The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-08-06


father, with the latter Of whom she was
evidently no favorite.
A very handsome man Is Mr.. LII
burne, Of Silverton, though he is old to
have two daughters so young and so
fair as Kate and Grace.
There had been some romance about
his early life and he was quite a mid
dle-aged man when he married kate's
mother. q wealthy utWeSS. whom he
had loved from his youth
His happiness. however. was Of short
duration He had scarcely been mar
RED year when his wife presented him
with a daughter: then closed her eyes
in the long endless sleep that knows no
waking.
The motherless infant was left to be
uuTSed by the wife of the head gardener.
who had just lost her own baby. and Mr..
Lllburne went abroad and tried to for
get his grief and his shOrt-liYed happi-
ness.
He succeeded so well in his efforts
that when his wife had been dead little
more than a year he married a pretty
girl young enough TO be his own damgh-
ter, and brought her home to ~IlVertOn.
But the girl-bTide soon wearied Of her
old husband and of her magnificent sur
TOundlngs. The quiet life she led with
her stately husband soon became intOl-
cradle to her, and this feeling was aug
mented by his too evident diSappOnt-
ment at the sex Of her infant who like
the child of his first wife, was a girl
She nlled the house with guests Of
whom he disapprOyed, and finally she
eloped with young officer, leaving her
child behind.
The indignant husband did not at
tempt to follow his faithless wife: he
simply ignored her existence, and he
took no notice Of her letters when she
wrote long afterwards protesting re-
penJauce and asking forgiveness.
She is dead now, but the outraged
husband often remembers her when he
looks on the face of his youngest daugh-
ter, and this may he none Of the causes
why Grace is not his favoTite child.
But the party of nearly forty guests
have seated themselves at the long din
iug-table in the banqueting-hall- and
the servants are bringing in huge Joints
of beef, in addition to geese and tur-
keys, hares and fowls. as though they
were intent upon feeding a hungry
army.
L always admire this fine hall - said
Roland AyTe to Grace LilbuTne, who
sat by his side. she having managed that
he should take her in to dinner. - al
most wonder your father does not use
it more often than he does
Yes, - asSeutcd the girl. 1t is a de
llghttul place for 4 large party such rs
we have to-day. OF for dance. but YOU
have no idea how desuiate papa and
Kate and | feel II we happen TO dine
here bv ourselves We tried iL once or
twice, but it gave us the horrors, So We
went back to our ordinary diuiuE-r0OIn.
and only use the hall two on three times
a year. DO you admire my duceStTess
who is looking down from the wall
there upon us, Mr.. Ayrey''
Yes, she is very like your sister; I
have remarked the strong resemblance
before to-day
His eyes as he said this. wandered to
the end of the table where Kate sat.
and they fingered SO long and sOlOviug-
" upon her that ne did not observe the
flash of anger that CLEANED out of
Grace LilbUrne's blue eyes. nor did he
see the savage way in which she bit her
lips with modification.
An attentive servant looking after
his wants soon recalled him to the de-
STABILITY Of doing Justice to the Christ
mas cheer. and he found very little
time to notice jealOusly how attentive
Algernon COlebrOok was to the fair
hostess.
Even a Christmas dinner must have
an end. though the vIands be Is plentI-
ful and the deiiCaCIeS as numerous as
on TINS occasion. and soon afterthe des-
Sert had made its appearance the ladies'
retired to the spacious drawng-r0om
where the gentlemen soon Joined them.
We are going TO dance in the great
hall Kate explained TO Roland Ayre
when for the first time that evening he
I managed to secure seat by her side;
1t makes a splendid ballroom When
She tables and rugs are cleared away.
GeS. so [ should think. You have
not forgotten your promise u give Inc
the first lancey
"Oh no. and she blushed with con
, SCiUus qualification as, despite her sis
/ ters remarks. she felt sure that Nj
! AyTe loved her.
4 band had been engaged for the oc-
7 caSiOn. and soon the host followed by
/ his guests trOopod TO the hall where ht
/ led of the ball with the most disJiu
guished lady present, while Roland anl
Kate Immediately followed.
/ Grace. who was likewise dancing
| watched her sister lealUUsly. and Nh
saw how, after a time, Roland led Kat
/ into a recess half screened rom VA
/ rest of the hall by flowers, and sh
scarcely needed to listen TO them Z
learn what the ardent lover was say
ing.
To her secret satisfaction, however
the lovers were interrupted before hall
a-dOZeu words could pass betWee
/ them for AlgeTuOu tulCbTOUk. who ha
engaged Kate for tire second dane,
now came up TO claim her hand.
When her sister had taken the arm &
the baronCt. Grace joined Roland an
began To talk with him
But he did not ask her to dance, an
he paid very little heed to what sh
said for his ewes were following hHi
and her partner through the maZ"s q
the dance.
Kate and Mr. Colebrook seem veI
well matched, don't thty?' observe
Grace, following the direction OF h
..Thev dance very well together,
that is what you mean he rephe
CURLY.
And then he turned to address
couple of ladies who had just drlttC
into this corner Of the room.
lie is infatuated with her. but ! b
lievc | could make him love me II s.
were ont Of the way thought tTrd
daIkly: she has always been the iir
in everythiug-hu always stood b
tween me and what | most desired.
.'She has robbed me OF my father
I love. and all the servants IA jIe huH
would risk their lives FOR her. while I'll
would not imU.lll a finger TO help IN
and now she has stolen the love OF Il
land Avrr. whom | love better than u.
and whom / hal re solved TO many. q
if could but get rid of her once III
all. how different life would be-wh
a brilliant future OF success and hap
ness would then lie before me-
With these evils thoughts IN her M
Grace left the hall. and wandered al1
listening to the sounds of mirth Cd
revelry. but there was no Tcspons
echo in her heart
Dark vengeful thoughts filed .
breast, and as she listened to the SIN
wind as it hOWled round the mansI,
and putting her face close to the "
dow. saw the large white 1iakesof su
that were beginning to fall. she shiv
ed and wondered why the world V
fun Of contrasts, and why her siste
lot should he $40 bright and happy. VIII
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