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About Lexington wheatfield. (Lexington, Or.) 1905-19?? | View Entire Issue (April 18, 1907)
j THE , CHAR1CRX I By EFFIE A. ROWLANDS I CHAPTER X. As early as possible the following morning, Sheila Frasor ordered her horse, donned her habit, and, without waiting for breakfast or groom, left home in hot . haste for Craiclands. She wanted to be ' first at an interview with the duchess. Much depended on how she acted now. "If I can just drop a few hints, and so prejudice her against that girl, not all Mrs. Eraser's sweetness, or her daugh ttr's artfulness, will have much avail. I am a rich woman! I never felt so glad of my money before." She had diverged a little from the or dinary route to Craiglands, because there was a better road by so doing, and as she trotted along fleetly, she suddenly came upon a dog cart, in which was seat ed Beverley Rochfort, looking wonderful ly handsome in his fur-lmed coat. "Miss Fraser, this is an unexpected pleasure," he said, as he lifted his hat and motioned the groom to take the reins. "'You are out early." "I am going to Craiglands, to make in quiries," she said curtly. - Beverley only smiled, but she saw at once that he attached a good deal of meaning to this hasty . ride. He got down from the cart. "Drive up and down until I am ready, Jones," he commanded, as he walked up to Sheila's horse and stroked the smooth nock. "Is there, then, so much cause for anxiety? he asked. "Are ypu nerv ous about Lord John, Miss Fraser?" Sheila pursed her lips. She resented his manner, and she did not quite under stand it, either. "I feel that It would be altogether a pleasant and a wise arrangement if you and I called ourselves friends," Beverley said, after a slight pause. "We have so much in common." "I don't think I understand you," Sheila was startled Into saying. ,"I must try and explain myself clear ly. I know the reason of your hurried ; visit to Craiglands. It is not sympathy that takes you there, but something more akin to self-interest. Oh! do not be angry, there is no occasion, for, my very dear young lady, I think you are perfect ly right. You see, although I do not credit you with any great amount of sympathy, I have plenty myself. Be lieve me, I am quite sincere. Just now," Beverley went on, "I said I thought it would be not only a pleasant, but a wise thing for jou and I to become friends. Union is strength, you know, Miss Fra ser ; a good old maxim." "Don't you think you had better leave conundrums alone, and speak out straight, Mr. Rochfort?" "I will," he answered, quietly. "Sheila, 'we are both persons of determination and ambition. My ambition takes one form, .yours another; but on one point we are .alike we would sacrifice much to gain our ends; would we not?" " Sheila's cold gray eyes flashed as she nodded her head. "You hate the girl ; I hate him ! You rare determined that John Glendurwood shall make you his wife; I am as equal ly determined I shall make her mine. Ar rived so far, the rest should be easy." Sheila drew a sharp breath. She loath ed him for his shrewdness in having read her mind so clearly, but his words had brought a new aspect altogether.. 'lit is for you to suggest," she said, speaking swiftly and in low tones. "As you said just now, union is strength, nd so " "So yon agree to be friends, eh?" Bev erley smiled. lie had never had the smallest fear of failing. lie had not watched Sheila so carefully these past days for nothing. He Aield out his hand as he spoke and Sheila Bu hers Into it. "Have you any plans?" she asked, ab ruptly. She was no longer so eager to lie gone. One glimpse at this man's smil ing, handsome, evil face told her that he would do all he wished. Even in the tnidst of the satisfaction that came with a rush, she could not repress a feeling of jealousy and envy that he should love Audrey and be indifferent to her, Sheila. "I will tell you more when I return from London. My journey there is not wholly unconnected with this matter. And now, I think I must say 'Au revolr.' I sincerely trust you will find Lord John not so bad as rumor reports. Carry my sympathy and regards to her new grace; -she is a charming woman, and will make an altogether excellent mother-in-law." Sheila smiled mechanically, and gath ering up her reins, she rode on. She gave a sort of shudder as she went, and 'the memory of Beverley's dark, glittering eyes lingered with her. She felt, some how, so powerless when she was with 3iim. Sheila always felt a thrill