The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-06-28
81 3
b CHARLOTTE BRAEME. lAuther Of Dora Thorn.,.
CHATTER. v-tc..ti.s.ao

b. CHARLOTTE BRAEM
CHAPTER. v-(cs.tlssuaJ
Her keen eyes were on the alert,
however; II anything was to be dis.
covered, she was pretty sure to come
upon Il.
do you expect many guests tonight
besides those staying In the house r.
she asked Lord Lilburns some time
later as the company was about to dis
perse and dress for dinner.
"Yes, great number" was the re-
ply. by the way, Grace" he added,
turning to his daughter, did tell you
that Lord Roland Ayre wrote to me to
say he as coming tO-nighty'
Lord ROlandw repeated Grace In dis
may.
Yes; I wrote to invite him to dinner.
He says he cannot come TIL later in.
the evening, but he will come"
Did he say nothing else!" asked the
daughter hOarsely.
Eyes; he did say something else. but
It's Of no c0nsequence-at least, no COZ
sequence to you," and his lorylship
turned away.
Grace asked no more. She was be-
ginning to feel like creature ut bay.
hunted on every side, with no avenue
Of escaoe open to her.
Why did her father invite Lord Ro-
land Ayre, and why, above all things,
bad the invitation been accepted?
After o time, however, CONSERVATION
gave place to mirth, and she laughed
bitterly as she remarked to Sir Victor:
"Your cousin gives striking proof
Of masculine constancy. Last year
when he went away he said he would
never enter Sllverton Castle again UNI
less he brought Kate with him, or
cnme to meet her."
And how do you know that he won't
bring Kate with himY" asked Miriam
Hindman boldly.
Grace looked at her for one moment
with scornful scowl, then turned
away without deigning to utter one
word Of reply.
surely papa does not think Of mar
rying that horrid girl" Grace OK
claimed, as she watched her father and
Miriam talking together in O cOnfiden.
tlal and afrectionate manner.
Il shouldn't think he'd have the
chance" returned Sir Victor; she's an
uncommonly nice glrl.'
"Oh, yes, know you think there Is
nobody. like her." sneerel Grace.
"At any ratc, I didn't invite her
here" rctorted the young man, angrily.
Well, no; you couldn't very well, rs
It Is my fathers house." she replied;
but I wonder, since you admire her so
much, you don't marry her."
II am like your father In that re-
spect-l haven't the chance" he said,
coldly.
Then he crossed the room and Join
ed the couple Of whom they had been
talking.
Grace was very angry, but she did
not follow him, and soon after this
the first gong sounded-a hint that 1t
was time to dress for dinner.
Miriam Hindman, instead Of going
up stairs like the other girls, saun-
tered into a little study she knew of,
where q bright fire burned In the mol
ished crate, and the limp was turned
low.
Despite her assumption of cheerful
ness and high spirits, her heart was
sad and heavy.
Sir Victor Gayhcrd had been the one
love of her life, and, though they had
parted In pique and anger more than
year ago, and just before her father
had lost the greater part Of his for
tune, she hud always expected her
truant lover to return to her.
But this hope had died out now, for
he was pledged to become the husband
OF another before tWcnty-fOur hours
had passed.
She had seated herself ON a hassock
before the fire, her hands clasping her
head, and her elbows resting on her
knees, and she was thinking sorrow
fully Of the man whom she still loved
50 well.
"He will haze very miserable life. -
she lnusctl. particularly 80 II Grace
does not get tile large fortune she an
tlcipates, and he will, no doubt, often
think OF me and wish he had not
taken me at my word when told
him to go and find richer wife. All,
me! people think me bright and witty,
the men admire me, and the girls envy
me, and yet I am the most miserable
woman In this house to-night-ycs,
quite the most miserable"
Her meditntions were here inter.
rupted by an arm being claspcd round
her waist and by some member of the
opposite sex very theoretically kissing
her.
She looked up, struggled to her feet,
and, recognizing her companion, she
exclaimed, passionately
"Vtctor, how dare you insult me
like thisT'
II only kissed you under the mistle.
toe" he pleaded, with mock humility,
holding up spray Of the white-ber-
ried plant.
"Under the mistletoeg' she exclaim-
ed, with increasing anger. II wonder
you are not ashamed to look me in the
face. wonder you dare to come into
. room where nm alone"
well, It is q risky thing to do" he
replied recklessly; 'but l wanted to
speak to yo1, and.I may not have an-
other chance"
~. .Th at, \, I. = highly !! probable. What
II want to know why you came
hereT"
II came because was invited" was
the naughty reply.
"You had some other reason" he
persisted.
II had two or three other reasons"
she replied with short laugh.
zone Of them was to make me feel
what fool I'd been to think of mar
rying that waxen-faced doll while you
are free"
ooh, dear, no! I am not 80 vain; be.
sides. you don't know that I am free.
But, since you are so curious, / don't
mind telling you that I came here with
the hope Of meeting Kate Lilburne to-
night"
"Kate Lilburne" he repeated, in.
credulously. "Are you out Of your
mind? There is no such person liv-
ing 40 Kate Lilburne."
"Well, perhaps she is married and
has changed her name, still she won't
have lost her identity"
"And you really came here hoping
to meet Kate and not me?' he asked
earnestly as he stepped close to her
side?''
"Why should I want to see you? ~
she asked defantly. "You are moth
ing to me-"
"And yet you are all the world to
me. Miriam-my love. my life. Only
say the word and we viii fly together,
and I will break the hateful bonds
that bind me to Grace, whom l have
never loved"
~