The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-09-13
CHAPTER xI.

RtTRIBUTIoN.
Mr.. Lilburno caught Kate in his
arms, and expressed his delight at see
ing her, then he gTxsped Roland's hand
and bade him also welcome.
"You see / have token you at your
word" said the bridegroom gaily.
Kate and 1 were married more than q
week ago."
"a week. But where has she been
all the past year?"
That is too long a story to ten now"
In the general delight at welcoming
back the lost heiress and the new bride,
Grace had for the moment been forgot
ten.
But they had not far to seek for her.
There in their midst she lay like n
| stricken with death, and people looked
at each other curiously as they lifted
her, for this sudden WOOL looked more
like the consequence OF fear than the
effect OF joy.
fainted.n said Mr.. Lilburne to the ser
wants who were called.
The order was quickly obeyed, Vic
tor somewhat carelessly giving his as
s%istance.
But her father and friends noticed
that Kat6 showed no sympathy for her
sister, neither did she offer in any way
to help her.
former days.
Then she had h,een the first to hasten
to the side of the suffering and to Try
to assuage their paiH..
But now she only looked after her
sister with an expression on her face Of
wondering pity not unmiXed with aver
sion, and she neither tried to caress nor
to receive her.
The curiosity of the guests, however,
was not to be restrained, and so many
questions poured in upon our heroine
that she at length briefly tolu her
friends that in finding q hidingplace
the previous Christmas, she had fallen
down a trap-door in the disused tow,r.
and would have remained there, anG
persisted. if her foster-brother had not
rescued her.
And then Roland told the rest Of the
story, ven down to the present day.
There is something she has not told
u.s. said Miriam Hindman to Victor
Gayherd; ''she has not told us what
hand Grace had in her disappearance.
Depend upon it, We have only heard
half the story"
Miriamss curiosity was not satisfied,
however; only Mr.. Lilburne was ever
told how Grace had consigned her sis
ter to What she believed would be her
tomb
by this time a servant came to say
that Miss Grace wa conscious, but
would not leave her room again that
night, though She requested her guests
would not letherabsence interfere WITH
their amusement.
They took her at her word; the dane
ing to commenced, and no II seemed
to miss the girl who had been hostess
until now, and who tomorrow was to
be a Bride.
In view of tia ceremony of the NOR
row, the party broke TN soon after the
arrival of Dir. and Mrs. Roland Ayrs.
Those guests who were not stayingin
who were went off to their own rooms.
Victor Gayherd alone fingered. Ro-
land was his cousin, and he triedto find
out from him tina motive which had
made him keep evenher father in ignor-
ance OF her existence for so long a time.
II cannot tell You why, hut we had a
very good reason" was the eyasiye re-
ply:
Had Grace anything to do with it?"
was the next question.
Grace did not know that her sister
Wao oliSC dily ulOlt Uldu YOU uiu.
probably not; she assured me she
was dead; but that is no answer to nv
question. Did Grace know that her
sister had fallen through this trap
door?'
II cannot tell you'll can tell you
nothing"
II think it very unfair of you not to
tell me-. do you know l am expected to
marry the girl to-morrowr:'
Il would rather you than 1; but ques-
ton her yourself if you have any
doubt"
"Oh, I know what her answer will
be-, she is not too careful OF the truth,
and though she is not the great heiress
shewas supposed to be, still, as I have
gone so far, | wouldn't draw back now
If l were convinced that she was jnno-
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.
"I'll ask Mrs. Ayre herself, "exclaim-
ed Victor ~passionately.
Gear fellow" said Roland firmly; my
wife has had quite enough to go through
without being cross-questioned about
her sister.
Use your own judgment in the mat
ter. If ] loved II woman / should
want nobody else to tell me whether to
believe in her or not"
And what if you didn't love her?n
asked Victor grimly.
Roland shrugged his shoulders, then
he held out his hand, and said:
Goodnight"
Though he did not say so, he knew
quite well What his Cousins decision
would be.
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, haveyou, Roland?"
Certainly not was the reply; but
ne is suspicious, andhas beenquestion-
4 shall not allow the marriage to
burne decidedly. "Grace is unit to be
the wife of any honorable man,
II think she must have been mad
that night Kate said gently; II have
often thought 10 since.n
She was thoroughly bad" returned
her father gloomily; "she is only too
X her mother"
Soon after this they retired to rest,
Mr.. Lllburne 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 husbands love, and her restora-
ton to her father.
The only cloud that cast a shadow
upon the perfect contentment of both
was the t~reachery Of Grace, and the
question as to what would become Of
her.
When the cold grey morning dawned
the snow rustled 1T the windows as it
had done 9 year ago when the eldest
daughtsrof the LiIburnes Was lost asl
could net bs fovnd,