The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-09-05

sats. whs vas ylthr cold toward Audrey.
and then by driving 70 Dinglewood
House.
Audrey walked into the drawing room,
a slender, graceful form, in her dress Of
dark green velvet close-ftting jacket,
and small hat to match. Beverley Roch-
fort, as he rose to met the regal girl.
quickly determined that, beautiful as she
always vas, she had never looked more
beautiful than now.
Mrs. Watson was knitting by the fire,
grim as a sentinel, and Mrs. Fairfax was
dozing over a novel in the most comfort
able chair she could find.
My niece 10 out, Lady John" intoned
Mrs. Watson, rising stiGly; she Is rid
ing"
Yes; didn't you know that? How
strange" And Mrs. Fairfax laughed
softly and dlsagresably to herself.
Il don't qnite see where the strange
ness comes in" Beverley Rochfort re-
torted, coolly, as he handed some tea to
Audrey and Jean.
II merely meant It was strange that
your husband should not have told you he
was soing to ride out with Sheila this
afternoon but, no doubt, he did not think
it was necessary; after all, they are such
old friends, Lady John, there is no need
for you to be jealous"
"Of course, had your husband known
he was to have the pleasure of Miss
fraser's company during his ride, Audrey,
he would have told you," Jean said, very
quietly, locking Mrs. Fairfax full in the
face with her honest, clear, gray eyes;
Il expect 1t was a hasty arrangement,
was it not, Mr.. RooAfort?'
II think you must be right, Miss
Thwait," was his answer. He cared
nothing for Mrs. Fairfax's angry glances;
he saw that he had made a great stride
in both Audrey's and Jean Thwaits esti-
nmation. How are all your aninalsT
khe said, coming up to Audrey, and con-
versing in soft, low voice.
Audrey, feeling grateful to him for
his delicate tact, responded more warmly
than she had ever addressed him before.
while Mrs. Fairfax fixed her eyeglass on
Jean, and tried to stare down the lin
pertinent young person" who had dared
to cross words with her.
"Er-you are an old friend Of Lady
Johns, I presume. Miss-er-Thwait2"
Yes" Jean answered, laconically.
You were educated tosether?"
Yes" Jean answesed a second time
80 you are a charity girl, too?" she
observed, slowly.
Pardon me. I was, but am no longer.
Would you really care to hear all my fam.
lily history, madame? l assure you it ID
most interesting. My father"
But Mrs. Fairfax drew back her chair.
This low-born creature actually had tho
effrontery to be laughing at her.
"I-er-really don't think 1 will trou-
BILE you, Miss Thwait."
WELL" declared Jean, as they drove
away, so those are the manners of the
aristocracy, are they? Give me plebeian
ways IN future. What a horrid woman.
Audrey, and did you see her face thick
with paint"
''She is certainly very disagreeable to
me. Why should she have said that about
jack"
Because she is a cat, my dear child,
and she felt she must scratch"
well, | was really most grateful to
Mr.. Roedfort. He came to the rescue
most gallantly."
Jean was silent so long that Audrey
at last laughingly inquired the reason.
81 was thinking about that man, Au-
drey,' you were quite right to fesr him;
he is dangerous. Mrs. Fairfax is a vul-
gar cat; her warfare won't harm you;
but Beverley Rochfort is a snake and hs
will sting you when yru lesst expect it.
That Is my humble but firm opinion. I
may be wrong, but don't think so. Be
warned, my darling. trust to your first I'm.
pulse and shun that manr'
Ito be continued.)