La Junta tribune., 1908-08-22
AUDREY'S
KNIGH T.
sy EPEs W SARGENT.
Copyrighted. iss. by Homer spraxuc.
eeseessssssssessssssssss

| oooOoSesssseee
1 Across the snow clad fields the en-
chantcd castle was brilliantly lighted.
and Audrey sheldon. scanning with
longing eyes the wintry wastes. sighed
as she tried to picture the comfort
hidden by the gray walls.
| II was not really n castle nor yet en-
chanted. but II had pleased Major
| Eirkwood 10 have his home copy OF
| castle on the Rhine which he had
| seen on one OF his summer trips. anu
Audrey's Imagination supplied the rest.
The ma jOr was n bachelor and sell
| dom entertained on a large scale. but
..very night the lights flashed across
| the glitterins snow, and Audrey loved
to stand by the window and imagine
that there lived the knigh; who some
day would come to rescue her from the
ogre as represented by Mrs. Thomp-
son-Terhune. the majors niece. and
neighbor
| 1t was only two years since Audrey
| herself had been social queen of
small domain. but something had gone
| wrong In her fathers bank. She never
understood what II was, but his per
sonal fortune had gone TO sustain the
wrecked credit OF the institution. and
the treachery OF some OF the directors
| combined with the wreck Of his for
| tune had sent Henry Sheldon to his
/ grave.
| Audrey had faced the situation
| i,rn .nty nj far hn fu, atnpa
her fathers death she had been gov
erness To the two ThompsOn-Terhune
girls at salary 80 absurdly small
| that Mrs. ThOmpsonTerhune lived In
daily dread that some one might dis
cover how small was the sum paid
and coax the girl away
Audrey turned away from the WIN
dow and wearlly sat down at the desk
TO correct the girls exercises 1t was
II severely plain apartment. for Mrs.
| Thomps0n-rerhun WIS an ambitious
climber whose aims were far In ex-
cess OF the Income she enjoyed and
her money was spent only where it
| would show.
A few railroad maps were the only
wall decorations OF the schooEoom. and
three hard wooden chairs. shabby
| desk too old for office use. folding
bed and wardrobe completed the fur
| nlshing II was at once tue school
room and Audrey's apartment.
Patiently the girl worked Mt her task
while she thought bitterly Of the gaye-
ty downstairs. where preparations were
being made for dinner party In honor
| OF Major KirkwoOd's birthday.
Long after the usual hour the house.
kecpSF sWouid send up trayful Of
broken meats the leavings OF the feast.
aud she would eat II on the top Of the
desk that also served as II bureau and
dressing table. She thought of the
time when she would have been one II
the guests. aud her dainty head fell
! forward on the arms that We're tlung
upon the desk
The nervous closing OF door reused
her. and she sprang 10 her feet TO face
Mrs. Thompson-Terhune.
"Yon must help me out. Miss Shell
don" she said abruptly. 81 am In
most terrible plight. That h0rrid Mar
tha Homer and her crowd are not COM
| Ing over. That leaves Just thirteen at
/,
rlDly superstitious You simply must
pretend to be one OF the guests. No
one around here knows you. and 1t
will be all right"
But have nothing to wear except
| the most simple frocks." s.t6 Audrey.
Il sold my evening gowns. you know.
| TO get money for the purche-~ OF things
1 really needed"
81 have some things that may At.
We are almost of size. Maria shall
help YOU. Come with me-" The hostess
turned abruptly and led the way to her
| own Apartments. She was accustomed
to Implicit obedience from her en-
| pIoyees. and Audrey knew better than
to object
She smiled to herself as the deft
French maid helped her into quiet
gown Of gray. Audrey was favorite
with the servants. and with loving care
| Marie pinned and draped until she was
satisfied with the result.
| Audrey was Just In time to descend
the stairs and receive With Mrs.
Thompson-1erhune the first Of the
guests. With the strange feeling that
1t was all part Of the enchantment.
she moved through the rooms. chatting
with the guests until dinner was an
| nounced.
| Mrs. ThompsonTerhunec counted much
upon her prospects from the major
He was sti'i hale and hearty. but she
lived In pieasurable anticipation Of his
unexpected taking of. and she sadly
needed the money that would come to
her at his death.
| His word was law with her. and
| when he i,isisted that Audrey be placed
next to him mt table the hostess
promptly changed the seating arrange
ments -eyen while she planned that