The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-08-13
Lilburne's Secret.
A STORY OF
TWO CHRISTMAS DAYS.
CHAPTER II.
LOVE AND TREACHERY.


peIaJe during the last half-hOur
de has not danced since Kate left
nm, and he has not spoken to ANYBODY
since ne has managed to get away from
Grace; but he has watched Kate anx-
lously, and more than once he had gone
some little distance along or across the
room TO speak to her, but has failed to
reach her side before she has been car
RED Oft for another dance
AlgernOn COlebrOOk seemed to be as
much on the watch to attach himself To
the fair heiresS as he was himself. and
roland felt that he had no time to lose
IN securing the prize that so many were
evidently anxious to make their own.
Fortune favored him at last.
safe with her last partner passed
near the door just as the music ceased.
W III you obllge me by asking Miss
WalmeT to take some refreshment." :"
said Kate to her partner. while she in
dIcated very grim old maid sitting
alone on an ottoman.
The young man obeyed. though he
dld not like the task ASS gned him. and
Roland seized the opportunity to offer
Kate his arm as he said:
Let US hud cooler room than this:
you must be quite tired of dancing
'.Oh no, l am not tired, she replied
nightly, though we VIII look for cool
er place if you ike: but how the wind
ginning to snow"
1t is, he replied, pressing her arm
TO ms side as he felt she gave little
shIver; but the snow Is falling slowly.
and l dare say it will last a long time;
fortunately you have not to 60 out to-
night
Nor you either" she replied with a
smile. Il heard papa say thatyOu would
remain with us over tomorrow
He made no reply, but led the way to
small drawing which the sisters
used more than anyone in the house.
1t was deserted now, though a bright
ire burned III the CRATE, and Roland led
the timId girl into the apartment, then
paused, and looking earnestly into her
deep dark eyes, he exclaimed passion
atelv:
Kate, love you. Look at me. dear
est; tell me. viii YOU be my wife,
She did look at him.
The love written on his face was too
earnest, too OverpOweriug to he mis-
taken, or to admit of any cOqUetry on
her part; and she now answered as any
village maiden would have done:
Yes. Roland
There was a bOugh of mistletOe hang
ing 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 fire
place. 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 clasp
ed her graceful form. and her head rest
ed trustfully upon mis- shoulder, when
the door of the room was softly and
nOiselessly opened.
So absorbed were they in their own
happiness that they did not observe it,
neither did they see the child-Iike
COmtenance Of Grace. with murder
Gus light IN her blue eyes, looking at
them.
She went away. however, without
making 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 a tiend.
All the pent-Up maliguity in her ma
tuTe 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 slight
ed are sometimes pleaded as excuses
for deeds Of passionate revenge; but,
though the plea is a bad one, Grace Lii
burne could not shield herself behind
even that fimsy pTeteXt.
1t is true that she coveted the ad-
mirati0n and devotion Of Roland AyTe;
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, selt-denylng devO-
tiOn that is a 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 substitute
if she failed.
Therefore. il was not solely on ac-
count of Roland Ayre that she now
gave herself up heart and soul to work
evil. but envy Of Kate 5 beauty. OF her
wealth. and even OF her virtues made
this wicked creature determine upon
her half-SisteT's destruction.
But how was it to be accomplished?
1t is easy to wish an enemy dead, and
only little more difficult to some ma
lures to resolve to make the wish
reality, if an opportunity to do so can
be found: but 1t is not always easy to
make the opportunity and to carry out
the vile intention IN such a manner that
no suspicion shall attach itself to the
perpetTator.
.. She shall die hissed Grace, as she
cleuched her little hands till her nails
dug themselves into the pink palms;
''yes. she shall die this very night, even
if | risk my own life by putting an end
y.
She bent her head in morbid anxious
thought. and she wandered about the
deserted passages and corridors OF the
ancient portion of the castle, as though
she expected that the ghosts OF some OF
her dead ancestors. who had been no
tOrious for their evil deeds. would come
10 tell her how to accomplish her muir
derOus design.
In her reStlesSness she wandered up
to the top chamber in the old tower.
and listened to the bowling Of the wind
and ppered through the narrow window
into the darkness beyond.
4 river ran near the base of this tow
era deep silent river, that would not
readily betray her If she gave 1t VIC
tim: but how could Kate be consigned
to the dark water in such manner JhaC
helm would not be forthcoming
She mused on this scheme SO long
that She at last bethOught her of a way
in which to entrap Kate down to the
riverside.
If Kate received a note purpOrting to
come from Frank Fairfield, the son of
her fCster-mother, and whose mad M
fatuatiOU for her sister had bJnlShed
/ him from the castle, Kate might per
/ hans Weld to the appeal and 90 out to
/ meet him and then under cover OF the
/ dark night the rest would be easy.
But would Kate keep the appoint
/ mpnt or would she not be more ukelY
/ to hand the note to her father and ask
I 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 stTaigh htfarWard.
and had such q 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 accOrdluglv.
/ And then again. Frank would not