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

compllshlng 1t.
And yet his object in coming is not to
wrong anyone, even though it may increase
his own pain by feeding the flame of a
perfectly hopeless love.
Yes, it was love that had brought Frank
Fairfield to this cherries spot. He felt
all the keen sorrow of hopeless love as he
wandered outside the house that held the
jewel he adored, yet dared not seek to
win.
All through this day the demon of un-
rest has been upon him, and at length, un-
able to control his actions, he had left his
mothers house, and Harvesting the cob to
pheton, which he had borrowed for a
week from neighbor, he drove the old
vehicle in the direction of Silverton Castle.
Arrived at the outskirts of the village,
he left the horse and carriage in a shed,
and set off to perform the rest of his jour
ney on foot.
He soon got tired of walking, however,
and as he came near the deep narrow river,
he bethought himself that he could ap-
proach the castle in boat with very much
less chance of being recognized.
SO, in spite of the cold, he took a dingy,
and then, though the darkness of night was
setting in, he began to row towards the
castle, for he knew every winding OF the
stream that flowed beneath its walls.
1t was quite dark when he moored his
boat under the Castle walls, and went eau
tiously round the mansion, to inspect it,
and to try to catch one glimpse of Kate.
The dogs did not bark at his approach,
for they knew him, and he had some diff
Guilty in quietly getting away from their too
demonstrative affection.
But the object of his fatiguing journey
was not attained He could not get into any
position where he could see Kate without
being observed and recognised.
He did not wish to speak to her. He
only wanted to look upon her face, and to
know that she was happy.
The hours went by, and he was becoming
sick and numbed, and his heart was heavy
for the sounds of mirth and joy, of music
and laughter, were in painfully strange con-
trast to his own desolate condition.
The falling snow warned him that he
must soon retrace his steps and make for
his mothers cottage, for his practised eye
told him that the snow-storm would be
both a long and heavy one.
Il will see her, come what may, he
muttered with sudden resolution, when
midnight was approaching, and the sound
of music from the hall had ceased.
He approached the disused tower, very
close to which his boat was moored, and
pulling aside some low bushes, he felt about
in the darkness for some time with his
hands.
At length he seemed to find what he
wanted, for his hand came in contact with
small grating, and half lifting this he was
able to take hold of a handle which, on
being turned, enabled him to push inward
portion of the masonry at the foot OF the
tower as though it were door.
This indeed it was, an iron door, with
stone so carefully and cunningly fitted
upon it that only person who knew the
secret could ever detect the spot, or suspect
the existence of any means of ingress.
Frank passed through this door, but he
did not close it, for he had no fear of any
one disturbing him, and he meant to enter
the castle without observation and hide
himself in some dark corner, so that he
might have one view of the gay scene in
the ballroom, where the lady he loved was
sure to be the belle, and then he intended
to return to the grounds as he came, leav-
inc no trace of his stolen visit behind him.
He had not been in this place for many
years and he advanced carefully and eau
tiously, more than once tempted to strike
light, yet fearful of betraying himself by
doing so.
This fear was increased by two or three
strange circumstances.
In the first place the wind seemed to
rush through the vaulted passage in per-
feet blast, and he fancied-though of course
he could not be sure, as there was no light
to guide him-that the false floor of the
chamber above must be out Of its place.
Fear of detection, and of coming sud
denly upon somebody he knew, made him
stand and eagerly listen for every sound.
He had just come to the conclusion that
whatever might be the condition of the
floor above, the coast for himself was clear,
and he was about to take a few steps for
ward and mount the iron ladder which he
had often used before, when the rush of
wind increased and the sound of voices
overhead became distinct.
There seemed to be words of expostu-
lation and Of encouragement, then there
was a despairing gasp Of terror as some
thing appeared to fall.
Whatever it was its descent was arrested
for moment, but only for a moment
then with heavy thud the something fell
close to his feet
He looked up but there was no light.
Whatever it might be that was lying SO
close to him it uttered no sound, and he
was standing bewildered, not knowing what
to do, hesitating whether to so away at
once, or strike a light and ascertain what
had happened, when, as he was hesitating
and doubling, he heard indistinctly a voice
overhead, and then, more plainly, the graf
ing sound of the floor above being forced
back into its proper place.
1t was only at this moment that the con-
Flcllou uaWuSu uPoh hlS nlnu ohao ooLhO
fearful crime had been committed of which
he had been the unintentional and unsus-
pectei witness.
A low groan close beside him reused
him to immediate action, and he took box
of wax matches from his pocket and struck
light.
The desire that had brought him here
this night above all nights was gratifed;
his eyes rested once more upon the face of
Kate Lilburne.
If ever prayer was granted, and came
to the suppliant as a curse, surely it was
so now with Frank Fairfield.
He looked upon Kate as she lay sense
less at his feet; blood was flowing from
wound ON her forehead, and from second
wound on the side of her head.
And yet her fall had been slightly broken
by her gown having been caught by some
projection from the wall.
The wounds on her head were serious,
however, and Frank tried to staunch the
blood with couple of large handkerchiefs
he had in his pocket
This was no easy matter, as he had to
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