The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-02-18
Grace Lilburne's Secret.
A STORY OF
TWO CHRISTMAS DAYS.

so tnat lie might nave one view OF the
gay scene in the ballroom, where the
lady he loved was sure to be the belle,
and then he intended to return to the
grounds as he came, leaving no trace OF
his stolen visit behind him.
He had not been in this place for
many years and he advanced carefully
and cautiously, more than once tempted
TO strike light, yet fearful OF betray-
ing himself by doing so.
This fear was increased by two or
three strange circumstances.
In the first place the wind seemed TO
rush through the vaulted passage In n
perfect blast, and he fancied-though
of course he could not be sure, as there
was no light to guide him-that the
false floor Of the chamber above must
be out of its place.
Fear of detection, and of coming sud-
denly upon somebody he knew, made
him stand and eagerly listen for every
sound.
lie had just come to the conclusion
that whatever might be the condition
OF the floor above, the coast for himself
was clear, and he was about to take "a
few steps forward and mount the iron
ladder which he had often used before,
when the rush of wind increased and
the sound OF voices overhead became
distinct
There seemed TO be words of expostu-
lation and of encouragement, then there
was a despairing gasp OF terror as some
thing appeared to fall.
Whatever 1t was its descent was ar
rested for moment, but only for mo-
ment, then with a heavy thud the some
thing fell close to his very feet.
He looked up, but there was no light.
Whatever II might be that was lying
so close to him 1t uttered no sound, and
he was standing bewildered, not know
ing what to do, hesitating whether to
go away at once, or strike light and
ascertain what had happened, when, as
he was hesitating and doubling, he
heard indistinctly voice overhead. and
then, more plainly, the grating sound
OF the floor above being forced back in
to its proper place.
1t was only at this moment that the
conviction dawned upon his mind that
some fearful crime had been committed
of which he had been the unintentional
and unsupported witness.
a low groan close beside him reused
him to Immediate action, and he took
box of wax-matches from his pocket
and struck light.
The desire that had brought him here
this night above all nights was gratifed:
his eyes rested once more upon the face
Of Kate Lilburne.
III ever prayer was granted. and
came to the suppliant as curse, surely
it was so now with Frank Fairfield.
lie looked upon Kate as she lay sense
less at his feet; blood was flowing from
wound on her forehead, and from
second wound on the side of her head.
And yet her fall had been slightly
broken by her gown having been caught
by some projection from the wall.
The wounds on her head were serious,
however, and Frank tried to staunch
the blood with couple of large hand
kerchiefs he had in his pocket.
This was no easy matter, as he had
to do 1t in the dark, his wax-matches
being OF no use except for second or
two at time.
Kate remained senseless, and the
young man tried to revive her by fore
ing some brandy which he had in his
flask down her throat.
But his efforts were in vain, and the
dank vault In which they both were
chilled the blood in his veins, while the
girl who was laying on the floor was al
most as cold as though she were dead.
His first thought was for Kate, and
he took off his thick warm ulster, wrap
ped her in it as well as he could, then,
turned to leave her so that he might
rouse the inmates of the castle, and
bring them to her assistance.
lie had only taken few steps, how
ever, for this purpose before he paused,
suddenly rendered powerless by the
difficulties and dangers of the situation,
not onlyto himself, but to Kate, until
she should be sufficiently recovered to
explain what had happened. .
What business had he in the castlep
would naturally be the first enquiry,
and he was compelled TO admit that he
had none-that he was midnight tres
passer and might be taken into custody
as a suspected person.
Then again, 1t was evident that a de-
liberate crime had been committed of
which Kate was the victim: but who
had planned or executed it, he had not
the faintest idea.
mo one can nurse her like my moth
er, who has been the only mother she
has ever known" he murmured as he
lifted the fair girl tenderly in his arms,
and carried her out of the vault into the
open air, and to the boat.
How he accomplished that journey
through the snow-st0rm he never right
ly knew, but when he was obliged to
leave the boat as the river would have
tain point, he bribed homeless tramp
whom he found taking shelter in the
deserted boat-house to help him carry
"hs brother, who,n he said, "had met
with an accident" to the shed where
he had left his cob and phaeton.
/ He placed Kate in the carriage, and
thus the tramp only saw an inanimate
figure wrapped in a brown ulster.
And the man, when the task was
completed, went on his way, glad of the
handful of silver given him for his
pains, and, as day after day took him
farther away from this part of the
country, he never heard of the strange
disappearance of Kate Lilburne, and
even had he done so, he would probably
have failed to connect it with the piece
of good fortune that had befallen him
this bitter night.
Frank reused his mother to attend
the unconscious girl Mrs. Fairfield 3
face was white and stern as she angrily
asked:
What have you done to her? Is she
deadpn
"God only knows" he replied de-
| jectedly; but have done her no harm.
i have saved her from certain death II
she is not already dead"
go for the doctor and don't come
back without him.
Her words were brief; her son might
tell her what story he liked, she had al
ready formed her own conclusion, and
she mentally resolved that il Kate Lii.
burne died she would not in any way
shield her son from the consequences
of this nights work
CHAPTER VIII.