at her heart as she rode or drove up to Craiglands. INow as she passed up the avenue and idrew rein at the covered doorway, a man with powdered hair and grave face came (forward to meet her. "Her grace's love, miss, and she begs ;you will excuse her this morning; she does not feel equal to leaving his lord . ship's room. She begs, also, to thank you, miss, for having taken the trouble to rrido over and make inquiries." "Does Dr. Seutance think there is any danger?" slio asked, and there was gen mine anxiety in her voice. "Dr. Sentence considers his lordship's condition very serious," replied the ser vant. Sheila rode back to Dlnglcwood cross and anxious. She met Dr. Sentance com ing down the avenue, and" stopped to ques tion him. . "Tu poor fellow has not recovered consciousness yet," the medical man an swered. "I have telegraphed up for Raw son, and Loeksley. Miss Fraser, it is horrible, a dastardly affair, and for the life f me I can't understand it. Lord Glendurwood never seemed to have an enemy in the world ; but upon my word this looks to me like a malicious attack. It has turned out he had next to nothing in his pockets. Of course, his watch was valuable. But who on earth is there about here who could have borne him a grudge for anything he has ever done and said? I suppose you have sent for fur ther police assistance, Miss Fraser?" he went on. Sheila confessed she had not even thought of it. "Are not the Mountberry men suffi cient?" she asked. "This is pre-eminently a case for an astute detective," he said ; "and I should telegraph up at once to Scotland Yard, if I were you. As the affair happened in your grounds, of course, it would be pleasanter for you to have it sifted thor oughly." "You are quite right !" Sheila said, warmly, although she could have struck him with her whip for daring to dictate to her. "I will send up to London at once." As she said this, the thought of Bever ley Rochfort came into her mind, and all at once she determined to learn his ad dress from Mr. Thorngate, and telegraph to him to send down a detective, why, she could scarcely have told. CHAPTER XI. It was long before poor Audrey closed her tired, aching eyes that eventful night ; she had shed no more tears after that one passionate outburst ; she felt too much pain and anxiety for this natural relief. All she could think of was Jack Glendur wood, lying alone in the bracken, insen sible, half murdered. She accepted her mother's tender comfort, in a vague, dreamy way. All the sudden joy and pride that had sprung into being early in the evening, as she listened to the story of her birth, seemed to have vanished beneath this great sorrow. The sun was shining high in the heav ens when she opened her eyes, and found her mother bending anxiously over her. Constance Fraser gained strength at sight of her child's suffering. She was now the strong, courageous woman; she put aside all her invalid ways, and rose su preme to the moment. "Look after her well," she said to Marshall, as she donned her outdoor gar ments, and prepared to drive over to Craiglands. The duchess, proud, self-reliant, self- possessed as she was generally classed to be, was after all only an ordinary woman, with a mother's heart beating quick and strong In her breast. Her two boys had been her darlings from the ear liest days of their childhood ; she had nev er been so fond or so proud of her one daughter, who was too much like her father in nature and character to prove a comfort to the other parent. The tears came to the mother's eyes as Constance Fraser, after speaking all the consolation and sympathy she could think of, mentioned the countess' name. "I will stay with you till Gladys comes," she said, gently; "I am 'sure there is much I can do." "Gladys . will not come," the duchess answered, quietly enough; and then all at once she broke down. "Oh, Con stance! My dear! My dear!" she moaned, "what shall I do if I lose both my boys? Duncan's days are numbered I know it only too well and Jack, my bonny, my dear, good, noble Jack !" Then Constance knelt beside her and cheered her again. "You are alarmed by this Insensibility ; it is nothing; it often happens with con cussion of the brain. I prophesy that in a week's time you will have Jack out of bed, or very nearly so. Now I want you to look at me ; don't you see a change in my face?' Yes, I see you do; shall I tell you al about it?" And then, as gently, as briefly as she could, Constance bared the secrets of her heart to her friend. "And you have found