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

more, but again in vain, and then Roland
Ayre babe adieu to the sorrowful old man
and his fearful daughter.
"You will come again soon, Roland, and
tell us if you have discovered anything?'
Grace had pleaded plaintively as he was
going away.
But he replied coldly:
II shall never enter Silverton Castle
again, unless [ bring Kate with me, or
come to meet her."
And turning to Mr. Lilburne, he added
II shall take you at your word
Heaven grant you may be able to do
so,' was the answer. Then they clasped
hands and parted.
Grace questioned her father as to what
Roland meant. But she received no salts
factory reply.
Days and weeks rolled on. The mystic
ry was mystery still, and Grace began to
talk of putting on mourning for the sister
who must be dead.
When she spoke of it to her father,
however, he sternly forbade anything of
the kind to be done.
"Why should you suppose Kate to be
dead?" he demanded angrily. ~ don't
believe she is dead. | believe that she is
alive, and that 1 shall see and clasp her in
my arms before 1 die. ;"
Grace trembled with fear. Kate alive!
Kate in her dungeon, bruised, bleeding,
and starving! No, it could not be. Death
must have ended her suferings ere now,
and the dead girl could not come back to
tell the piteous tale of treachery and cruel
ty of which she had been the victim.
Other people looked forward to the pos
sibility of Hates return to her fathers
house, and many were the speculations as
to what would happen if she did come back.
But Grace quietly smiled at all such antic-
ipations.
She knew they would never be realized.
She knew past all doubling, that Kate was
dead, and that therefore there was no "if''
in the matter, and she secretly but exult-
inoly 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 Hates
fortune, but one cannot get all one desires
in this world, and she began to wonder
how long it would be before 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 mouth, that it seemed
impossible to suspect her Of anything
more serious than carelessness or folly.
So those who Judged only by appear
ances pitied her because of the sadness
of her lot, and others liked her none the
less for the fact that she was now a great
heiress
Roland Ayre, true to his word, never
came near Silverton Castle, and the Lii
burnes received no message from him;
but Victor Gayherd, a cousin Of his, came
frequently, and so also did Algernon Cole
brook
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 curious
study; and when on one occasion she was
rendered sufficiently irritable and uncom-
Portable to make her ask sharply what
made him do so, he replied with bow;
''My profound admiration"
Il l.. 1ool 10
transgress in like manner again, and soon
after this he ceased to call at Silverton
Castle.
Victor came pretty frequently, however.
He was handsome, light-hearted, and un-
comfortably poor, and it was above all
things necessary that he should find rich
wife.
He made no secret of his position, but
treated all the accidents that befell him
in life in a happy-g o-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 propos-
ing hoping that Roland would tire of his
fruitless search, and would return 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 philosophi-
cally 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 ex=
preston of his countenaRce quickly told
her of the non-succeSS of his mission.
II don't think your governor is quite
right" the young man remarked as be took
a seat by her side; che seems little bit
touched and he tapped his own forehead
significantly.
'Why, what did he say?' asked Grace
breathlessly
"He said a 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 all
doubt, that he will only give you the
portion you would have had before she was
lost"
"That is provoking, but it won't matter
in the long run, y returned Grace heartless-
ly; 'he cant live for ever, and then all he
has must be mine"
"Unless your sister is alive" replied Vic
tor slowly.
"Oh, she's dead safe enough, was the
callous answer; ''you needn't trouble about
her."
''You speak as though yon had seen
her die" he exclaimed with sudden sus-
picion.
"Well, I didn't see her die" she retort-
ed defantly, as she contracted her brows
and clinched her teeth; "but l haven't
the least doubt she is dead. If she were