The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-08-02
6he Siluqrto7.
Secret.
., CHARLOTTE BRAEME. (Author of Dora rhorn.,.

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 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 of to their
rooms.
Sir Victor Gayherd alone fingered.
Lord Roland was his cousin, and he
tried to find out from him the motive
which had made Kate keep even her
father in ignorance Of her existence
for SO long time.
II cannot tell you why, but we had
a very good reason" was the evasive
reply.
"Had Grace anything to do with ity'
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?"
Il cannot tell you'll can tell you
nothing"
II think it very unfair of you not to
tell ME; do you know am expected
to marry the girl tomorrow"
II would rather you thon L; but
question her yourself IL you have anS
doubt"
"Oh, I know what her answer will
be; 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
back now IL were convinced that she
was innocent Of all guilty knowledge
of 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.
| II will ask Lady Roland herself"
exclaimed Sir Victor passionately.
you will do nothing of the kind, NV
dear fellow" said his lordship firmly;
''my wife has had quite enough to go
through without being cross-question-
ed about her sister.
use your own Judgment in the mat
ter. II l loved woman I should want
nobody else to tell me whether to be.
lieve her or not
And what II you did not love her?"
asked Sir Victor grimly.
Lord Roland shrugged his shoulders,
then he held out his hand and said:
Goodnight"
Though he did not say so, he knew
quite well what his Cousins decision
would be.
When he Joined his wife and her
father In the study of the latter Kate
asked nervously:
"Hou have not said anything against
Grace to Sir Victor,- have you, TO.
land"
Certainly not" was the reply; ''but
ne Is suspicious, and has been ques-
tioning me-"
II shall not allow the marriage to
take place Tomorrow" said Lord lii
burne decidedly. "Grace is unfit to be
the wife of any honorable man."
II think she must have been mad
that night" Kate said gently; II have
often thought SO since"
"She was thoroughly bad" returned
the baron gloomily; "she Is only too
like her mother"
Soon after this they retired TO rest,
Lord Lilburnc grateful and satisfied
at the recovery of his best-beloved
daughter. and she happy beyond the
power Of words to tell in the blissful
possession Of her husbands love, aud
her restoration to her father.
The only cloud that cast shadow
upon the perfect contentment of both
was the trcacliery of Grace and the
question as to what would become of
her.
When the cold, gray morning dawn
ed the snow rustled Mt the windows
as 1t had done q year ago when the
eldest daughter of the Lilburnes was
lost and could not be found.
Grace sat up in bed and wondered
II the past year had been dream;
but ut the sight Of her wedding dress
spread out on a couch at the further
end of the room convinced her of she
reality of all that had passed.
But she would not or could not
think, neither would she allow herself
to realize the possibility that Katc'a
return would In any way Interfere
with her own marriage.
She meant to carry out everything
with high hand, to deny any charge
made against her, and to defy her SIS.
ters husband to prove anything
against her.
In this frame Of mind she rang
for her morning cup of tea, and
the maid brought the tray, OH
which, besides the cup of tea and
toast, there was q carefully sealed
note.
For a second or two she did not
break the seal, but when the waiting
woman had left the room she tore
the letter open wildly and read lis
brief contents:
"Your own conscience Grace ILL
burne, will probably tell You why
refuse to fulfil my engagement to mar
ry You this morning. ] oice: ~ fur
ther explanation or excuse fur .bc step
l am shout to take, but am ready to
bear all consequences which you or
anybody belonging 10 you may think
fit to intiict upon the. Ky tic time
this reaches you / shall be- OH r.y way
~ H~"Nh, "aSASS 40 ONOA tlVs INV
will permit, Marian Hindman Will be-
come my wife,"
This was signed "yict0r Eayhcrd,"
and had evidently heen written w ith
a total disregard for the feelings of
the wretched girl to whom it was ad-
dressed.
Her reason had been tottering on
tts throne for some months past,
though neither Grace nor her friends
knew It, and now the last bolt had
fallen, and she started up madly from
her bed u wild and dangerous maniac.
The servants met her as she was on
her way. sarieking and gesticulating
frantically, to the disuscd tower.
They secured her AMI a doctor was
sent for, and all that care and skill
could do for her was done, but moth
inE could save the unhappy girl.
For few days she fingered in great
pain and mental agony, but as the old
year was dying she likewise drlftcd
away into the unknown.
Her death was relief to all who
We're connected with her.
Another year swiftly passes by and
Christmas Day is again upon MS.
But this day is the brightest Of all
the three for Kate and her husband
and her father.
To the baron a grandson has been
born who will bear his name, and one
day will succeed 10 his title, and the