The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-07-05
CHAPTER VII.
Through the Snow.

L
We must go back to the night when
Kate Lilburne SO mysteriously disap-
peared.
1t will be remembered that the snow
began to fall only very short time be-
fore the barOn's eldest daughter was
persuaded to go with her sister and
hide.
The snow might he a very scasona-
BILE visitor on Christmas night, but the
servants at Silverton castle took very
good care to close every door carefully
against 1t, and there was consequently.
no danger of any solitary watcher out
side the mansion being observed.
Indeed, with 80 much free-handed
hospitality inside the mansion, and
such n warm welcome extended alike
to rich and poor, 1t would naturally be
supposed that no man In his senses
would have wandered like an unquiet
spirit around the building when he
could take shelter from the cold white
fakes Of snow and from the biting
blast by the side Of a glowing fire, ana
solace his inner man with an abund-
ance Of Christmas cheer.
Despite the folly Of such a proceed
Ing, however, a man, wearing thick
ulster, and, Judging from his appear
Rnce, well-to-do in the world, certainly
was lettering outside the castle on
this eventful night.
He kept we'll away from the doors,
and he took good care that the brill
liant light from the windows did not
fall upon him.
And, Judging from the outside, Sill
verton castle was unusually festive to-
night, for there was scarcely a window
In the great building which was not
lighted up.
But the stranger fingered longest
near the old part Of the castle In
which was the great hall.
II you could have looked well Mt his
face you would have seen that he was
young ard handsome, and you would
probably also have observed that he
was nervous and Ill at ease as though
he knew he was doing something Of
which he was more than half ashamed.
He seems doubtful now as to whether
he will carry out the purpose that
brought him here, or so away without
accomplishing it.
And yet his object In coming is not
to wrong any one. though it may in
crease his own pain by feeding tho
fame Of n perfectly hopeless love.
Yes, 1t was love TINT brought Frank
Fairfield to this cherries spot.
"I1ove that makes the world 20
round"
The same passion of which Byron
wrote:
Alas! what Is there In this world ce
ours,
Which makes 1t fatal to be lov'd7
Oh why
With cypress branches hast thou
wreathed thy bowers
And made thy best Interpreter Q
siRh?"
He felt all the keen SORROWS of hope
less love rs he wandered outside the
house that held the jewel he adored,
yet dared not seek to win.
Far rs the east Is from the west, 80
far was Kate Lilburne's love from
lin.
She loved him with the kind, pas
stonless affection Of a sisters love.
Nearer or dearer than this ne might
never be to her, and he had promised
to accept this truth, and to crush oil
further hope and desire out of his
heart.
A promise 80 easily given, 80 hard of
performance.
All through this day the demon of
unrest has been upon him, and at
length, unable to control his actions,
he had left his mothers house, and
harnessing the cob to 0haeton which
lie had borrowed for week from a
neighbor, he drove the old vehicle In
the direction Of Silverton Castle.
Arrived at the outskirts of the VII
lage, he left the horse and carriage in
shed, and set on to perform the rest
OF his journey on foot.
He soon got tired Of walking, how.
ever, and as he came near the deep.
narrow river he bethought himself
that he could approach the castle in a
bont with very much less chance of
being recognized.
So. in spite of the cold. he took a
dingy, and then though the darkness
Of night was setting in, he began to
row towards the castle, for he knew
every winding Of the stream that fow-
ed beneath its walls.
His childhood and youth had been
spent in the home OF the Iilburnes,
and the old peer himself was not half
30 well acquainted with his own prop.
erty as was Frank Fairchild.
1t was quite dark when he moored
his boat under the castle walls, and
went cautiously around the mansion
to inspect 1t and try to catch one
glimpse of Kate.
The dogs did not bark at his mn.
proach, for they knew him, and he had
some difficulty In getting away from
their too demonstrative affection.
But the object Of his fatiguing four.
ney was not attained.
He could not get into any. position
where he could see Kate without bo.
Ing observed and recognized.
He would have entered the house
boldly, but for the promise he had civ.
en- bis benefactor not to seek to speak
- Kate again until he had oyercome
his hopeless infatuation. -
There was no thought In his mind of
breaking this promise. III
He did not wish to srsMk n her. Ha