The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-08-23
GRACE uLBURNE's SECRET.
"a STORY OF
TWO CHRISTMAS DAYS.

IRON him?:D
Yes. he told ME where | should find
you, n l should have sought you
months ago, but / have been very i'll in
consequence of a shock l received en-
Christmas Day.
"A shockln repeated Fairfield.
Yes; you have heard of the strange
daughter?:"
And as he asked this question Roland
looked keenly at the man who he had
been assured was his rival.
* have 4 nc direct communication
With the Lilhurnes for more than a
year." replied Fairfield, meeting his
companions fixed gaze without &ayer-
ing; be good enough to tell me what
Roland complied, and he told MS at
tentive listener how when the merry
making was flagging on Christmas
iiight, Grace Lilhlrne had proposed a
game of ilide-and-seek, and how she
had persuaded Kate to join in the game,
the latter having been lost from that
time to the present.
All! then 1t was Grace Who hid with
Kate" The remarked ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
did she say had become OF her siSter?a
She didn't know
And did she make no suggestionpn
and the engineer looked at Roland
Yes, it was she who mentioned your
name he replied with hesitation.
All, ] thought so. She suggested
that | had persuaded her sister to elope
with ire. ] SUPPOSE"
Something OF the kind"
And may | ask, Mr.. Ayre, why you
come TO me from Mr.. Lilburne2 Why
did he not come himself or send for me?
l should have been only too ready to
obey his call.n
"He ridiculed the ideathatyou would
harm his daughter; he said you had
given him youg word never to press
your suit with her again, and that he
had as much confidence in your word as
he had in mine"
"Ahi'
There was pain, satisfaction, and re-
lief in the exclamation.
"A few seconds later he spoke again:
You have not explained your inter-
est in the matter, MI. Ayre. | don't
understand what Miss Lifburne was to
you.n
,'she was my promised wife, twas the
answer.
Fairfield shrank a little as though he
had received a blow, and his pale face
became still paler, but he quickly re-
covered himself, and he asked with a
bitter smile on his face:
ID you seriously believe that Kate
Lllburne, Your promised wife. would
voluntarily leave her fathers roof to
run away with mettH
Most certainly not" was the prompt
reply.
violence, then?'
"Good Heavens, mol 1 should not be
here talking calmly if believed such a
thing possible
Then what made yon come 10 me?"
y came, as drowning men clutch at
straWs, to ask If you can, or will, help
me-" was the eager response. mo
body else can, I feel convinced. Ii is
. Rates sake, rather than my OWE,
that | ask you. The mystery that sur
rounds her fate maddens and appals
me: i love her SO truly that if it would
pc Tor her happiness | would rather see
her your wife, than have any doubt as
to her safety or welfare.n
My wifeln repeated Fairfield with
mourntul bitterness; ''the womanisnot
born who will be my wife. But you ask
TOT my help, and perhaps / will give it
to YOU. l must think5the matter over,
however, Will you call on me three
days hence. or, better still, give me an
address where | can write to you.''
And you will write to meln asked
oo "A SttSC Ill LID ttOulSA5 III
town.
Yes, I will write without fail.n
Then Roland reluctantly went away.
lie would have liked to ask several
questions, but he felt that if he did so
The engineer would think he doubted
I'M, and he estimated the mans char
acter with sufficient accuracy to feel
convinced that only by treating him
with perfect trust and confidence could
he win his cooperation.
But as Roland Ayre walked away
from Fairtield's office it was with the
t1lsagreeable conviction that the latter
had questioned and cross-questioned
him, and learnt all that he had to tell,
n told him absolutely nothing in re-
turn.
1.-The fellow is as close as an oyster,n
he muttered, land yet / like him: there
is something firm, and strong, and
massive in the mans character, While
ne gives one The idea of possessing a
certain amount of latent power which
only exceptional circumstances will
bring into action. And how he loves
Kate! Surely together we ought to be
able to lind her alive or dead"
1t was with some impotence that he
waited, day after day, for the promised
communication; but Il whole week
elapsed before a brief note came from
Fairfield asking Roland tomeet him on
the following day.
The appointment was kept. and when
the first brief %salutation was over the
engineer said:
If you are disengaged to-day l will
take you to see my mother. You know
she was Miss Lilhurne's nurse?.n
Yes, | have heard she was her fos-
ter-mother."
Fairfield inclined his head as ha con-
tinued:
My mother wa as much devoted to
her as though Miss Kate had been her
W child, and she is in great trouble
about her now. | promised to take you
TO her: Perhaps you can help each
other
"But how can / help her? Does she
know where Kate is?'5
She will explain everything to You
herself, was the evasiye answer. s'Do
You feel disposed to go with me to INV
mothers house,"
Certainly; my time is at your SER
vice. Where does your mother liye?'
About twenty miles this side of Sill
xeIton Castle, was the reply, and fifty
from London; but we shall get down
There in a couple hours"
Then the two young men went off to-
gether, Fairfield leaving word at the
office that he should not return for the
day.
1t was late in the afternoon when
they reached Beechcroft, and Fairfield
remarked that they had still three miles
to walk OF ride.
Let US ride" said Roland inpatient
ly. Il feel as though every moment we
spend upon the road stands between me
and my meeting with Kate
Fairfield looked at his companion in
startled surprise, and he said with a
sigh.
You are anticipating too much.
You must prepare yourself for some
thing the reverse of happy. What
made my hair turn white III a single
week can bring you no comfort nor sat
isfaction.
Was Kate the cause of your white
hai-:'" asked Roland in unfeigned sur
prise.
Yes; last Christmas Eve was as
Look at me.f