Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
CHAPTER NNu


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; 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 a lounge and prom
enade.
Audrey felt quite bewildered as she
found herself in this throng of variously
colored 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 Meth
er of the two. A small, insignificant
thing like that, with her black hair and
staring white face! Jack Glendurwood
did the worst days work he will ever
do when he married her! What can a
low born and bred girl like that know
about social duties?"
And yet they say she was a great
success in town"
They say-of course they say so.
Well. ask Gladys Daleswater and you
will hear the truth"
"Ah, it was a sad mistake! Such a
nice fellow, too; he should have married
Sheila."
IL can't make out why on earth he
didn't! This charity girl business seems
to me to have been very we'll arranged
| by Mrs. Fraser. Why, everybody knows
he has always been in love with Sheila.
| They are together now. / just caught
sight of them as we came along his tall
gray domino beside her pale-blue one.
l expect he tells her all his troubles.
Sheila is so fond of him. They ought
70 have been man and wife, and would
have been, too but for that pasty-faced,
upstart creature"
Audrey's limbs seemed frozen, her heart
a lump of ice. What was this she had
heard? What horrible nightmare had
come over her! SO this was what was
said
"Sheila and Jack :" Again and again
the phrase rang in her ears. "Sheila and
Jack !" They had always loved; they
loved now; and she-she, Audrey. the
low-born, low-bred charity girl--she stood
| between them.
| \ 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
a figure of marble, not human flesh and
| blood. Not even in that one moment of
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? l
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 Sheia just now.
| You see. l 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 l 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 if those cruel tongues
had spoken true. that already he was
repenting his bargain. and turning again
10 Sheila. the girl he had always loved.
Il think l 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: l am afraid the
paths are not too dry"
They went down here" Alice Fair
fax said, rs they passed onward TO a
more remote corner; but | don't see
them now. What nuisance. l thought
| we should nave DeGn sure OF cajcnln-
them up. All, there is Mr. Devereux,
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 | 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 thoughts, Audrey had hurried on
unconsciousiy She left the bali room
behind her. She had followed along the
path in which Miss Fairfax had set
her first. She scarcely realized that she
was alone, she had no desire for the
girls companionship. All at once she came
to a 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 wa
Sheila Fraser's face; she had taken cd
: her mask. and the far-away lights shone
on it. and touched che red gold Of her
hair with shimmering glory; and that