The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-07-12
CHAPTER VIII.
Doubts and Pears.

But though Mrs. Fairfield stood
calmly by the side OF the girl whom
she loved as II she had been her own
Child, and seemed to show SO little
emotion, and to be SO passionless and
SO stern, her mind was In truth lnck-
cd by n thousand nameless fears.
1t was very well for her son to say
that lie had done Kate no harm, and
that lie had saved her life. but il his
story were true, why had he not TAX
ell her to her fathers house, instead
OF bringing her here without leave or
license. and compromising her reputa-
ton by carrying her SO many miles
through the dead Of night?
What would the daughter of Lord
Lilburne do in the cottage of her nurse
brought here by that nurses son, who,
to make matters worse had dared to
lift his assumptions eyes to the
daughter of his bcnefactor?
The very fact of Franks infatuatiOn
being so well known made Kate's
presence here a danger to herself and
q disgrace to her family, and poor
Mrs. Fairfield, despite the control she
exercised upon her words and actions
was nearly distracted.
Il am eating the bread of the Lii
burnes.". she groaned, land I have
eaten 1t for forty years, and now to
think that son Of mine should have
brought this shame and Dain upon
them; tho ingratitude and infamy is
more than ! can bear"
The tears came into those eyes TINT
rarely shed tears, and she took liatc's
limp, cold hand In her own and kissed
1t rassionately rs she mLrln,lrpd:
Whatever harm lie has done to YOU,
my darling. @ shall pay for and pay
for dearly. and until give you back
to your father will guard you as the
apple of my eye. Though. Frank Is my
own son, l will not spare him."
A low moan from the sufferer recall
ed the woman to the necessity Of nut.
ting Kate to bed, and she went about
her difficult task gently and tenderly,
us though the tall, graceful girl now
hoy cring between life and death were
still the pretty baby whom she had fed
from her own breast and handled upon
her knee In the years gone by.
Mrs. Fairfield had often reproacllcd
herself with loving her fOster-child
Kate Lilburne better even than she
loved her own son; but that she really
did 80 there could he no doubt, for
Kate had filled the place In her heart
which had been made void by the
death Of her youngest child, a baby
girl, who died when she was but a
few weeks old, and the little helress
Ind been given to her to love and cher
isll. and had chung to her as her own
infant might have done.
But the higli-born little maiden, with
her beauty and grace and her gentle
ways, was like princess to the wom-
! an " hose previous experience Of chill
dren had been among the roHgh and
ruddy boys and girls Of her own class,
and Nurse Fairfield almost worshIped
the child committed to her care.
Her own boy had benefited by his
residence ut the castle. and his occa-
sional cOmpani0nship with the pretty
little lady. who, as she toddled about
after him. likewise tyrlnnized over
him. MS 1t Is the habit of small girls to
DO when the bigger boy il not a
brother.
Frank was boy for any mother to
De proud Of. Mrs. Fairfield was told
on every side, and Lord Lilburne him.
self Ind been heard more than once to
express the wish that Frank was his
own sOn.
All this was gratifying, no doubt.
but the woinan's heart chung most to
her nursling. and, waen as the years
went by, and Frnnk's mad infatuation
for Kate made his lordship decide to
purchase partnership for him and
pension OF the mother. the latter re-
sented the we'll meant kindnesy, pnd
blamed her own offspring for the
!! wrong which she considered no had
done her.
! She was little angry with Kato
also for parting with her 50 readily
after 80 many years Of faithful serv,
ice and loving devotion, and she Ind
In consequence declined more than one
invitation to the castle since she came
to live In this .of-tAe-way cottage,
| But allth resentment vnrislled ri
the sight at the fair Girl who looked
like q brokel lily. and on whose face
were stains OF blood which had trick.
led down fr9tn the wound ON her head.
I Next w. Fairfieid.s love fol
&, g Klatl yas her appreciation
sses B s.!l, e aaenEhter q