your child, Con stance? I am glad. I rejoice, my dear, in your happiness. You must let me see her soon. I shall love her for your sake and for poor Frank's; he was a great favorite of mine." Constance Fraser covered her face .with her hands, and when she drew them away it was ashen white. "Hush r. she said, almost Inaudlbly; "do not let us speak of him. The pain is too deep, too great. Such horrible re morse comes over me when I begin to think, that I fear for my reason. I know now I was deceived, that I doubted hira wrongly ; but but that is all I dare let myself know Just yet, It makes my heart bleed." The duchess bent and kissed the sweet, white face. "Have courage ! Remember your fhlld 1" she whispered. "I do! I do!" answered Constance, brokenly. "In her I must, live again. God-mamma, I want you to promise to befriend her, to stand by her always." "For your sake and Tor hers, I prom ise this, Constance ; she shall never want a tverA whllA T am ftllva" 1 John Glendurwood'i condition showed no change, and although Dr. Sentance declared he would pull his patient through, he nevertheless felt much doubt and anxiety as to his ultimate success. "It Istulie mind thnt is keeping him baok.'Vhe Jelurqd. over and over aguln o Mw.raarV aaS Stvftistf. Ventured to' expns the same4ldea' to1 the duclios. f That very same evening as Constanco was dressing for dinner, a carriage ar rived from Craiglands with a hurried message from the duchess, - , "Would Mrs. Fraser kindly drive over aa soon as possible her grace wished to Beo her particularly." Audrey sat before the fire in her moth er's room ; she was clad In a pretty little white gown made In picturesque fashion, and her hands already had lost tho work stains that had seemed so out of place on them. She was scarcely conscious of what was going on around her. The pnst few days had sapped her strength, she cared to "do nothing, could do nothing but sit and wonder how her beloved, her hero, was. How little did she guess that, as she sat there fearing, dreading every fresh moment, that her lover was then speaking her name as Constance Fraser bent over his bed. "He has called her so often," his moth er whispered, with quivering Hps. "Oh, Constance ! My dear, you will do as he asks ! It may be his last wish !" Constance pressed her Hps on the brow above those eyes that, only a short time ago had been ' laughing and sparkling with life, happiness and manly vigor. "Bo comforted," she said, gently, for was he not lying on the edge of that dark, dread river? "It shall be as you wish." "And Audrey my wife before I die?" the words were uttered so faint they were scarcely audible. "And Audrey, my child, shall be your wife at once, without delay." A smile of joy radiated the poor young fellow's face ; he tried to clasp her hand, to murmur thanks, but he could do noth ing but He there, helpless as a child in his utter prostration. CHAPTER XII. The following morning, before Con stance Fraser had had time to compose her thoughts, and begin to prepare her child for what lay before her, Sheila come into the room. Audrey was lying -very quiet in her little bed, and the other girl noticed, with anger in her heart, how exquisitely love ly was that pale young face, pillowed among the delicate lace-edged linen and shadowed by'.the pink-lined curtains. It made her even savage, in her jealous hatred, to notice what daintiness the mother already gave to her new-found child. "I came to tell you," she said, very abruptly, "that I am going to London for a few days. Janet will accompany me. Is there anything that I . can do for you?" i Mrs. Fraser shook her head. Sheila went away in total ignorance that the most vital turn in events was to take place Immediately. It was no unusual thing for her to go to London for a few days, as she was a shrewd business woman, and superintend ed nearly all the movements of her af fairs. This time, however, there was nothing that would demand her atten tion, except this former marriage of her father's widow. She determined during her absence from Dinglewood to go herself to Broad borough and make, full inquiries about Audrey. , "I will not rest till I have full and complete proof that she is Frank Ans truther's child. If Only I can be success ful and discover any flaw, I think I shall know how to make it disagreeable for Mrs. Fraser and her charity girl." To Sheila's annoyance she found that Mr. Chester was in possession of every fact relating to Audrey's birth, and in a very short time placed these facts