The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-20
The EVENING STORY
Audrey's knight.
by Epes w. SARGENT


as she tried to picture the comfort hid
den by the gray walls.
1t was not really a castle, nor yet
enchanted, but it had pleased Maj Kirk
WOOD to have his home a copy of a cas-
tie on the Rhine which he had seen on
one of his summer trips, and Audrey's
imagination supplied the rest.
The major was a bachelor and seldom
entertained on a large scale, but every
night the lights flashed across the gilt
ter1ng 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. Thompson-Ter-
hume, the majors niece and neighbor.
1t was only two years since Audrey
herself had been a social queen of a
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 fortune,
had sent Henry Sheldon to his grave.
Audrey had faced the situation brave
ly and for the two years since her faith
er's death she had been governess to
the two Thompson-Terhune girls at a
salary so absurdly small that Mrs.
Thompson-Terhune lived in daily dread
| that some one might discover 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 excess
| of the income she enjoyed, and her
| money was spent only where it would
show.
few railroad maps were the only
wall decorations Of the school room, and
three hard wooden chairs. a shabby
desk, too old for office use, 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 gayety
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 bro
ken meats, the 1eavdngs 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 for
ward on the arms that were flung upon
| the desk.
The nervous closing of door reused
| her, and she sprang to her feet to face
Mrs. ThompsonT erhune.
You must help me out, Miss Shell
don," she said abruptly. 'I am in a
1
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
| one around here knows you. and it will
| be all right.
But I have nothing to wear except
| the most simple frocks," said Audrey.
| Il sold my evening gowns, you know,
| to get money for the purchase OF things
/ 11ry 6n6
| IT have some things that may At.
| We are almost Of a. size.e Maria shall
| help you. Come with me-" The hostess
| turned abruptly and led the way to her
own apartment: She was accustomed
| to implicit obedience from her employees
and Audrey knew better than to OBJ
| ject.
She smiled to herself as the deft
French maid helped her into 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. Thomp-
son-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 announced.
| Mrs. Thompson-Terhune counted
| much upon her prospects from the
major He was still hale and hearty,
but she lived in pleasurable anticipa-
ton 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 he placed next
to him at table the hostess promptly
| changed the seating arrangements,
! even while she planned that Audrey
| should be dismissed the next day with
| salary in lieu OF a notice.
| AIYdrav all unconscious of the ankle
| ties of her hostess, enjoyed herself to
the full, and enjoyment transformed
the little face that had becom so wal
and somber in the last few months.
| Knowing how anxious Mrs. Thomp-
| son-Terhune was that her guest of
honor might enjoy himself, Audrey ex-
! erted herself to be entertaining with
;.uch good success that the major in
| sisted that Audrey should be brought
| over to the castle for luncheon some
day before her return to town.
Miss Sheldon, unfortunately, is re-
| turning to town tomorrow said Mrs
| Thomps on-Terhune ecidly, as she gave
tn, signal to the ladies to rise in order
| to terminate the argument.
| The men were not long in joining the
| ladies, and the major made straight
for Audrey's side. nor would he be dis
lodged until the party broke up
| AS the last carriage rolled away Au-
drey turned to her employer With eyes
| that danced. "It was such fun to mas
| querade," she cried with a little laugh
'I wonder what the major would say
could he know that my return to town
| in the morning was merely change to
| the nursery governess."
you will go up to town in the morn
| ing" was the quiet response. II will
| pay you a months salary instead Of
| the usual notice. I cannot have my
darling children in the charge of per-
son who SO shamelessly pursues a rich
! man"
The unexpected OF the dismissal
was such a shock that Audrey was too
| dazed to argue against the charge. She
had nowhere to go and the pitifully
small sum she would receive would
not last more than two weeks The
| hanpv light gone from her ewes she