The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-08-01
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Secret.


word said tie bridegroom, gayly.
Kate and l were married more than
! a week ago"
A week" echoed the baron; but
where has she been all the past year,
THAT is too long story TO tell
now" was the reply; "but where is
! Grace"
In the general delight at welcoming
back the lost beiress and the new
bride Grace had for the moment been
forgotten.
But they had not far to seek for her.
There, in their midst, she lay like
one stricken with death. and people
looked at each other curiously rs they
lifted her. for this sudden SwOOn look
ed more like the consequence of fear
than the effect of joy.
Take her to her room, she has only
tainted" said Lord Lilburne to the
servants who were called.
The order was quickly obeyed. Sir
Victor somewhat carelessly giving his
assistance
But her father and friends noticed
that Kate showed no sympathy for
her sister neither did she offer in any
way TO help her.
former days.
Then she had beon the first TO hast
-" 10 The side of the suffering and to
l. 70 assuage their pain.
But now she only looked after her
sister with an expression on her face
of wondering pity not unmixed with
aversion, and she neither tried to ca
ress nor TO revive her
The curiosity of the guests, however
was not to be restrained, and SO many
questions poured in upon our heroine
that she at length briefly told Der
friends that in finding a hiding place
the previous Christmas she had fallen
down trap door in the disused tower
and would have remained there and
persisted, if her foSter-b brother had not
rescued her.
And then Lord Roland told the rest
OF the story even down to the present
day.
There is something she has not told
us, said Miriam Hindman TO Sir Vic
tor Gayherd: ''She has not told us
what hand Grace had in her disap-
pearance. Depend upon it, we have
only heard half the story
Miriam's curiosity was not satisfied,
however; only Lord Lilburne was
ever told how Grace had consigned her
sister TO what she believed would be
her tomb.
BY this time servant came
to say that Miss Grace was con-
scious, but would not leave her
room again that night. though she
requested her guests would not let her
absence interfere with their amuse-
ment.
They took her at her word: the dane
ing recommended. and no one seemed
to miss the girl who had been hostess
until now, and who tomorrow was to
be a bride.
In view Of the ceremony Of the NOR
row the party broke up soon after the
arrival of Lord and Lady Roland
Ayre.
Those guests who were not staying
in the house took their leave, and
those who were went off to their
rooms
Sir Victor Gayherd alone fingered.
Lord Roland was his cousin. and ha
tried to find out from him the mott d,
which had made Kate keep even her
father in ignorance of her existence
for so long time.
Il cannot tell you why, but we had
very good reason" was the evasive
reply.
Had Grace anything to do with itT'
was the next question.
~Grace did not know that her sister
was alive any more than you did"
Probably not: she assured me she
was dead; but that is no answer to my
question. Did Grace know that her
sister had fallen through this trap
doOr?'
II cannot tell you'll can tell you
nothing"
* think It very unfair Of you not TO
tell me; do you know l am expected
to marry the girl tomorrow"
Il would rather you than I: but
question her yourself if you have any
doubt"
"Oh, 1 know what her answer will
De; she is not too careful Of the truth,
and, though she Is not the great heir
ess she was supposed to be. still. as
have gone so far | would not draw
pack now II | were convinced that she
was innocent of all guilty knowledge
or what had befallen her sister
Lord Roland made no reply.
He felt sorry for his kinsman. but
he had promised Kate not TO expose
her sister, and he felt that he must
keep his word To his wife whatever
happened TO his cousin.
Il will ask Lady Roland herself"
exclaimed Sir Victor passionately.
You will do nothing Of the kind. my
dear fellow" said his lOrdship firmly:
my wife has had quite enough to go
through without being cross-question-
ell about her sister.
Use your own judgment in the mat
ter. If loved a woman l should want
nobody else TO tell me whether TO be-
lieve her or not"
And what If you did not love her?"