The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-02-16
Grace Lilburne's Secret.
A STORY or
TWO CHRISTMAS DAYS.

"But suppose your fatner VIII give
you Hates jewels; she had a splendid
collection, | know"
Rates jewels will go with her mon
ey TO her mothers family, when there
is proof that she is really dead; but IL
people talk such stuff to my father as
you did this afternoon IL is not likely
that anything reasonable will convince
him. replied Grace severely.
II don knOw'why You should call IL
stun. returned Miriam quietly; "peo-
pie don't disappear rs Your sister did
unless they 90 away to return at some
,.'ne or other. or unless they are muir
dered. Therefore until 1t is proved that
she Is dead We may reasonably hope
she Is alive.
Grace shrugged her shoulders. She
would not discuss the matter, but init
mated that II was time they should he
gin to dress. and her maid came for
ward to attend 10 her while the girls all
went of to their own rooms.
They hurried so much that when they
entered the drawing-room they found
the room quite empty.
Other people soon trooped in, how
ever, and very soon the COulbOurne
girls found themselves sufficiently
well sought after, despite their plain
attire.
The rivals Of the evening, however,
were the brde-elect and her chief
bridesmaid Miriam Hindman.
Grace was dressed in pale blue, eX-
quisitely trimmed with cream lace and
6lush-roses, while her golden hair, her
gold ornaments, and her bright blue
eyes made her look bewitching In the
extreme.
But her beauty was quite eclipsed
when NJ riam appeared.
The brunette wore rOse-colored satin,
half-covered with costly black lace
Topped with es-of-the-valley, while
pearls and diamonds were clasped round
her throat, and lilies and diamonds
shOne in her jet-black hair.
Independent of ornament, Miriam
was wonderfully beautiful, but rich
colors and sparkling gems added great
~ To her natural charms, and she used
laughingly To say that she was thank
full she had been born too late to be ex-
pected to wear white muslin gowns,
short in the waist and tied round with
u sash, until the time when she should
be married.
1T was almost enough to drive a girl
to marry the first man who asked her,
II only to obtain the privilege of wear
ing silk and satn,n she would say
laughingly. Happily in our days we
can wear what we like, without caring
for the opinion of the male sex or for
that of Mrs. Grundy."
She seemed to care for the good opin-
ion Of one member of the male sex this
evening, however, and he for hers, and
though his marriage with his hosts
daughter was fixed for the following
morning, Victor seemed to be unable
to resist the attraction of Miriam's
black eyes.
Grace watched the couple jealousy
whenever she thought of them; but
something more important than the
temporary detection of her lover filled
her thoughts. She was planning how
to get away from her guests unobserved
and to stay long enough to be able to
ascertain what lay mt the bottom of the
dark shaft into which she had thrust
her sister:
~ shall have no opportunity after to-
night" she thought gloomily, "for to-
morrow | shall have people about me
the whole time until 90 to church, and
after that shall go away with Victor.
"Yes, it must be tonight. When the
conjurors engaged come into the hall to
play their tricks | will slip away.
shall be less missed then than at any
time"
She smiled as she came to this con-
clusion, and turned to answer Il ques-
ton which a gentleman ut her side had
asked.