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

There was a bough of mistletoe hanging
above them, but they did not need this as
an excuse for the long kiss of love in which
their lips first met; and Roland had led
Kate close to the fireplace, and they were
both watching the logs burning brightly
upon the hearth, and he was telling her
how dearly and truly he loved her, while
his arm clasped her graceful form, and her
head rested trustfully upon his shoulder,
when the door of the room was softly and
noiselessly opened.
So absorbed were they in their own hap
piness that they did not observe it, neither
did they see the child-like countenance of
Grace, with a murderous light in her blue
eyes, looking at them.
She went away, however, without max
ing her presence known.
But as she left the room in which her
sister and Roland were talking of their love,
her heart seemed to take fire, and her brain
became active for evil as that of fend.
All the pent-up malignity in her nature
now asserted itself, and she was ready to
commit any crime so that she might crafty
her hatred and win for herself some Of the
great advantages now possessed by her
rival
Love misplaced and affection sighted
are sometimes pleaded as excuses for deeds
of passionate revenge; but, though the plea
is bad one, Grace Lilburne could not
shield herself behind even that fimsy pre-
text.
1t is true that she coveted the admiration
and devotion of Roland Ayre; but this was
rather because it was given to Kate than
because she set any very great store upon
it for itself.
Indeed, she was incapable of the strong,
passionate, self-denying devotion that Is
quality of even the most selfish love, and
thus, though she would gladly enough have
committed any crime to win her sisters
lover she would very readily accept sub
stitute if she failed
Therefore, it was not solely on account
of Roland Ayre that she now gave herself
up heart and soul to work evil, but envy of
Hates beauty, of her wealth, and even of
her virtues made this wicked creature de-
termine upon her half-sisters destruction.
But how was it to be accomplished
1t is easy to wish an enemy dead, and
only little more difficult to some natures
to resolve to make the wish a reality, if an
opportunity to do so can be found; but it
is not always easy to make the opportunity
and to carry out the vile intention in such
a manner that no suspicion shall attach it
self to the perpetrator.
"She shall de- Kissed Grace, as she
clenched her little hands till her nails dug
themselves into the pink palms; Eyes, she
shall die this very night, even if risk my
own life by putting an end to hers. But
how-how am [ to do it p
She bent her head in morbid anxious
thought, and she wandered about the de-
serted passages and corridors Of the ancient
portion of the castle, as though she ex-
pected that the ghosts of some of her dead
ancestors, who had been notorious for their
evil deeds, would come to tell her how to
accomplish her murderous design.
In her restlessness she wandered up to
the top chamber in the old tower, and
listened to the bowling Of the wind and
peered through the narrow window into
the DARKNESS Deyonu.
A river ran near the base of this tower,
a deep silent river, that would not readily
betray her if she gave it a victim; but how
could Kate be consigned to the dark water
in such manner that help would not be
forthcoming?
She unused on this scheme so long that
she at last bethought her Of a way in which
| l. OBJ 1oUo 70 tho uar-SIdn
If Kate received note purporting to
come from Frank Fairfield, the son Of her
foster-mother, and whose mad infatuatiOn
for her sister had banished him from the
castle, Kate might perhaps yield to the
appeal and go out to meet him, and then
under cover of the dark night the rest
would be easy.
But would Kate keep the appointment,
or would she not be more likely to hand
the note to her father and ask him to deal
with the imprudent writer?
Here was the difficulty.
Grace knew that she would herself be
an easy dupe for such plot, but Kate was
so uncomfortably straightforward, and had
such high appreciation of what was due
to her own honor and dignity, that she
might regard the most impassioned appeal
as an insult and resent it accordingly.
And then again, Frank would not dare
to ask Kate to meet him, and she would
know this, and for this reason, if for no
other. would not go to the rendezvous.
next to Kate [ detest him., Grace
muttered vindictively; "but there has been
no love lost between us all our lives; he
was the terror of my childhood, and yet,
for all that, played him some clever tricks,
and often cot him punished when he would
otherwise have escaped. All, that reminds
me; in this very tower is the secret we'll
that he threatened to throw me into it
will answer my present purpose if | can
once get Kate to its edge. That will be
grand revenge indeed upon both of them"
She laughed low wicked laugh, and
the wild wind, as though in sympathy,
shrieked among the branches of the leafess
trees that partially surrounded the mansion.
But Grace needed not the sound; she had
given up her whole mind to work evil, and
the means by which to accomplish her foul
purpose were near at hand.
II must and will get her here this very
night" she muttered ''but how is it to be
done? All, have it. I'll propose game
of hide-and-seek, and it will go hard with
me if | don't make Kate hide in place
where Roland Ayre will never find her.
Well have modern edition of The Mis-
tletoe Bough.' "
Then she began to sing in a hooking
tone:
"And young Lowell cried,
ooh where dost thou hide?
am lonesome without thee,
My own dear bride "
She finished the song, the singing of
which seemed to give her much satisfac-
ton, though she had not single listener,
and when all her arrangements were made
she went back to the hall; but it was some
time afterwards before the happy lovers
rejoined the guests.
az wish YOU would try to put a little