The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-02-09

ere now, and the dead girl could not
come back TO tell the piteOus tale OF
treachery and cruelty Of which she had
been the victim.
Other people looked forward TO the
possibility of Hates return to her faith
er's house, and many were the specula-
tons as TO what would happen IL she
did come back; But Grace quietly
smiled at all such anticipations.
She knew that they would never be
realised. She knew, past all doubling,
that Kate was dead, and that therefore
there was no "if' in the matter, and she
secretly but exultingly declared herself
to be her fathers sole heiress.
Hitherto Kate had been first, while
she in all things had been second. Her
fathers property would at his death
have been divided equally between his
two daughters, but the title, as there
were two Of them, would naturally have
fallen in allegiance.
She sighed as she remembered she
could not forthwith take possession Of
Rates fortune, but one cannot get all
one desires In this world, and she be-
gan to wonder how long 1t would be be-
fore her fathers life would come to an
end.
And throughout all this she looked so
innocent, so pretty, and so child-like
with her golden curls, her sweet blue
eyes, and rosebud of u mouth, that 1t
seemed impossible TO suspect her of
anything more serious than careless
ness or folly.
So those who judged only by appear
ances pitied her because OF the sadness
of her lot, and others liked hernone the
less for the fact that she was now n
great heiress.
Roland Ayre, true to his word, never
camo near Silverton Castle, an the Lii
burnes received no message from him;
but Victor Gayherd. cousin OF his,
came frequently, and so also did Alger-
non Colebrook.
But Grace never felt quite at ease in
the presence of the latter. Algernon
would sit or stand, and calmly and
steadfastly look at her as though she
were a curious study; and when on one
occasion she was rendered sufficiently
irritable and uncomfortable to make
her ask sharply what made him do so,
he replied with a bow; my profound
admiration
But his admiration did not lead him
to transgress in like manner again, and
soon after this he ceased to call at Sill
verton Castle.
Victor came pretty frequently, how
and uncomfortably poor, and II was
above all things necessary that he
should find a rich wife.
lie made no secret of his position,
but treated all the accidents that befell
him in life in happy-go- lucky fashion,
taking nothing very seriously or very
much to heart.
Personally he was very like his cous-
in, Roland, and in other respects was
far too good for treacherous Grace Lii
burne.
For time Grace kept him from pro-
posing, hoping that Roland would tire
of his fruitless search, and would re-
turn to her, for she felt that he knew
that she loved him.
But Roland never came nor showed
the least sign of coming, no news of
him reached the castle, and Grace phil
osophically came to the conclusion that
she might as well take what she could
get, since she could not obtain what she
wanted.
SO one day Victor Gayherd proposed
and was accepted, and Grace sent him
off to her father TO obtain his consent:
So far she was safe, and If she could
get away for time and forget her
crime she thought that all would be
well.
When Victor returned, however, the
expression of his countenance quickly
told her Of the non-success of his mis-
sion.
81 don't think your governor is quite
right" the young man remarked as he
took seat by her side; 'he seems lit.
tie bit touched" and he tapped his own
forehead significantly.
why, what did he say" asked Grace
breathlessly.
''Iie said q good many things. He
seems to believe that your sister is alive
though he has not seen her nor heard
from her, and he says that until he has
received proof of her death beyond al
doubt, that he will only give you thu
portion you would have had before she
was lost"
"Ihat Is provoking, but II won't mat
Ter IN the long run, returned Grace
heartlessly' ne can i've Ior ever, ah'
Iheli ail ne mas ihuse pe NINE 1i >, .,,o.
", Oniess your sis'er ID aii'e, repiie'
VicIor Slowly =,
=, On, snes ueau sale enougn, wa
tne calious answer you heeuii I trou
pie .Y YDOu sn meI no ,hou,b Won had soe,
her de- he exclaimed with sudden sus
picion.
"Well, didn't see her die" she re
torted defiantly, as she contracted he
brows and clenched her teeth; but
haven't the least doubt she is dead. |
she were not, do you think she woul,
stay away from everything that cal
make life enjoyableY No, she is dea,
enough, and SilvertOn must one day b,
mine. But what else did papa sayy III
did not refuse his consent to our MAJ
rage, did he?n