The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-08-30
GRACE LILBURNE'S SECRET.
IO1V OF
TWO CHRISTMAS DAYS.

credulously. Are you out of your
mind? There is no such person living
as Kate Lilburne.n
well, perhaps she is married and
has changed her name. still won't
have lost her { SA,slty."
And you really came here hoping to
meet Kate and not mes" he asked
earnestly, as he stepped close to her
"Why should I want to see yougn she
asked d%eiantly. You are nothing TO
me-"
And yet you are all the world to me,
Miriam--my love, my life. Only say
the word and we will fly together, and
1 will break the hateful bonds that
bind ME to Grace, whom l have never
loved
Tie caught her in his arms, and
strained her to his heart; but She gently
though firmly released herself from his
embrace as she said:
sit is too late, Victor. too late, I
have no y ty for Grace. but | caunet
bring such pain and humiliation upon
her father, No; you must Keep your
word %nd marry herS but I am sorry
Tor you a~nd-and-so sorry for my
SELF '
She slipped away from him as she
SAID thiS, and ran upst&ifs, but on her
way TO her own room to dress, she
tnouSnt, as q species of self-mortiica-
tlon, she wo,lld go into Grace's room
with the other girls and try 10 be civil
to her young hostess.
Nany of the bridesmaids had cluster
cd round the eSpectant bride, and took
a great interest in the dress she was
going to wear on this, the last evening
when she would sit at the head of her
fathers table as the mistress of his
household, and they admired ~oyeraeain
the very handsome trousseau with
which she was provided.
You don't seem to have much Jew
elry, ;. remarked Miriam Hindman. 81
wish l had kncwn it before, for | would
have gwen you a bracelet as a wedding
present instead OF the silver-dishes |
brought with me.
YOU Hates jewels; she had a splendid
collection, l know,n
"kate's Jewels will go with her mon
e.y to her mothers family, when there
IS proof that she is really dead; but if
people talk such stiff To my father as
you did this afternoon it is not likely
that anything reasonable will convince
MN, replied Grace severely.
y don knew why you should call it
stuff" returned Miriam quietly: ''peo-
pie don't disappear as your sister did
unless they go away to return at some
ilne OF other, OF unless they are muir
dIered. Therefore until it is proved that
she is dead We may reasonably hope
she is alive
Grace shrugged her shoulders. She
would not discuss the matter. but inti-
mated that it was time they should be-
gin to dress, and her maid came for
ward to attend to her while the girls all
went OFF to their own rooms.
They hurried so much thai when they
entered the drawing-room they found
the room quite empty.
Other people Don trOoped in. how
ever, and very o the C~oulbourne
girls found themselves sufficiently
we'll sought after, despite their plain
attire.
The rivals of the evening, however,
We're The bride-elect and her chief
bridesmaid, Miriam IIindman.
Grace was dressed in pale blue. eX-
Quistteiy trimmed with cream lace and
blush-roses, while her golden hair, her
gold ornaments, and her bright blue
eyes made her look bewitching in the
extreme.
But her beauty was quite eclipsed
when nj RAM appeared.
Inc brunette wore f~ose-colored satin.
half-covered with costly black lace
Topped with lilies-of- the-valley, while
pearls and diamonds were clasped round
her throat, and lilies and diamonds
shone in her jet-black hair.
Independent of ornament, Miriam
was wonderfully beautiful, but rich
colorS and sparkling gems added great
~ to her natural charms, and she used
lHlIOhlnulv To gov Thor c1n ,,.n 4l,,-l-
tul She had been born too late to be ex-
pected to wear white muslin gowns
short in the waist aud tied round with
a sash, until the time when she should
be married.
ut was almost enough to drive a girl
70 marry the first man who asked her.
II only to obtain the privilege OF wear
ing silk and SATIN she would say
iaughingly.. Happily in our days we
can wear what we like. without caring
for The opinion of the male sex or Tor
Nhat OF Mrs. Grundy.o
She seemed to care for the good opin-
aon OF one member of the male sex this
evening, however, and he for hers, and
though his marriage with his hosts
daughter was fixed for the following
morning, Victor seemed to be unable
TO resist the attraction of Miriam's
black eyes.
Grace watched the couple iealouslv
whenever she thought OF them; but
something more important than the
temporary detection of her lover filed
her thoughts. She was planning how
TO get away from her guests unobServed
and to stay long enough to be able to
ascertain what lay at the bottom of the
dark shaft into which she had thrust
her sister:
u shall have III opportunity after to-
night she thought gloomily. TOR to-
morrow | shall have people about me
the whole time until | go to church. and
after that I shall go away with Victor.
Yes, 1t must be Tonight. When the
conJurors engaged come intothe hall to
play their tricks l will slip away. |
shall be less missed then than at any
time.n
She smiled as she came to this on
c%lusion, and turned TO answer n gues-
ton which a gentleman at her side had
asked.
CHAPTER VI.
WHAT GRACE SAW AT THE BOTTOM OF
TIE SHAFT.
The tables had been cleared awav.
the guests had returned to the grand
old hall, and dancing had been going
oll loI nearly Il couple OF hours. When
the band ceased playing, and a compa-
ny of c%onjnrors and jugglers, specially
engaged for the occasion. made their
appearance.
All the lights were lowered, and the
large party of guests seated themselves
Ill half circle round the performers.
The host this evening was more than
restless. he was nervous and excited.
and as the minutes and the hours went
on he seemed to find it difficult to turn
his eyes from the door.
Are you expecting anybody. papa?n
Grace had asked him more than once
as she observed his singular manner
"Yes-I don't know" he had replied
lmpatiently: don't mind me. go and
amuse YOURSELF
And he turned away as though an
nOyed at being questioned.
Grace was too much troubled with
her W p~erplexities to pay much heed
to her father, aud when the iugglers
commenced their tricks, and she be-
lieyed all eyes were fixed upon them,
she rose from her seat and quietly left
the room.
She had made allsher preparations.
The previous year she had soiled her
delicate dress. and she Remembered how