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

NJ yOu huSO hO0P Jul "eAN
her; but I am sorry for you and-and-
so sorry for myself" :.
She slipped away from him as she said
this, and ran upstairs, but on her way to
her own room to dress, she thought, as a
species of Standardization, she would go
into Grace's room with the other girls and
try to be civil to her young hostess.
Many of the bridesmaids had clustered
round the expectant bride, and took great
interest in the dress she was going to wear
on this, the last evening when she would
sit at the head of her fathers table as the
mistress of his household, and they admired
over again the very handsome trousseau
with which she was provided.
"You don't seem to have much Jewelry,
remarked Miriam Hindman. Il wish L
had known it before, for [ would have
given you a bracelet as a wedding present
instead of the silver dishes [ brought with
me. But | suppose your father will give
you Hates jewels; she had splendid col
lection, | know
''Kate's jewels will go with her money
to her mothers family, when there is proof
that she is really dead but if people talk
such stuff to my father as you did this
afternoon it is not likely that anything
reasonable will convince him" replied
Grace severely.
81 don't know why you should call it
stuff" returned Miriam quietly; people
don't disappear as your sister did unless
they 90 away to return at some time or
other, or unless they are murdered. There
fore until it is proved that she is dead we
may reasonably hope she is alive.
Grace shrugged her shoulders. She
would not discuss the matter, but intimated
that it was time they should begin to dress,
and her maid came forward to attend to her
while the girls all went off to their own
rooms.
They hurried 50 much that when they
entered the drawing-room they found the
room quite empty.
Other people soon trooped in, however,
and very soon the Coulbourne girls found
themselves sufficiently well sought after,
despite their plain attire.
The rivals of the evening, however, were
the bride-elect and her chief bridesmaid,
Miriam Hindman.
Grace was dressed in pale blue, exquis-
istely trimmed with cream lace and blush
roses, while her golden hair, her gold orna-
ments, and her bright blue eyes made her
look bewitching in the extreme.
But her beauty was quite eclipsed when
Miriam appeared.
The brunette wore rose-colored satin,
half-covered with costly black lace Topped
with lilies-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 greatly to her natural
charms, and she used laughingly to say
that she was thankful she had been born
too late to be expected to wear white mus
lin gowns, short in the waste and tied round
with sash, until the time when she should
be married.
at was almost enough to drive girl to
marry the first man who asked her, if only
to obtain the privilege Of wearing silk and
satin," she would say laughingly. CLAP
PLY 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 opinion
of one member of the male sex this even
ing, however, and he for hers, and though
his marriage with the hosts daughter was
fixed for the following morning, Victor
seemed to be unable to resist the attraction
of Miriams black eyes.
Grace watched the couple jealousy when
ever she thought Of them; but something
more important than the temporary defec-
ton 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 at the bot
tom of the dark shaft into which she had
thrust her sister:
Il shall have no opportunity after to-
night" she thought gloomily, ''for to-mor-
row shall have people about me the whole
time until | go to church, and after that L
shall 90 away with Victor.
Eyes, it must be tonight. When the
coniurors 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 conclu-
sion, and turned to answer question which
gentleman at her side had asked.
CHAPTER VI.
WHAT GRACE SAW AT THE BOTTOM OF
THE SHAFT.
The tables had been cleared away, the
guests had returned to the grand old hall,
and dancing had been going on for nearly
a couple of hours, when the band ceased
playing, and company Of conjurors and
jugglers, specially engaged for the occasion,
made their appearance.
All the lights were lowered, and the
large party of guests seated themselves
in half circle around the performers.
The host this evening was more than
restless, he was nervous and excited, and
as the minutes and the hours went on he
seemed to find it difficult to turn his eyes
from the door.
care you expecting anybody, papa p
Grace had asked him more than once as
she observed his singular manner
"Yes-I don't know" he had replied
impatientiently 'don't mind me, go and
amuse Yourself
And he turced away as though annoyed
at being questioned.
Grace was too much troubled with her
own perplexities to pay much heed to her
father, and when the jugglers commenced
their tricks, and she believed all eyes were
fixed upon them, she rose from her seat
and quietly left the room.
She had made all her preparations.
The previous year she had soiled her
delicate dress, and she remembered how
Roland Ayre had looked at her as he pointed
opt the stain.
Now she was more prudent.
She hastily buttoned on a dark ulster
that completely covered her pale-blue gown,
and otherwise protected herself against the
cold, for she recollected even now, with a
shudder, how the wind, rushing up from
the dark aperture, had seemed to strike her
with its icy breath and chill her to the
very bone.