The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-12-26

staircase which led to the turret-chambers
in one of which she was herself found by
Roland Ayre.
''Can she have hidden away in some old
oak chest?" suggested one romantic spin
ster doubtfully
But Mr.. Lilburne retorted disdainfully :
eve have no such old oak chests, nor
any secret rooms in this house, madam; all
that kind of thing was destroyed when the
castle was rebuilt by my father
at was not altogether rebuilt, suggest
ed the old lady timidly.
"No, but there was nothing mysterious
about what was left,'' was the impatient
reply. 'The old baronial hall, and that
part of the original building nearest the
river, were spared, and there is nothing
mysterious about them. used when a
boy to wish that there was"
"Still Kate must be somewhere" ex-
claimed Roland anxiously; "she would
never have gone out of the house on such
night as this, for the snow is falling heav-
lily, and, wherever she is, 1 am convinced
that she has met with foul play at the hands
of some one.
'tsWhat can you mean p demanded Mr..
Lilburne "Who is there who could wish
to injure my child? She never had an
enemy in the world"
Roland Ayre shook his head, and his
eyes unconsciously rested upon Grace.
''Do you think Kate has eloped?" she
asked nervously.
"Eloped With whom should she
elope?' demanded Roland hotly; 'ouly
this evening she promised to be my wife. /"
"I-I didn't know" faltered Grace;
''there was Frank Fairfield, whom papa
had to send away from the neighborhood;
I thought he might have come back again,
and"
"And what?" demanded her father,
sternly.
"And persuaded Kate to go away with
him." was the seeming reluctant answer,
"Then never make such a suggestion
again. Numbered Mr. Lilburne "Kate had
more consideration for herself and for me
than to have taken such step. Go to
your own room. If you had not persisted
in playing that ridiculous game, this mis-
fortune could never have happened; go to
your room, say"
The girl obeyed, and the other ladies Of
the party quickly followed her example.
CHOW what is to be done p asked Ro-
land blankly, when he and Mr.. Lilburne
with two gentlemen and three or four SER
wants were left together.
II don't know was the despairing re-
ply; ave will 60 through the house once
more if you like, but I have very little hope
of finding her before daylight. If some
thing very serious had not happened to her
she would have answered when we called
her. | don't know what to do, | feel per-
fectly stunned and bewildered.'
And lie pressed his hand to his throhbing
brow; the anxiety of the last hour seemed
to have aged him many years,
"You stay here and rest, " said Roland;
cor go to bed if you think you can sleep,
while I with some Of the servants will
search through the castle again"
And they did so.
But this second search was as fruitless
as the first had been, and all through that
night the snow fell with a soft rustling
sound and when the pale grey morning
dawned the cold misty light fell upon faces
haggard and worn with anxiety, while out
side the castle the ground was covered with
snow to the depth of several inches.
When daylight came the father and lover
searched every crevice in the great building
once again, and they called Kate by name,
and entreated her to answer, but the only
response was the echo of their own voices,
and at length the two men utterly broke
down under the grief that overwhelmed
them.