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

would not leave her room again that .
night, though she requested her guests /
would not let her absence interfere with /
their amusement.
They took her at her word; the dane I
ing to commenced, and no one seemed I
to miss the girl who had been hostess +
until now, and who tomorrow was to .
be a bride.
In view Of the ceremony of the NOR
row, the party broke up soon after the
arrival of Mr.. and Mrs. Roland Ayre.
Those guests who were not staying in
the house took their leave and those (
who were went off to their own rooms
Victor GayheTd alone fingered. Ro-
land was his cousin, and he tried to find
out from him the motive which had
made him keep even her father in ignOr-
ance of her existence for so long time.
Il cannot tell you why, but we had a
very good reason" was the evasive re-
ply -.
was the next question.
"GTace did not know that her sister
was alive any more than you did"
Probably not; she assured me she
was dead; but that is no answer to my
question. Did Grace know that her
sister had fallen through this trap
door?"
II cannot tell you'll can tell you
nothing"
Il think it very unfair of you not to
tell me; do you know l am expected to
marry the girl to-morrOw?'
Il would rather you than l; but ques-
ton her yourself if you have any
doubt"
ooh, know what her answer will
be; she is not too careful of the truth,
and though she Is not the great heiress
she was supposed to be, STILL as have
gone so far, | wouldn't draw back now
! II were convinced that she was innO-
/ cent of all guilty knowledge Of what
had befallen her sister"
Roland made no reply.
He felt sorry for his kinsman, but he
/ had promised Kate not to expose her
! sister, and he felt that he must keep
his word to his wife whatever happen
! ed to his cousin.
/ IN ask Mrs. Ayre herself, - exclaim-
! ed Victor passionately.
You will do nothing of the kind. my
dear fellow" said Roland firmly; my
wife has had quite enough to 90 through
| without being cross-questIOned about
| her sister.
| Use your own Judgment in the mat
| ter. II l loved a woman l should
want nobody else TO tell me whether to
| believe in her or not.
And what if you didn't love herr"
asked Victor grimly.
Roland shrugged his shoulders, then
he held out his hand, and said:
/ "GoOd-nlgnt"
Though he did not say so, he knew
quite we'll what his cousins decision
would De.
When he joined his wife and her
father in the study Of the latter, Kate
asked nervously:
You have not said anything against
Grace to Victor, have you, ROland?'
| Certainly not was the reply; but
he is sUsp ciOus, and has been question
ing me. -
4 shall not allow the marriage to
| take place tomorrow" said Mr. Lii
buTne decidedly. Grace IS unit to be
the wife of any honorable man"
Il think she must have been mad
that night Kate said gently; 4 have
often thought so SINCE
"She was thoroughly bad, returned
her father glOOmily; ''she is only too
like her mother
Soon after this they retired to rest,
Mr. Lilburne grateful and satisfied At
/ the recovery of his bestowed daughter,
and she happy beyond the power OF
words to tell in the blissful possession
| of her husband 5 love, and her reSJOra-
tiOn to her father.
The only cloud that cast a shadow
| upon the perfect cOntentment OF boil
! was the treachery Of Grace, and the
question as TO what would become OF
/ her.
When the cold grey morning dawneC
had done a year ago when the eldes
= daughter of the Lilburnes was lost anC
could not be found.
Grace sat up in bed, and wondered /
; the past year had been a dream; but tn
Z sight of her weddlng-dreSS spread on
on couch at the further end Of tn
= room convinced her of the reality of al
= that had passed.
: But she would not OF could not think
D neither would she allow herself TO real
5 ise the possibility that Hates retur
would in any way interfere with he
= own marriage
q She meant to carry everything with
g high hand, to deny any charge mad
h against her, and to defy her sister an
/ her sisters husband to prove anythin
n against her
a In this frame of mind she rang fo
her morning cup of tea. and the mai
brought the tray, on which, besides tn
tea and toast, there was CAREFUL
sealed note.
For a second OF two she did not brea
is the seal. but when the waiting-woma
p had left the room, she tore the lettt
d open wildly and read it's brief content
"Y our own conscience, Grace Ii
II burne. will probably tell you why T
=. fuse to fulfill my engagement to mar
YOU this morning. | offer no turth
explanation or excuse for the step l a
n about to take, but am ready to bear :
consequences which you OF anybody D
)" longing to you may thIGk ut 10 nm
upon me. BY the time this reach
lg you shall be on my way to Londo
e, where, as soon as the law Will perm
It. Miriam Hindman will become n
wife,
t. This was signed Victor Gayherd
ne and had evidently been written with
ed total disregard for the feelings of I
I'd wretched girl to whom 1t was addre:
TO ed.
he Her raason had bepu tottarinp on
throne for some months past, thou
ly | neither Grace nor her friends knew
r. and now the last bolt had fallen, a
she started up madly from her bed
wild and dangerous maniac.
&c The servants met her as she was
as her way. shriekiHg and gesticulatl
franticaIly, 10 the dIsuSed tower.
eu They secured her and a doctor
Ter Scut for and all that care and ST
ay could do for her was done. but nothl
could save the unhappy girl.
OF For a few davS she fingered in or
pam and mental agony. but as the
en- year was dying she likewise driIi
Ory away into the unknown.
Her death was a relief to all v
leL ! were connected with her
OF Another year swiftly passes by
er- Christmas Day is again upon us.
LOT But this dav is the brightest of ali
three for Kate and her husband and
er, father.
ny To Nh Lilburne a grandson has b
ne born who Will bear his name. and h.
lef if possible, more proud Of the tiny
zee than are his fond parents.
len Nothing indeed is wanting to C,
er; plete Kate's perfect happiness, tho
lnu even now she sometimes rememb
not with a shudder that awful NOM
when she was a victim To heart
Ihe treachery.