The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-02-11

be for her happiness would rather see
her your wife, than have any doubt as
10 her safety or welfare
MY wifeln repeated Fairfield with
mournful bitterness; 1.-THE woman Is not
born who Will be my wife. But You ask
Tor my help, and perhaps will give il
TO you. l must think the matter over,
however. win you call on me three
days hence, or, better still, give me an
address where ! can write to you.n
And you will write TO megr asked
roland, as he gave him his address in
town.
Yes. will write without fail-
Then Roland reluctantly went AWAY,
lie would have liked to ask several
questions, but lie felt that IL he did so
the engineer would think he doubted
nm, aud be estimated the mans char
acter with sufficient accuracy TO feel
convinced that only by treating him
with perfect trust and confidence could
he. win his cooperation.
But as Roland Ayre walked AWAY
from Fairileld's Office it was with the
disagreeable conviction that the latter
nad questioned and cross-questioned
him, and learnt all that he had to tell,
and told him absolutely nothing In re-
turn.
THE fellow is rs close as an oyster"
ne muttered, and yet like him; there
Is something firm, and strong. and
massive IN the mans character. while
he gives one the idea of possessing a
certain amount of latent power which
only exceptional circumstances will
bring into action. And how he loves
ketel Surely together we ought to be
able to find her alive or dead. "
IL was with some Impotence that he
waited, day after day, for the promised
communication; but whole week
elapsed before brief note came from
Fairfield asking Roland to meet him on
the following day.
The appointment was kept, and when
the first brief salutation was over the
engineer said:
IF you are dsengaged to-day / will
take You to see my mother. You know
she was Miss Lilburne's nurse?n
Yes, have heard she was her fos-
Fairfield inclined his head rs he con-
tinued:
"My mother was as much devoted 10
her as though Miss Kate had been her
own child, and she is in great trouble
about her now. promised to take you
TO her; Perhaps you can help each
other.n
But how can help herY Does she
know where Kate is?b
"She will explain everything to you
herself" was the evasive answer. "Do
you feel disposed to 90 with me to my
mothers house?r
Certainly; my time Is at your SER
vice. Where does your mother liye?n
About twenty miles this side of Sill
yerton Castle, was the reply, land fifty
from London; but we shah get down
there in q couple hours"
Then the two young men went off to-
gether, Fairfield leaving word at the
Office that he should not return for the
day.
It was late in the afternoon when
they reached Beechcroft, and Fairfield
remarked that they had still three miles
to walk or ride.
Let us ride" said Roland inpatient
ly. II feel as though every moment we
spend upon the road stands between me
and my meeting with Kate
Fairfield looked at his COMPANION in
startled surprise, and he said with a
sigh;
You are anticipating too much.
You must prepare yourself for some
thing the reverse of happy. What
made my hair turn white In n single
week can bring you no comfort nor sat
isfaction.
Was Kate the cause of your white
hair!' asked Roland in unfeigned sur
prise.
"I es; last Christmas Eve was IA
free from grey hairs rs you are. Now
look at me-
But how did il happenY Why are
You SO mysteriousy Why don't YOU deal
frankly with me?'
My mother will tell you all that YOU
need to know was the answer. II
only warn You to anticipate evil rather
than good. y
Roland felt chill come over him.
1t was not the keen air OF early spring
that made him SILVER, but the cold feel
ing OF dread and anxiety that Fairiield's
words caused him.
For, despite all reasoning to the con-
trary, he had cherished the hope that
when he reached Mrs. Fairfield's cot
tage he would clasp Kate Lilburne to
his heart.
When he glanced at the white hair of
his companion, however, and heard
what was the cause assigned for il. he
felt only too well convinced that some
dark tragedy had linked itself with the
fate of his beloved.
For the rest of the Journey the two
men were silent, one was too sad, and
the other was too nervously anxious to
talk.
IL was n large handsome cottage at
the gate OF which they drew up, and as
they walked towards the door ii was
opened by Mrs. Fairfield herself
She was a tall fine-looking woman,
comparatively young-looking still, and
very like her son, though her dark
brown hair as yet showed no sign of
approaching age.
There was Difference rather than hui
mllity in her manner as she gravely in
vlted Mr.: Ayre to enter, while she
herself led the way into comfortably
furnished sitting-room.
The young man eagerly glanced
round the apartment as though he hop
ed TO see someone, but If so he was dis
appointed; there was not single sign
OF anybody having been in the room
save the woman to whom it belonged.
II have told Mr.. Ayre that you could
probably help him in tracing Miss
Kate" said Fairfield when they were
all seated; but perhaps it will be as
well If he tells you first how Kate dis
appeared and what steps have been
taken to find her; you viii then be bet
ter able to connect his part of the story
with the little you know"
Roland almost fumed with Impotence.
lie did not want to go over the old
ground again, he wanted to know with
out delay what they could tell him.
But Mrs. Fairfield, though very polite.
was likewise very firm.
Moreover, she was suspicious.
Yes, she was suspicious even of her
own son, and as Roland, finding no