The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-06-14

would return to her, for she felt tint
he knew she loved him.
But Lord Roland never came nol
showed the least sign of coming, III
news of him reached the castle. ant
Grace philosophically came to the con
clusion TINT she might rs well take
whit she could get, since she could
not obtain what she wanted.
So one day Sir Victor Gayherd pro
posed and was accepted, and Grace
sent him of to her father to obtain
his consent. f,.s
She was very anxious to get married
and to get away from Silvcrton castle
for time, for her crime was daily be
ginning to haunt her, and the fcal
grew upon her that in some unguard
ed moment she would betray herself.
More than once she had been found
walking in her sleep on her way tc
the disused tower, and though she
had been met before she could gel
there. and had been led or carried
back to her room, the shock to her sys
TEN caused by the sudden awakening
had been intensified by her terror lest
she should have revealed her terrible
secret.
So for she was safe, however, and
IL she could get away for time and
forget her crime she thought that al
would be well.
When Sir Victor returned, however
the expression Ct his cOuntenance
quickly told her of the non-success OF
his mission.
Il don't think your governor ia quite
right" the young man remarked as he
took seat by her side; che seems O
little bit touched" and he tapped his
own forehead significantly.
"Why, what did he sayY' asked
Grace, breathlessly.
"He said good many things. He
seems to believe that ycur sister ID
alive, though he has not sc. n her nor
heard from her, and he says TINT until
he has received proof Of her death be-
yond oil doubt he will only give you
the portion you would have Ind be-
fore she was lost"
"That is provoking, but 1t won't mat.
ter In the long rum" returned Grace,
heartlessly; "hc can't live forever, and
then all he has must be mine."
"Unless your sister is alivc," replied
Sir Victor, slowly.
"Oh, she's dead, safe enough" WINS
the callous reply; you needn't trouble
about her."
"You speak as though you had seen
her die" hesexclaimed, with sudden
suspicion. = :. I. FSsaG .
.Well, ! didn't see her die" she re:
torted defiantly, as she contracted llef
brows and clenched her teeth, ''but
haven't the least doubt she Is dead.
II she We're not, do you think she
would stay away from everything that
can make life enjoyable? No, she Is
dead enough, and Silverton must one
day bic mine. But what else did papa
Say? He did not refuse his consent
to our marriage, did hep
mo; but he refuses to allow It to
take place until after next Christmas
day. and now 1t is June. Imagine our
having six months to waltz /,
Eyes, and hate Christmas" ex.
clatmed Grace, passionately. 1--WE will
not wait, Victor. If papa will not give
his consent we will be married with.
Sir Victor Gayherd shrugged his
shoulders and made rueful face be.
fore he replied: =.
Il admire your courage, Grace, and
should applaud It were It not for the
pitable condition of my own finances
but your father has forseen the posi-.
bility Of our dispensing with his per.
mission, and he has told me that II
we marry without 1t he will not give
us one sixpence while he lives.
III my estates were not mortgaged
for almost their value, or IL you had
q fortune from your mother, as your
sister had, we might afford to do as
We please, but now II is impossible"
Grace threw herself upon q couch
and wept, and declared that he didn't
love her, and she sObbed and cried
and altogether made herself exceed.
ingly ridieul0us; but Sir Victor was
moi. ssuftci infatuated to he i'm.
prudent, and as her father happened
to come In just as this scene was nj
It's height, Miss Grace was ordered t.
her own room and desired to remain
there until she had regained her right
senses.
Then Lord Lilburne talked quietly
but kindly to the young man and i,
was agreed between them that, II
nothing unforeseen occurred in the In
:. terval, the marriage should take plac,
Immediately after Christmas day.
When Miss Lilburne heard of. the ar
rangement and found that she coult
not hive her own way, she resigned
herself to the tyranny of circum
stances with the best grace she coult
assume. 'tg'.'.i.5'il. gI
The rest Of the terrible year mus
be lived out at silverton castle, 70
the baron, with the morbid expecta
ton Of his eldest daughters return
would not go to London or Scotland
or any Of the places on the cOntinen
that 1t was almost his yearly custoli
to visit. +
Here at the castle he remained. an,
here, sorely against her will, Grac
was obliged to stay with him.
Oh, bow she grew to hate ever,
stone OF the stately pile which :sil
felt to be her-own prison and her sis
ter's tomb. z
sometimes, a. autumn drew on, an,
the winds grew loud and shrill, II ,
door slammed suddenly, or an Nnusua
sound was heard at the window Q
outside the door, she would spring t
her feet, or cover down into some cor
ner In an agony of speeches. terror
till she sometimes felt as II rensOl
We're altogether DESERVING her, an,
she was going out of her mind. (
And as the days shortened and tn
nights grew dark and chilly an,
Christmas was again approaching, /,
horrible fascination seemed to draw
her to the room under which she In,
consigned her sister to so terrible :,
fate. \ {
At last she could resist the feelin,
no longer, yet when she Mt lengtl
yielded to the desire she dared NJ,
move the sliding floor and look dow
upon the body Of her victim. j
She had no earthly doubt that Kat
lay there as she had fallen, or, II no
exactly in the same position, II sh
had not been actually killed by TIL
fall, the guilty girl was equally sur
that her sister was lying dead ut tn
bottom Of that horrible pit. :
But though she would have give
half Of oil she might ever possess i
look upon the face of her victim, sh
dared not remove the floor that hi,
the murdered girl from view. bccaus
she feared that as surely o. she d;,
% sh0 ahOudsbe irreslstlbly ilnpcllcl
| % cast herlAlf down beside her.
~ EsAs Chf1stmaSs came nearer, llowcve;
q and Tho wedding was fixed for til
II e1cceedMg day GracO became rathe
N w3d hndDHgtn.
= Since theyss3ould spend Christina
day at silverton castle. they would ID
merry over IL, she said. and, as he
{ n'sfrfaSswass to pkep'.ee 1pned!.'s