The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-09-13
GRACE LILBURNE's SECRET.
A STORY Of
TWO CHRISTMAS DAYS.
CHAPTER <.
LOVERS REWARD.

land Ayre could engage the services OF
o very celebrated doctor, who had al
ready performed several successful op.
erations of a kind similar to that which
alone could restore Kate Lilburne's rea-
SOL.
The injury which had reduced Kate
Iilburne to a condition little better
than that of idiocy was, as we know,
caused by her fall, the skull being tract
ured.
A piece Of the skull was pressing up
on the brain, and only by relieving this
pressure could the organ of reason be
made more capable of acting in a nat
urGl manner.
The, danger was very great, and
Mrs. Fairfield over and over again en-
treated that Mrs. Lilburne should be
consulted before such a terrible rish
was incurred.
But Roland's argument was that to
do as the nurse wished wouldbe to give
him unnecessary anxiety andpain with
out doing his daughter n particle of
good, while the accounts which he in
directly obtained from Silverton Castle
described Mr.. Lilburne as generally
u%ncheerful and resigned, though
sometimes sad and anxious at the Ger
tainty Of his daughters fate.
Tier father would not hesitate for a
moment" ke said confidently; "and /
wish to spare him the terrible dread
Of failure that haunts me day and
night.n
AS her son was of the same opinion
as Roland, Mrs. Fairfield was obliged
to yield, though she did so unwillingly
and against her Judgment.
The news of Grace Lilburne's con-
temp!ated marriage with Victor Gay
herd did more to reconcile the nurse to
Roland's views than anything else, and
even when she heard that the wedding
was not to take place until after Christ
mas Day, her feelings on the subject
underwent no change.
From this time she quite fell in with
MI. Ayre's plans, and lent bin her
hearty cooperation.
So the day was fixed upon when Kate
Lllburne was to be restored to reason,
health, and happiness, OF was to depart
without further delay to that land to-
wards which we sons and daughters of
mortal race are all slowly but surely
travelling.
Two Of the most eminent surgeons in
Europe had undertaken to assist the
great Sir Felix Ferris in performing the
critical operation, and even their cool
oAN pLoSt1oCu ilullGo AldoG IltlS6
felt some extra strain upon them as
they. began their work with the con-
sclouness that only the thinness of pa
per stood between their patient and
eternity.
The case was so critical that no one
was allowed in the room besides the
operating surgeon and his assistants.
In the adjoining apartment Roland
Ayre paced slowly to and fro, his hands
tightly holding his head as though it
would burst with feverish anxiety.
AT this last moment he began to re-
greet that he had sent for Mr.. Lilburne.
But 1t was too late now, the die was
cast, and as he looked at Frank Fair
field and his mother, and saw that their
anxiety was scarcely second to his own,
ne felt that he already had companions
enough in his misery.
To the three watchers the minutes
that pass are like hours before the door
they watch so eagerly gently opens, and
one OF the surgeons with u smiling face
beckonS them into the room.
I'VE have succeeded. Her reason is
already coming back to her, said Sir
Felix Ferris in a low tone.
And just then Kate lifted her head,
and extending her hands in terror e1-
claimed:
GRACE, i! won't hide here; l tell you
l am afraid"
She looked about her." but the room
was strange, 80 were the faces untilher
eyes lighted upon that of her lover.
Then the first smile that had wreath
ed her face since that fearful night
came over it, and she held out her
hands to him as she asked:
"Roland, have I been dreaming? I
thought it was Christmas night, and we
were all playing at hide-and-sask, and
Grace was persuading me to hide in the
turret-chamber in the cid tower, and
suddenly | thought I was falling down
some awful clasn, and then I woke
with the fright. But where am n I
don't know this place, and who are
these peopleT"
She asked this inalowtone, not wish
ing to seem rude, but Mrs. Fairfield
came forward and asked:
Don't you know me, dearie?"
"Of course l do-Nurse Fairfield, my
foster.mother; but that isn't Frank2"
1T is Frank" was the reply.
But now the doctors %interposed and
suggested quiet and an absence OF ali
excitement. The operation had been
completely successful, but it was well
moi TO put too great a strain upon the
newly awakened intellect.
so Kate was persuaded to try to sleep
Tor a While, having previously been as
sured that everything should be e1-
planned to her in good time, and Roland
anu Frank went away with the doctors.
While Mrs. Fairfield alone remained to
guard her nursing.
1.-The young latty should be taken to
some quiet place by the sea, and excite
ment of every kind should be carefully
avoided for some time to Gomez said
the great surgeon who had conducted
the operation.
For several monthsl" repeated Ro-
land In dlsmay; do you mean that sew
eral months must elapse before it will
be safe for her to marry?:"
Most decidedly was the reply; sun
der very favorable conditions, and pro-
yided she is kept free from all trouble
and anxiety in the interval, it may be
safe for her to marry III December, but
certainly not before, and it is now the
end of july"
So the matter was decided, though
Mrs. Fairfield shook her head over the
arrangement, but she did not refuse to
take her foster-child d. - the nniat.
fishing village, and remain there with
her while Roland very reluctantly went
for a short tour on the Continent, and
on his return to England he embraced
z girl who was strangely Like the lost
Kate Lilburne.
Strangely like her indeed. The bloom
or health had returned to her cheek; the
fearless queenly dignity that had de-
serted her with the loss of reason, but
for which she had been distinguished
before that terrible fall, had come back
to her now, while she was as winning
and loving as she had ever been.
No trace now remained of the terri
Bile ordeal which she had recently pass
ed through.
Next to her delight at meeting her
lover, and the near prospect of being
united to him, was the desire to be en-
braced by her father, and to dissipate
the grief which she knew he must feel
at her loss.
II hope we have not been selfish in
moi sending to papa" she said anxious
", as she talked to Roland about her
father. 81 shall v forgive myself
II our silence has injured his health"
You need have no fear upon that
account, dearest" he replied somewhat
bitterly; your absence from Silyerton
will be celebrated this year with rejoic-
ing rather than be mourned over with
tears. A wedding party is to be as
sembied, the castle is to be filled with
guests, and | am among the number of