He
could not bring himself to tell Marshall
he. was forbidden his wife's presence.
dc went steadily upstairs and stood
outside the door The handle was turn
ed, and from within came the sound Of a
faint, low voice. He meant to have call
ed Jean, but the sound Of that voice
stopped him.
1T was Audrey speaking. His hear,
sSeat violently, then turned as cold IA
firon in his breast She was speaking OF
Min, but how bitterly Each word seem.
u
Sad been pleading his cause, but he only
heard Audrey's answer.
IL refuse to see him, Jean; l refuse x
near his name mentioned again. ies
yes; | know you think me n foolish
child, fretful invalid; but l am more
ahan this. l may not be very old In
years, but l have suffered as much as
any woman OF fifty Do you forget all
ne wrote in that awful letter? Oh, Jean
Jean! You don't know how his words
have struck home. He says | have
wronged him-l. who-who-who-'
Her voice grew chOked for moment
Out she soon mastered her emotion. mo
jean; there can be no friendship or kind
sy feeling between us. As he has judged
me, so let me live; my pride and my
honor will support me without him.
i trust | shall never see him again;
shall be happier when l know he Is IA,
away. He said he was going on a toul
of the world. Why does he not start
Why does he add to his former cruelt,
by staying here?"
"Audrey, you are unjust, you are un
sike yourself; you Judge your husband
most cruelty. If you could only know
how he has suffered"
Audrey broke in with a hard, bitte
faugh.
II see he has won your heart, Jean
Well, we will say no more, except that
am firm, and that If Lord John has an,
pride left he will not force himself upol
me, but so at once"
But Jack heard no more; he<did no
know that the hard, contemptuous ton
suddenly broke with little gaspns sob
he did not see the thin, small hands cove
the white, lovely face; he did not know
that Jean had slipped from her chai
and was holding Audrey's weeping form
clasped in her arms. No, he knew non
of this, for he had gone straight down
stairs. he had picked up his hat and ul
ster, and opening the door, he had walk
ed out into the wind and rain, looking
neither to the right nor the left, turnin,
his back deliberately on all that he l.l,
dearest in life.
Rafor> tha dawn yvas brotap Uil;,