The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-09-03

newly awakened intellect.
So Kate was persuaded to try to sleep
for a while, having previously been as
sured that everything should be ex-
planned to her in good time, and Roland
and Frank went away with the doctors,
while Mrs. Fairfield alone remained to
guard her nursing.
The young lady should be taken to
some quiet place by the sea, and excite
ment of every kind should be carefully
avoided for some time to come said
the great surgeon who had conducted
the operation.
For several mOnthsl" repeated RO-
land in dismay; do you mean that sew
eral months must elapse before 1t Will
be safe for her TO marTyf"
Most decidedly was the reply; "un-
der very favorable conditions, and pro-
vided she is kept free from all trouble
and anxiety in the interval, 1t may be
safe for her to marry in December, but
certainly not before, and it is now the
end of July"
So the matter was decided, though
Mrs. Fairfield shook her head over the
arrangement, but she did not refuse to
take her foster-child down to the quiet
fishing village, and remain there with
her while Roland very reluctantly went
for a short tour on the Continent, and
on his return to England he embraced
girl who was strangely like the lost
Kate Lilburne.
Strangely like her indeed. The bloom
of health had returned to her cheek; the
fearless queenly dignity that had de-
serted her with the loss of reason, but
for which she had been distinguished
before that terrible fall, had come back
to her now, while she was as winning
and loving as she had ever been.
No trace now remained of the terri
BILE ordeal which she had recently pass
ed through.
Next to her delight at meeting her
lover, and the near prospect Of being
united to him, was the desire to be en-
braced by her father, and to dissipate
the grief which she knew he must feel
at her loss.
Il hope we have not been selfish in
not sending TO papa" she said anxious
ly, as she talked to Roland about her
father. II shall never forgive myself
/ if our silence has injured his health"
Ou need have no fear upon that
/ account, dearest" T" he replied somewhat
bitterly: "your absence from SilvertOn
1 viii be celebrated this year with rejOic-
J ing rather than be mOurned over with
tears. A wedding party is to be as
sembled, the castle is to be filed with
guests, and | am among the number of
those invited to the Christmas and we'd
ding festivities"
Your exclaimed Kate in surprise
yes; and | have written to YOU
7 father to say | will come on Christmas
night and bring my bride with me.
thought my letter would prepare him.
DO YOU think he viii suspect who
YOUR bride will bey' she asked witt
blushing cheeks and dOwncast eyes.
Il should think So was the answer
''fOr | told him when we parted that
would never enter SllveTtOn Castle
again unless l came to meet you o.
brought you with me-"
She said no more; his devotion touch
ed her deeply, and all her past suffer
. lngS seemed as nothing IN presence o
the life of perfect love that lay befOr
her.
It was soon after this and about tn
middle of December that quiet wed
ding took place in the parish church O
the village where Kate Lilburne ha
for some months found home.
He was young man though his hal
was white, who gave the bride away
and no one but himself knew how b
this act he crushed out the last lngel
ing hope that he had UucOnsciousl
cherished in his heart.
But Frank Fairfield gave no OutwaT
sign of his self-COnquest, and he wrOi
his name in the register as witnes
without a treTnble in the signature.
The marriage had been COnducte
with all possible secrecy, but the name
of the contracting parties could not
kept from the officiating clergyman
the clerk, and it was from the forme
that Miriam Hindman received hiI
to the effect that Mr.. Lilburne's eide
daughter whose unaccOuntable disa
pearauce had caused so much cOnsteTn
ton year ago, was still alive.
More she could not learn, but 81
shreWdly suspected that Chrlstm
would not pass by without witnessil
Kate's return TO her fathers house.
This expectation went great VI
towards inducing her to accept the
vitatiOn to be Grace LilbWne's bride
maid, though at that time she had ]
intention of bringing the bridegroom
q truant lover to her own feet.
The strength of their old love, hO'
{ ever. proved too strong for Miriam a
Victor to withstand, and they We
3 both resolving that his marriage Wi
, Grace must be prevented. when, as
I ready narrated, the doors, were thro'
: open and Mr.. and Mrs. Roland Az
[ appeared on the threshold.