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

in which she bit her lips with modification
An attentive servant looking after his
wants soon recalled him to the deslrabllty
of doing justice to the Christmas cheer, and
he found Very little time to notice jealousy
how attentive Algernon Colebrook was to
the fair hostess.
Even a Christmas dinner must have an
end, though the viands be as plentiful and
the delicacies as numerous as on this occa-
sion, and soon after the dessert had made
its appearance the ladies retired to the spa
cious drawing-room, where the gentlemen
soon joined them.
awe are going to dance in the great
hail." Kate explained to Roland Ayre,
when for the first time that evening he
managed to secure a seat by her side; ''it
makes splendid ballroom when the tables
and rugs are cleared away"
eyes, so | should think You have not
forgotten your promise to give me the first
dance?'
ooh, no, and she blushed with conscious
qualification as, despite her sister remarks,
she felt sure that Mr.. Ayre loved her.
sion, and soon the host followed by his
guests trooped to the hall, where he lead
off the ball with the most distinguished
lady present, while Roland and Kate I'M
mediately followed.
Grace, who was likewise dancing, watch
ed her sister jealousy, and she saw how,
after a time, Roland led Kate into re-
cess half screened from the rest of the hall
by flowers, and she scarcely needed to listen
to them to learn what the ardent lover was
saying.
To her secret satisfaction, however, the
lovers were interrupted before half-a-dozen
words could pass between them, for Al ger
non Colebrook, who had engaged Kate for
the second dance, now came up to claim
her hand.
When her sister had taken the arm of
the baronet, Grace joined Roland, and be-
gan to talk with him.
But he did not ask her to dance, and he
paid very little heed to what she said, for
his eyes were following Kate and her part
ner through the mazes of the dance.
"Kate and Mr. Colebrook seem very well
matched, don't they?" observed Grace,
following the direction Of his gaze.
They dance very well together, if that
is what you mean" he replied, curtly.
And then he turned to address a couple
of ladies who had just drifted into this
corner of the room.
"He is infatuated with her. but believe
[ could make him love me if she were out
of the way" thought Grace, darkly; ''she
has always been the first in everything
has always stood between me and what |
most desired.
"She has robbed me of my fathers love,
and all the servants in the house would risk
their lives for her, while they would not
imperil finger to help me; and now she
has stolen the love of Roland Ayre, whom
| love better than life, and whom [ had re-
solved to marry. Oh, if [ could but get
rid of her once and all, how different life
would be-what brilliant future of sue
cess and happiness would then lie before
me.
With these evil thoughts in her mind
Grace left the hall, and wandered about
listening to the sounds of mirth and revelry,
but there was no responsive echo in her
heart.
Dark vengeful thoughts filled her breast,
and as she listened to the shrill wind as it
howled round the mansion, and putting her
face close to the window, saw the large
white flakes of snow that were beginning
to fall, she shivered and wondered why the
world was full of contrasts, and why her
sisters lot should be so bright and happy,
while, to her distorted Imagination, her own
was so dark and cherries.
That the fault lay in herself never for a
moment occurred to her, and when she
complained of the devotion of the servants
to Kate, she conveniently chose to forget
that her sister never spared her purse nor
her own comfort when any Of the servants
were sick OF in any kind Of trouble.
Hates good deeds were done silently
whenever it was possible, and their number
was too great to be counted; but Grace had
never been known to sacrifice her own con-
venience for the welfare Of any living crea-
ture.
But the evil spirits that always strive to
make humanity their prey have full pos
session of the barons youngest child to-
night, and as she wanders away from her
fathers guests through this most ancient
part of the castle, plot, as diabolical in
its wickedness as it is cruel in its concep-
ton, frames itself in her mind, and she pre-
pares for its execution.