Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-17

CuuuIeu tdStic was DTLlldulIy hSHlcu,
and Audrey Sheldon, scanning with
longing eyes the wintry wastes, sighed
as Sic tried to picture the comfort
hidden by the gray walls.
1t was not really a castle nor yet emf
chanted, but it had pleased Major
Kirkwood to have his home a copy of
a castle on the Rhine which he had
seen ON one of his summer trips, ana
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 maio"'s niece and
neighbor.
1t was only two years since Audrey
herself had been a social queen of
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-Terhune
girls at a salary so absurdly small
that Mrs. Thompson-Terhu 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
three hard wooden chairs, a shabby
desk too old for office use, a folding
| bed and a wardrobe completed the fur
| nishing. 1t was at once the school
room and Audrey's apartment.
Patiently the girl worked at her fash
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 an(
dressing table. She thought of the
time when she would have been one o.
the guests. and her dainty head fel
forward on the arms that were fun.
upon the desk.
The nervous closing of door reused
her, and she sprang to her feet to fac
Mrs. Thompson-Terhune.
You must help me out, Miss Shell
dom she said abruptly. Il am in (
most terrible plight. That horrid Mar
tina Homer and her crowd are not com
ing over. That leaves just thirteen a
table, and Major Kirkwood is so hor
ribly superstitious. You simply mus
pretend to be one of the guests. n
one around here knows you, and 1
will be all right"
| But l have nothing to wear excep
the most simple frocks," said Audrey
Il sold my evening gowns, you know
to get money for the purchase of thing
: l really needed"
81 have some things that may fl
We are almost of a size. Maria sha
help you. Come with me-" The hostes
turned abruptly and led the way to he
, own apartments. She was accustOme
/ to implicit obedience from her en-
| ployees, and Audrey knew better tina
| to object.
She smiled to herself as the def
French maid helped her into a quie
gown of gray. Audrey was favorit
5 with the servants, and with loving car
Marie pinned and draped until she wa
satisfied with the result.
: Audrey was just in time to descen
the stairs and receive with Mr.:
Thompson-Tcrhune the first of til
guests. With the strange feeling tina
1t was all part of the enchantmen
she moved through the rooms, chattin
with the guests until dinner was al
( nounced.
Mrs. Thompson-Terhune counted muC
upon her prospects from the me- 70
He was still hale and hearty, b.. ST
lived in pleasurable anticipation o, Ii
g unexpected taking off. and =. sac.
needed the money that wcaiu =,
. her at his death.
= His word was law Will ~
when he insisted that Audrey he place
: next to him at table lac boste:
promptly changed the seating arrang
8 ments even while she | ... TIL
Audrey should be dismis the ne.
day with salary in lieu 20
n Audrey, q rnconscioU . -, lnxi
ties of her ,ss, enjoyed lie, elf
=. the full. f.joyme ~"torm'
the little Tat had become so Wa
r and sombei the last '~"nths.