The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-05-23
CHAPTER I.

How can | tell whether he loves
me or not? He has never nrcathed
word Of love to me-
Perhaps not, although lie has look
ed whole volumes of DEVOTION; but
looks are more deceptive than words.
Shall you accept him II he proposes 10
youN
II will tell your grace. when he has
proposed" was Kote's dignited reply;
land in the meantime you had better
finish dressing. l am rsarly ready to
receive our guests. How 60 | look =
And the Hon. Kate Lilburne, as she
asked this question, glanced with COM
placency upon the white satin gown
that hung so gracefully upon her.
ooh. YOU always look WELL" was the
uugracious reply: land no wonder,
when you have all your mothers jew
els to wear Those pearls alone are
worth fortune"
And she pointed with mixture
Of anger and envy at the costly orna-
ments on her sisters neck and arms.
"You know you are always welcome
to wear any of my jewelry." said
Kate, gently; "can l lend you any
thing now"
mo. thank YOU" replied her half
sister. sharply: Il don't choose to
dress in borrowed finery-plain gold
ornaments are good enough fol- me. l
suppose il never occurred to you that
Lord Roland Ayre is much more in
love with your fortune than he is with
you?"
Certainly not: should be ashamed
Of myself to think so meanly of him"
And Kate Lilburne turned to the
glass before which she stood, arranged
some flowers in the bosom of her dress,
and felt, with very pardonable pride,
that she was we'll worth loving for
herself alone.
Its true. whether you believe 1t or
not" said Grace. spitefully; he loves
another woman, but she is poor, and
If he asks you TO marry him 1t will be
because you are rich. Knowing this,
l should think you will never accept
him"
She looked at her sister anXiOusly as
she uttered these barbed words, hop
ing to see Kate shrink, or become pale
with grief, or flushed with indigna-
ton as she listened to them.
But, unfortunately for the success
statement she made carried no weight
with il.
1t was her nature to plot and to
plan, to be enviOus of. and ungrateful
to, those who were kindest to her,
and to make mischief and cause pain
whenever she had the chance; and
this characteristic being well known
to her half sister, the latter paid but
30 ,.ly =,
they did sometimes succeed in wound
ing her.
Now. therefore she said lightly:
my dear Grace. don't trouble your
self about Lord Roland, nor about me;
he is sufficiently wealthy to be able to
choose a wife without considering her
fortune. and l give him credit for
possessing too much good sense, and
far too much regard for his own hap
piness, to believe he would marry a
woman whom he does not love. And
now | will talk no more about him,
for il is not maidenly for you and me
to be discussing mans intentions
when he has not proposed to either
of u.s."
So saying, Kate Lilburne cast a last
glance at her own reflection in the
mirror. and then turned to leave the
room.
But Grace was not to be put off in
this manner. She had overheard a
conversation between her father and
Lord Roland Ayre the previous day,
and had gathered from the words that
fell upon her ears that Lord Roland
had asked for and obtained her faith
er's consent to propose to Kate.
stop minute" exclaimed Grace,
planting herself in the way to the
door: will you promise me that if
Lord Roland proposes to you tonight
you will not accept him?"
Il will not discuss the question"
was the answer
Then. seeing that her sister barred
her way. she suddenly drew up her
slight form with queenly dignity, and
said:
Don't forget yourself, Grace, and
don't make me angry. This is not the
way in which we should spend Christ
mas day. Let me pass"
Grace looked for a moment at her
lovely sister. and sudden scowl came
over her own pretty face, but she ut
tered no word of justification, and,
turning. sulienly left the room.
No one could have suspected the de.
mon of rage and jealousy that lurked
in her breast when some time later
she came down to join her father and
sister and the guests who had arrived.
For Grace looked so sweet and inno-
cent and childlike, that people who
did not know her we'll could very cas-
lily believe that she was somewhat
oppressed and neglected by her half
sister and her father, with the latter
Of whom she was evidently no fav-
orite.
But guests are arriving in quick
Succession. XnrN soon the lasf hnS