Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1908-04-04
AUDREY'S
KNIGHT T.
By EPES w. SARGENT.
By EPES W. SARGENT.
Copyrighted, 1908, by Homer sprague.
a


longing eyes the wintry wastes, sighed
as she tried to picture the comfort
hidden by the gray walls.
1t was not really a castle nor yet en-
chanted, but 1t had pleased Major
Kirkwood to have his home q copy of
a castle on the Rhine which he had
seen on one of his summer trips. ana
Audrey's imagination supplied the rest
The major was a bachelor and sell
dom entertained on a large scale, but
every night the lights flashed across
the glittering snow, and Audrey loved
to stand by the window and imagine
that there lived the knight 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 a social queen of q
small domain, but something had gone
wrong In her fathers bank. She never
understood what 1t 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
bravely, and for the two years since
her fathers death she had been gov
erness to the two Thompson-Ter
girls at Il salary so absurdly small
that Mrs. Thompson-Terh 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 YEARLY sat down at the desk
to correct the girls exercises. 1t was
a severely plain apartment, for Mrs.
ThOmpson-Terhune was 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 schoolroom, and
desk too old for office use, q folding
bed and wardrobe completed the fur
nishing. 1t was at once the school
room and Audrey's apartment
Patiently the girl worked at her task
while she thought bitterly of the gave
ty downstairs, where preparations were
being made for dinner party in honor
of Major Kirkwood's birthday.
Long after the usual hour the house
keeper would send up a trayful of
broken meats, the leavings of the feast,
and she would eat 1t on the top of the
desk that also served as a bureau and
dressing table. She thought of the
time when she would have been one of
the guests, and her dainty head fell
forward on the arms that were flung
upon the desk.
The nervous closing of a door reused
her, and she sprang to her feet to face
Mrs. Thompson-Terhune
you must help me out, Miss Shell
don" she said abruptly. 81 am In d
most terrible plight. That horrid Mar
tina Homer and her crowd are not COM
ing over. That leaves just thirteen at
table, and Major Kirkwood Is so hor-
ribly 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," said Audrey.
II sold my evening gowns, you know,
to get money for the purchase Of things
| really needed"
Il have some things that may fit
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-
ployees, and Audrey knew better than
to object.
She smiled to herself as the deft
French maid helped her into a quiet
gown of gray. Audrey was a 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-Terhune 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. Thompson-Terhun counted much
upon her prospects from the major.
He was still hale and hearty, but she
lived in pleasurable anticipation of his
unexpected taking off, and she sadly
needed the money that would come to
her at his death.
His word was law with her, and
when he insisted that Audrey be placed
next to him at table the hostess
promptly changed the seating arrange
ments even while she planned that
Audrey should be dismissed the next
day with salary in lieu Of notice.
Audrey, all unconscious Of the ankle
ties of her hostess, enjoyed herself to
A. P,,u and anioumant fronoForuoad