The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-08-27

nave stunned h@Ut II IL ulI ilot AIotdllO-
ly kill her; and now, with burning anX-
iety and breathless terror, Grace leans
over to look, as she hopes, upon the
corpse of her sister.
Can it be true? do her eyes deceive
her? or is she the victim of some cum
ming delusiOn-SOme horrible night
mare?
The crushed mass of satin and lace,
pearls and flowers, that she had 50 often
pictured to herself as lying here was
not to be seen. and she might have be
Iieved that she had dreamed the events
of the last Christmas Day but for two
things which the light of the lantern on
being moved about revealed.
One was a pearl necklace, the other
lace handkerchief both of which had
belonged to her ill-fated sister. The
effect of this discovery upon Grace LII
burne was to paTalySe her for the time.
She could not act or think; she simply
sat on the floor like a creature stunned,
and it was only the sound of voices i'll
the corridor that ultimately reused her.
Even now she could not move quickly,
but she drew up the lantern slowly,
pressed the spring that made the floor
slide back into its place, then she de-
Hberately divested herself of her ulster,
eXtinguished the light, and walked out
into the corridor.
She did not observe Miriam Hind
man and Victor GayheTd standing only
a few PAGES from whence she emerged,
for she was like a woman walking in
her sleep; and though stunned 10y the
sudden discovery she had made, she had
not as yet begun to realise what 1t
meant for her.
There was a strange look in her eyes
as she rejOined her father and their
guests, and Amy GOulburne asked II
she was i'll, and somebody else suggest
ed that she was about to faint.
But she smiled abSently and declared
she was quite well, and she gave the
signal that the dance was to recon-
mence, though she herself declined to
take part in it.
L am little tired and I viii look
on, she said to a gentleman who asked
her to dance with him.
She sat and watched them, absently
and vaCantly, and she saw the looks Of
love that passed between them.
Grace knew quite well that Victor
would never have thought Of marrying
her If ne had not believed her to be her
fathers only surviving child and sole
heiress, and now she wondered if Mir
lam had persuaded him that Kate was
really alive. and if at the last hour he
meant to desert her for his old love.
She knew not what to do nor which
way to turn. When her mind became
more accustomed to the situation
she began to think that she was fright
eulng herself unnecessarily, for now
she remembered that the bottom of the
shaft into which Kate had fallen SEEM
ed as though it were only a portion of a
room or cellar which was probably as
large as the chamber above.
If this were the case, the injured girl
might have crawled away into some
dark corner, and there remained until
death had meTCifully ended her suffer-
ings.
and the presence of mind to descend by
those iron steps and see for myself what
is hidden below, and where the place
really leads.
There may be many secret chambers
beneath the old part of the castle, of
which neither my father nor | ever
heard. | must do it sooner or later;
shall never sleep i'll peace again until |
know that Kate Is past troubling me. "
And all this time the fun never flag
ged
The barnl played. and the guests
danced and firted and talked about the
morrow, and whispered among them
selves of the great good luck of Victor
sGayheTd at having won 50 rich All heir
eSS
But Mr.. LiIburne was not good com
pany this evening.
His lost daughter was constantly in
his mind, and every now and again he
felt as though if he looked round he
should see her.
Miriam was quick to observe his man
ner, and to divine the cause, and she al
length said:
''It was about this hOUrlast year, was
il not. that Kate was LOST
VERY nearly he replied, his eyes
wandering to a clock.
Then ne and the girl both sat silent
waiting for they knew not what: but
though they had been watching the Olt
year out. and were anxious TO welcome
/ III the new.
Grace and Victor had been dancing
/ but the band had stopped suddenly. anC
( they had paused very close to where
MI. Liibune and Miriam We're seated
w hat do they mean 10y breaking of
like this? asked Grace III a tone of an
nOYance.
I Her question was never answered.
+ At that moment. the hOUsc-SteWaTd
( who rarely showed himself except I,
announce distinguished guests. nov
! came to the open doorway, and an
/ nOunCed:
Mr.. and Mrs. Roland Ayre.'
Mr.. Liiburne sprang TO his feet an,
started forward with a cry of welcome
and Grace likewise took a step toward
! the new corners.
But no sound escaped her lips. FO
I moment she SWyed like a Sapiin
I shaken by tempest. then she fell foI
( ward on her face, and when they pick
ed her up they thought that she wa
dead.