The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-12-26
GRACE LILBURNE'S SECRET.
A STORY OF Two CHRISTMAS DAYS.
CONTINUED FROM SUPPLEMENT. |

CONTINUED FROM SUPPLEMENT.
As her son was of the same opinion as Roland.
MIS- Fairfield was obliged to YIELD though she did
SO unwillingly and against her judgment.
The news of Grace Lilburne's contemplated mar
rage with Victor Gayherd did more to reconcile the
nurse to Roland's views than anything else, and
even when she heard that the wedding was not to
take place until after Christmas Day. her feelings
on the subject underwent no change.
From this time she QUITE fell in with Mr.. Ayre's
plan, and lent him her hearty cooperation.
was to be restored to reason, health and happiness
or was to depart without further delay to that land
towards which we sons and daughters OF mortal
race are all slowly but surely travelling
Two of the most eminent surgeons in Europe had
underta ken to assist the great Sir Felix Ferris in
performing the critical operation and even their
cool heads and practiced hands must have felt
extra strain upon them they began their work
with the consciousness that only the thinnesS of
paper stood between their patient and eternity.
The case was so critical that no one was allowed
in the room besides the operating surgeon and his
assistants In the adjoining apartment Roland Ayre
paced slowly to and fro his hands tightly holding
his head as though it would burst with feverish
anxiety.
At this last moment he began to regret that he had
not sent for Mr. Lilburne. But was too late the
die was cast and as he looked at Frank Fairfield
ana his mother, and saw that their anxiety was
scarcely second to his own, he felt that he al
ready had companions enough in his misery
To the three watchers the minutes that pass are
like hours before the door they watch eagerly
gently opens, and one of the surgeons with smiling
face beckoned them into the room.
I'VE have succeeded. Her reason is already COM
ing back to her. said Sir Felix Ferris in low Tone
And just then Kate lifted her head and extending
her hands in terror exclaimed:
"Grace, won't hide here; | tell you am afraid"
She looked about her, but the room was strange,
so were the faces until her eyes lighted upon that of
her lover.
Then the first smile that had wreathed her face
since that fearful night came over it, and she held
out her hands to him as she asked:
Roland, have been dreaming? thought was
Christmas night. and we were all playing at hide
and-seek and Grace was persuading me to hide in
tower, suddenly
| thought was falling down some awful chasm, and
then / woke with the fright. But where am [?
don't know this place, and who are these peope?"
She asked this in a low Tone not wishing to seem
rude, but Mrs. Fairfield came forward and asked
70f course do-Nurse Fairfield, my foster moth
er; but that isn't Frank
1T is Frank" was the reply.
But now the doctors interposed and suggested
quiet and an absence of all excitement The opera
ton had been completely successful but it was well
not to put too great strain upon the newly-awak-
ened intellect.
So Kate was persuaded to try to sleep for a while
having previously been assured that everything
should be explained to her in good time, and Roland
and Frank went away with the doctors. while Mrs
Fairfield alone remained to guard her nursing
The young lady should be taken to some quiet
place by the sea, and excitement of every Kind
should be carefully avoided for some time to come,
said the great surgeon who had conducted the OPP
Grafton.
For several months repeated Roland in dsmay;
'do you mean that several months must elapSe be-
fore it will be safe for her to marry?"
Most decidedly" was the reply; "under very
favorable conditions and provided she is kept free
from all trouble and anxiety in the interval it may
be safe for her to marry i'll December but certainly
not before and it is now the end of July"
So the matter was decided, though Mrs Fairfield
shook her head over the arrangement but she did
not refuse to take her foSterchd down to the quiet
fishing village, and remain there with her while
Roland very reluctantly went for short tour on the
Continent. and on his return to England he en-
braced girl who was strangely like the lost Kat
Lilburne.
Strangely like her indeed The bloom of health
had returned to her cheek; the fearless queenly dig
nifty that had deserted her with the loss of reason
but for which she had been distinguished before
that terrible fall, had come back to her now while
she was as winning and loving as she had ever BEEN
No trace now remained of the terrible ordeal
which she had recently passed through.
Next to her delight at meeting her lover and the
prospect of being united to him. the desire
to be embraced by her father and to dissipate the
grief which she knew he must feel at her loss.
81 hope we have not been selfish in not sending to
papa" she said anXiouSly, as she talked to Roland
about her father. Il shall never forgive myself if
our silence has injured his health"
You need have no fear upon that account, dear
est" he replied somewhat bitterly; your absence
from Silyerton will be celebrated this year with
joicing rather than be mourned over with tears. A
wedding party is to be assembled the castle is to be
filled with guests. and am among the number of
those invited to the Christmas and wedding festivi
ties
You" exclaimed Kate in surprise
Yes; and have written to your father to say
will come on Christmas night and bring my bride
with me. / thought my letter would prepare him."
do you think he will suspect who your bride will
be ?" she asked, with bushing cheeks and downcast
eyes
Il should think so, was the answer; ''for 1 told
him when we parted that l would never enter Sill
verton Castle again unless l came to meet you or
brought you with me-"
She said no more; his devotion touching her deep
ly and all her past sufierings seemed nothing in
presence of the life of perfect love that lay before
her
1t was soon after this and about the middle of De-
cember that quiet wedding took place i'll the par
ish church of the village where Kate Lburne had
for some months found home.
He was young man, though his hair was white
who gave the bride away, and no one but himself
ing hope that he had unconsciously cherished i'll
his heart.
But Frank Fairfield gave no outward sign of his
selfconqueSt and he wrote his name in the register
as witness, without a tremble in the signature.
The marriage had been conducted with all pos
sihf6 secrecy but the names of the contracting
ties could not be kept from the officiating clergyman
the clerk, and it was from the former that Miriam
Hindman received hint to the effect that Mr.. Lii
appearance had caused SO much CONSERVATION a
year ago, was still alive.
More she could not learn, but she shrewdly sus-
pected that Christmas would not pass by without
witnessing Hates return to her fathers house.
This expectation went a great way towards in
ducipg her to accept the invitation to be Grac Lii
burnes bridesmaid, though at that time she had no
intention of bringing the bridegroom as a truant
lover to her own feet.
The strength of their old love, however, proved
too strong for Miriam and Victor to withstand and
Grace must be prevented, when, already narrated
the doors were thrown open and Mr. and Mrs, Ro-
land Ayre appeared on the threshold.