The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-09-06
GRACE lLBuRNE'S SECRET,
"a STORY OF,
TWO CHRISTMAS A

The desire thatshad brought him here
tins night above all nights was gratifed:
ms eyes rested once more upon the face
OF Kate Lilburne.
u efer a prayer was granted, and
came 20 the snppliant as q curse, surely
IL was so now with Frank Fairfield.
tie looked upon Kate as she lay sense
less at his feet; blood was flowing from
wound on her forehead, and from a
second wound On the side ofSher head.
Ana yet her fall had been slightly
nroken by her gown having been caught
oy some projection from the wall,
me wounds on her head were serious.
however, n Frank tried to staunch
kerohlefs he had iii his pocket.
This was nc easy matter, as he had
20 Ga It In the dark, his wax-matches
Oelhg OF no use except for a second or
CW0 a. q time.
Kate remained senseless, end the
young man tried to revive her by fore
ing some brandy which he had in his
dash down her throat.
But his efforts were in vain, and the
dank vault in which they both were
chsAed the blood In his veins, while the
girl who was laying On the floor was al
most as cord as though she were dead.
HIS hfst thought was for Kate, and
he took of his thick warm ulster, wrap
ped . In 1t as well as he could, then,
Suffled to leave her so that he might
rouse the inmates of the castle. and
drlng them to her assistance.
lie had only taken a few steps, how
ever, for this purpose before he paused.
suddenly rendered powerless by the
difficulties and dangers of the situation,
not onlyto himself, but to Kate, until
n should be sufficiently recovered to
explain what had happened.
What business had he In the castle?
would naturally be the first enquiry.
and he was compelled to admit that he
a none-that he was a midnight tres
passer and might be taken into custody
az suspected person.
Then again, it was evident that a de-
ulberate crime had been committed of
which Kate, was the victim; but who
a planned or executed it, he had not
the faintest idea.
&C n can nurse her like my moth
er, who has been the only mother she
mas ever known, y he mury1lred as he
lifted the fair girl tenderly in his arms
ana carried her out of the vault into the
open air, ard to the boat.
How he accomplished that Journey
shrongh the snow-storm he never right
~ knew, but when he was obliged to
leave the boat as the river would have
taken him out of his way beyond a Ger
tain point, he brjbed a homeless tramp
Whom ne found taking shelter in the
ueserted boat-house to help hlm carry
4 brother, who" he said, 'had met
with an accident,o to the shed where
ne had left his ceb and phaeton.
He placed Nate in the carriage, and
YnllS The {flmn only ca W ar nominate
figure Wrapped in a brown ulster.
And the man, when the task was
completed, went on his Way, glad OF the
handful of silver given him for his
pains, and, as day after day took him
farther away from this part of the
country, he never heard of the strange
disappearance of Kate Lilburne, and
even had he done so, he would probably
have failed to connect it with the piece
OF good fortune that had befallen him
this bitter night.
Frank reused his mother to attend
the unconscious girl. Mrs. Fairtield's
face was white and stern as she angrily
asked:
What have you done to her? Is she
deadya
"God only knows,n he replied de-
lectedly; "but | have done her no harm.
have saved her from certain death ii
she is not already dead"
go for the doctor and don't come
back without him"
Her words were brief; her son might
tell her what story he liked, she had al
ready formed her own conclusion. and
she mentally resolved that il nate fil-
burne died she would not In any wav
shield her son from the c%onseouences
OF this nights work.