be fore her. ' ' "There is not a shadow of doubt, Miss Fraser," he said quietly, "that this young girl is Miss Anstruther. I have been myself to Broadborough and made every inquiry, and if these inquiries had failed, the appearance of the registration of birth and the marriage certificate would settle the question. I have been down to the church where Miss Gascoigne mar ried Captain Anstruther, and have pro cured another copy of the certificate. Here It is." "Which is so much worthless paper, considering that Captain Anstruther was married at the time and had a wife liv ing," Sheila remarked curtly. "I am happy In being abfe to assure you that this romance is not true, and congratulate you that your stepmother has at least one joy left her In life. Fate has treated her harshly, poor lady." She arose abruptly, and went away. As she re-entered her hotel, she saw a pile of luggage being carried in, and in her preternaturally sharp way she rec ognised the livery of the footman, who was superintending the portmanteaus and huge boxes, as that worn by the servants of the Earl of Daleswater. She whisper ed to her maid, Beecham, to find out if the family were about to stay at the hotel, and passed upstairs with the first sensa tion of pleasure she had experienced for some time, which grew stronger as she learned that the countess and her chil dren were expected up the following day from Daleswater House. (To he continued.) , Nothing But the Troth. Buncum My physician tells me I am working too hard. Marks The M. D. evidently know, his business. Buncum Why do you think so? Marks I have been comnarinsr notes I And you have worked us pretty hard. nlmtltnte for Celluloid. The many uses ami Inflatnmnbli llmracter of celluloid have led to an ictlve search for substitutes. The -new niiUeriul .ofC., .TrocguPiiet,, a, .French Inventor' of Velludod,n,sbesios a'o$ the organic mutter contaliied' ' lti ' 'oyster shells. The cellulose Is obtained by treating seaweed successively with iclcl and alknll, nud washing. .The as bestos Is ground with petroleum oil, while the ground oyster shells are treat ed with hydrochloric add unci tho In soluble residue is boiled with water, washed with weak nlkallne solution, and collected on a filter. The mixtures contain from 25 to 115 parts of tho cel lulose, 2 to 12 parts of the oiled asbes tos, and 20 to 45 parts of the oyster shell substances. The ninss Is treated with formnldehyde, suitably colored, and then pressed Into any form or ob ject for which celluloid con be used. v What n Doctor In Good For. Life Is such a constant rush to a well-known physician that to secure a little recreation be has recourse to ruses. A visitor called one night and began a speech to the servant. "I- want the doctor to come ns quiet ly ns he can." "He can't do It," the servant answer ed. "He left orders that he was so busy that, unless It was absolutely a matter of life and death, he couldn't go out at all this evening." ' "But," said the caller, "it isn't ill ness at all." "What then?" "We want him to come over and take a hand In a game of whist" "Oh, that's different." The servant disappeared, and reap peared a moment later. "The doctor says he'll be over In ten minutes, sir," he announced. Tlt-BIts. i Snow and Rain. The first man to whom It ever oc curred to find out how much rain was represented by a given fall of snow was Alexander Brlce of KIrknewtown, who in March, 17G5, made a simple experi ment with the contents of a stone Jug driven face downward into over six Inches of snow. What he learned was that a greater or less degree of cold, or of wind, when the snow falls, and Its "lying a longer or shorter time on the ground," will occasion a difference In the weight and lh the quantity of water produced ; "but If," he added, "I may tmst to the above trials,' which I endeavored to perform with care, snow, newly fallen, with a moderate gale of wind, freezing cold, will produce a quantity of water equal to one-tenth part of Its bulk." So that a fall of snow of ten Inches represents a rain fall of, one inch. London Chronicle. Hade on Hla Own Specification. Mrs. Jones Mr. Jones sent these trousers back. He says they are not anywhere near long enough. Snip (tailor) That's funny. When I went to collect my bill from him he told me he was shorter than he ever was in his life and I made these trous erg accordingly. Toledo Blade. A tERRIBLE EXPERIENCE. How a Veteran Was Saved the Am putation of a Limb, B. 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