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. Frank Doremus, veteran, of Roose
velt Ave., Indianapolis, Ind., says: "I
had been showing
symptoms of kidney
trouble from the time
I was mustered out of
the army, but in all
my life I never suffered
as in 1897. Head
aches, dizziness and
sleeplessness, fiist, and
then dropsy. I was
weak and helpless,
having run down from
180 to 125 pounds. I was having ter
rible pain in the kidneys, and the se
cretions passed almost involuntarily.
My left leg swelled until it was 34
inches around, and the doctor tapped it
night and morning until I could no
longer stand it, and then he advised
amputation. I refused, and began ue
ing Doan's Kidney Pills. The swelling
subsided gradually, the urine became
natural, and all my pains and aches
disappeared. I have been well now for
nine years since using Doan's Kidney
Pills.
For sale by all dealers 50 cents . a
box. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y.
Hla Temperament.
"What kind of a disposition has our
dyspeptic friend?"
"None at all only an Indisposition."
Washington Star.
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I lengthens the life of the
Irh wagon saves horse
' H power, time and tern-
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Y the world contains
powdered mica
which i
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reduces friction.
If you want your outfit
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while it lasts grease
the axles with Mica
Axle Grease.
STANDARO OIL COMPANY
For Thin,
Tkl 1
OOTDlOOa
You can trust a medicine
tested 60 years ! Sixty years
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Experience with Ayer's Sar
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tors endorse for thin blood,
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Hilt even this grand old medicine cannnt do
Its boat work If the llvor 1 Inactive and the
bowels contltel. For the bust possible re
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A Made by
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Also nianufaoturere of
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AQUB CURB.
WWf O CHERRY PKCT0RAL.
Good Tip.
"Do you think I enn reach the heart
of the haughty beauty?'" sighed the
sentimental -youth with the guitar
under his arm.
"Better try tunneling, old man," ad
vised his friend.
"Tunneling?"
"Yes. I heard her say that you were
a great bore." '
Great Dion.
"What makes your uncle look so
seedy, Harker?"
"Why, he blew in ten thousand last
year."
"Blew in ten thousand? Why, I
never knew your undo to be dissi
pated." "Oh, this wasn't dissipation. You
see, he Invented a patent bellows that .
turned out a failure."
11 A alTCI A good salesman, (one
WAN I rl J w"h he ad "KKy
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Address
SPECIALTY SELLING COMPANY
321 Hawthorne Ave., Portland, Oregon
FREE SAMPLE
1S
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AUSTIN WELL DRILLS
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321 Hawthorne Ave. Portland, Or.
1 .r r n i
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Wonderful Home
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This wonderful Chi
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guarantees to oii re catarrh, asthma, lung, throat
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Charges moderate. Call and see him. Patient
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Bend Stamp, CONSULTATION i'RKJC
Address
The C. Gee Wo Chinese Medicine Co.
1 62 nrst St, S. t Cor. Morrison
Mention paper Portland, Oregon
: i