The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-07-19

.Ss AS0ooAiuk AucCltleS were 0e0u or
etorn ant. and the doctor who attended
her shook his head when Fairfield sug.
sested I'M operation to remove the
pressure on the brain.
KS. CHAPTER TX,
"fet it is love. II thoughts Of tender.
ness
Tried in temptation, strengthened by
distress,
Unmoved by absence, firm In every
cline,
And yet, oh, more than all, untired by
time!'
The anxiety and grief that succeeded
Franks rescue of Kate from the vault
| to which her sister had consigned her,
had blanched the young mans hair
and aged him as by the lapse of many
years.
Previous to this event he had not
lived In his mothers cottage, though
when In England he frequently went
to see her. but now, though it was tor
tule for him to go there often, lie
could not keep away for more than q
few days ut time.
1t was in vain that the local surgeon
gave no hope Of q change, and held out
no prospect for poor Kate's ultimate
recovery.
Frank would not accept the adverse
decision, but declared to his mother
that he would call in the aid of n
specialist-one who had made the sub
1ect of mental disease the study of his
But Mrs. Fairchild replied bitterly:
Your duty is to go to Lord Lilburne,
and If your story is true, tell him
! what you have told me. Then all that
wealth can do for poor Kate will be
done, and the responsibility of allow
Ing an operation to be performed ON
her will lie with her father, not with
me. Indeed, won't take the rcspons-
Utility. for II 1t doesn't cure 1t will
kill her, and shall feel us II l had
helped to commit murder"
Frank shuddered.
He felt as though he himself were
taking part in some deed of the kind,
and yet oil he had done or attempted
to do had been with the best possible
intention.
He had never meant to injure any
one, and least Of all would he willingly
have been the cause of any wrong to
the woman whom lie loved fur better
than he loved his own life.
Now even, IL by sacrificing himself,
lie could restore her reason and give
her back to comfort and happiness, he
would unhesitatingly have done SO:
but the sacrifice, so far rs he could
judge, would be In vain; and by giving
Kate back to her father IN her present
condition he might only be placing
her, helpless and defenceless, in the
hands Of her INSCRIPTIONS enemy.
For that Lord Lilburne's eldest
daughter had an enemy there could be
no doubt, otherwise she would never
have been thrust down the tower vault
and the trap door closed upon her as
he had heard 1t closed.
Strangely enough, though Frank dis
liked Grace Lilburne, he never sus-
pected her as the author of her sis
ter's afIliction. The bare suggestion
seemed unnatural, and he was COM
pletely at loss to understand who
could have any motive for SO black II
crime.
There was no improvement in Hates
mental condition; at any day he might
be obliged to leave England on the
business Of the firm in which he was
q partner, and In view of such u con-
tingency he was trying to make up his
mind to brave all consequences, go to
Lord Lilburne and make full con-
fesslon of his share In Kate's abluc-
ton. when, fortunately for him, Lord
Roland Ayre visited him ut his office
US already described.
am afraid the relief Frank expert
enced on hearing Lord Roland's story
was very much modified by the knowl-
edge that Kate was the affianced bride
of the young n0bleman.
Still, he was reasonable enough to
know that this was what he might
have expected, and what was sure to
happen sooner or later.
Rates love was not for him; It was
never to be his privilege, under any
circumstances whatever, to call her
his wife; and after the first pang Of
pain which the news caused him had
passed he felt that he ought to he
glad for her sake that she had given
her heart to man SO well worthy of
her love and faith.
But Frank was convinced that he
must be more than usually cautious.
1t was not his own life that was at
stake.
Aalc Hdb u, Ne CONSIDERED, and he
resolved that until he had thought
the matter thoroughly over and had
taken counsel with his mother
1t would be best to learn all he could
and say as little as possible.
The consequence of this course of
conduct we know.
And now we must return to Mrs.
Fairfield's cottage, where 1t will be
remembered Lord Roland Eyre, was
very unwillingly following Hates
former nurse into IN inner room, his
anxiety to hasten to Silverton Castle
aud make Grace confess what she had
done with her sister making him i'm.
patient of moments delay.
This back sitting room was larger
than the one in which he had been
received; It looked better furnished.
too, and the window looked out upon
fruit trees.
A work basket with pretty, bright
pieces of silk and wool and feminine
fancy work lay temptingly upon a
small table, hut Its contents were nm
touched. bright fire, with a guard
over 1t burned In the crate, and near
1t In low easy-chair, with her hands
clasped listlessly upon her knee. eat
Kate Lilburne.
Lord Roland recognized her in an IN.
slant, though he vas dimly conscious
NJ Oh