The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-05-25
CHAPTER xIy-(Continued.)

ferent being. 1t was evening Wnen the
2lumber left him, and at once his gaze
went round the room in search OF that
lovely girlish face that had haunted his
dreams so delightfully."-.
Audrey" he whispered, family, and
some one came hurriedly out of the dusk
and knelt beside the bed.
They said no words, only his hand
clasped itself round her two little ones,
and he lay gazing at her sweet eyes as
though they were heaven itself.
Nov you have turned the corner, and
are going on well, 1 am going to look
after your wife, Lord john" DR.. Sen
lance said, cheerily.
my wife," What world OF passion
ate tenderness, even though 1t was whls-
pered and not spoken, rang in those two
Mttle words Audrey's heart thrilled.
"She must rest; she is young, and
needs plenty of sleep, and she has Deen
fretting over you in a most terrible fash
ion Come, Lady John, you can leave MS
lordship with light heart, for he could
not possibly be better. The best nurse,
absolutely the best nurse have ever had'
Mrs. Fraser!" he declared, pleasantly.
Sheila Fraser did not return to Dim
glewood, nor did she vouchsafe to CORE
spond with her stepmother. She remain
ed on in London, victim to the most
bitter disappointment and modification.
For nearly two minutes Sheila and
Beverley were struck speeches. as Lady
Daleswater rushed in with her bad news
The girl had turned ashen white, and
Beverley's hands clinched themselves in
voluntarily. Lady Daleswater recovered
herself first.
"Who is this gentleman?" she asked
coldly, feeling annoyed that she had be-
trayed her family affairs before COM
plete stranger.
Beverley answered her at once.
Il am a man to whom this intelli-
gence is more painful than you can pos
sibly imagine, Lady Daleswater," an
swered Beverley.
"Mr. Beverley Rochfort means that
he is madly in love with this girl, who
has flung herself at your brothers head"
said Sheila sullenly. ut will be better
to explain everything to you, dear Lady
Daleswater."
The countess listened attentively; she
was SO deeply enraged with her mother,
b. other and the poor innocent little crea-
ture who had allied herself to the ducal
family, that every nerve thrilled to be
able to seize upon something, however
faint, that might be worked upon to bring
about an annulment of this odious mar
rage. She uttered a sharp exclamation !;
It almost sounded like joy as she listened.
"All is not so bad" she cried. "Sheila,
don't you understand? Mr.. Rochfort
as this creatures guardian, cannot only
object to the marriage, but, according to
the letter of the bond he holds, can in
sist on the girl living where he wishes.
Mr.. Rochfort, that piece of paper must
be in my lawyers hands tonight; and
unless | am very much mistaken, they
will ratify what l say-that you will
have absolute and entire control over the
girl"
Sheila's cheeks grew a shade roster
as she heard Lady Daleswater's clear,
proud tones.
THE countess is right" she said to
Beverley, as they were alone: "you will
be able to break this absurd marriage.
You must! You mustr
There are other ways of disposing of
the marriage tie besides simple annul-
ment," he said to himself, cynically, and
b. smiled into the flames. IF that course
fails, as fail it must, for we have not
leg to stand upon, don't think l shall
be very disheartened. Ny wits have new
er failed me yet, and my day will come y
1t was quite nine o'clock and the earl
had just returned from Mountberry, and
had poured an account of what had oc-
CURED between himself and the duchess
into his wife's ears. Lady Daleswater
was simply furious with resentment
against her mother, but she did not dis
cuss the matter further as Sheila came in.
The legal advisers of the earl and
countess had answered her ladyship's
hasty summons promptly, and all they
waited for was Beverley Rochfort to ap-
pear.
just when conversation on the vexed
and important question was in full swing.
note was brought in and handed to the
countess. She read it through, and grew
white to the lips with modification.
Mr.. Rochfort has deserted us and gone
over to the enemy" she said, CURLY, and
then she handed the letter to her husband
and bid him read it aloud.
Beverley wrote very clearly and briefly.
He had already consulted his lawyer.
who had told him promptly that any
question of annulling the marriage was
as impossible ss absurd; therefore he beg
ged Lady Daleswater to accept his de-
cided refusal to join her in this matter.
Il am sure when you are less, and. I
may say, justly, incensed at this mar
riage," he wrote, you will see that as a
man of honor 1 can do nothing but this.
for were l to enforce my guardianship. I
must rob Lady John Glendurwood of the
large fortune which was bequeathed her
by Mr.. Roderick Anstruther on his DEATH
bed. regret that can offer your ladv-
ship no avail in the matter"
1t is a good move" he said, alone IN
his rooms. 'Of course, if that confonnd-
ID paper would have stood the light of
day would not have scrupled to use II
but it is too feeble bridge to carry me
ever. This other is safer and a surer
one! Once a friend in John Glendur-
woods house, the rest will be easy p and
he laughed softly.
Poor, sweet, young Audrey, how little