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

BV the time the arrangements lbT
Hates removal to the place recon-
mended by Sir Felix were completed.
our poor heroine was strong enough
to listen to the details Of her rescue
from the secret vault, and all the
world save the Farfields and Lord Ro
land, looked upon her as lost, never
to return.
Let them think so STILL" she decid-
ed, when the situation was explained
to her, land when go to see dear
papa | will go with you, Roland"
So the matter was decided, though
Mrs Fairfield shook her head over the
arrangement. but she did not refuse to
take her foster-child down to the quiet
fishing village and remain there with
her while Lord Roland very reluctant
ly went for n short tour on the CONT
nent.
A sadness which he could not alto
gether throw off even now had settled
upon him Immediately after Rates
disappearance, and his story having
got about, people called him Lord
Lovel, and many fair maidens did their
best to console him for his loss.
But he was Singularly blind to their
charms, a fact that would not have
surprised them as much as il did if
they could have seen the rapturouS
manner in which Oh his return to Eng
land he embraced girl who was
strangely like the lost Kate I.ilburne.
Strangely like her indeed The
bloom of health had returned to her
cheek; the fearless Queenly dignity
that had deserted her with the loss Of
reason, but for which she had been
distinguished before that terrible fall.
had come back to her now, while she
was as winning and loving as she had
ever been.
No trace now remained of the terri
bic ordeal which she had recently
passed through.
Next to her delight at meeting her
lover and the near prospect of being
united to him, was the desire to be
embraced by her father. and to dissi-
pate the grief which she knew he
must Seel at her loss.
II hope we have not been selfish in
not sending to papa" she said. anX-
iously, as she talked to Lord Roland
about her father. Il shall never for
give myself If our silence has injured
his health"
You need have no fear upon that
account, dearest" he replied, some
what bitterly; "your absence from Sill
verton will be celebrated this year
with rejoicing rather than be mourned
over with tears. a wedding party is
to be assembled, the castle Is to be
filled with guests, and / am among the
number of those invited, to the Christ
mas and wedding festivities"
YOU! exclaimed Kate, in surprise.
"Ies; and l have written to your ia
m \ Wi
night and bring my bride with me.
thought my letter would prepare him"
do you think he will suspect who
your bride will be?' she asked, with
blushing cheeks and downcast eyes.
II should think So" was the an
swer; "for l told him when we parted
that / would never enter Slverton
Castle again unless l came to meet
you or brought you with me-"
She said no more: his devotion
touched her deeply, and all her past
surerings seemed as nothing in pres
ence Of the life of perfect love that
lay before her.
1t was soon after this and about
the middle Of December that a quiet
wedding took place in the parish
church of the village where Kate LII
burne had for some months found a
home.
He was young man, though his
hair was white, who gave the bride
away, aud no one but himself knew
how by this act he crushed out the
last lingering hope that he had uncon-
sciously cherished in his heart.
But Frank Fairfield gave no out
ward sign of his self-cOnquest. and he
wrote his name in the register as a
witness, without Il tremble in the sig
nature.
The marriage had been conducted
with all possible secrecy, but the
names and rank of the contracting
parties could not be kept from the Of
floating clergyman or the clerk. and
X was from the former that Miriam
Hindman received a hint 10 the effect
that Lord Lilburnes eldest daughter
whose unaccountable disappearance
had caused so much CONSERVATION q
year ago, was still alive.
More she could not learn. but she
shrewdly suspected that Christmas
would not pass by without witnessing
Hates return to her fathers house.
This expectation went a great way
towald inducing her to accept the in
yitation to be Grace Lilburne's brides
maid. though NJ that time she had no
Intention OF bringing the bridegroom
as truant lover to her own feet
The strength of their old love. how
ever. proved too strong for Miriam and
Sir Victor TO withstand and they were
both resolving that his marriage with
Grace must he prevented. when as al
ready narrated. the doors were thrown
open and Lord and Lady Roland Ayre
appeared on the threshold.