The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-05-23
eyes. so I should think. You have

"Oh. nor and she bluShed with con-
scious Qualification as, despite her sis
ter's remarks. she felt sure that Lord
Roland loved her.
Coffee was brought in and there
was conversation and music, broken
into at length by the host suggesting
that they should go to the servants
| hall to see the Christmas tree that had
been provided for the servants ana
tenants, or more particularly Tor the
children of the latter.
Lord Roland gave Kate his arm as
the large party made its way I'd the
servants hall.
While the rich Toasted, the poor
We're never forgotten at Silverton Cas-
tie. and if the baron and his daughters
made merry, his humblest retainerS
found warm welcome in the Kitchen.
On the present occasion the huge
Christmas tree was all alight with
colored lamps, while gifts had been
provided for the servants and their
guests. and three rustic musicians
with their pipes and tiddles were
ready to play for the impatient
dancers.
I'VE will look in later on, said Lord
Lilburne. with kindly nod, and then
he and his friends trooped back to the
hall which by this time had under
gone great transformation.
Holly and mistletOe had been pre-
! viously arranged among the old suits
| of armOr. and mingled with the tro-
! phies of the chase; and now since din
Ter brilliant flowers had been placed
about the hall in great profusion, Civ
| fIsF
rance to the air.
A band had been engaged for the oc-
! caSion. and soon the noble host led off
! the ball with tie most distinguished
! lady present, while Lord Roland and
Kate Immediately followed.
Grace. who was likewise dancing.
| watched her sister jealOusly, and she
! saw how. after time. Lord Roland
! led Kate to a recess half-Screened from
the rest of the hall by flowers, and she
scarcely needed to listen to them to
learn what the ardent lover was say
! ing.
To her secret satisfaction. however,
| the lovers We're interrupted before
half a dozen words could pass btween
| them, for Sir AlCernOn COlebroOk. who
had engaged Kate for the second dance
now came up to claim her hand.
When her sister had taken the arm
of the baronet, Grace Joined Lord Ro-
! land, and began to talk 10 him.
But he did not ask her to dance. and
he paid very little heed TO what she
said. for his eyes were following Kate
| and her partner through the maZeS of
! the dance.
Kate and Sir Algernon seem very
| we'll matched. don't they" observed
| Grace, following the direction of his
! gaze.
They dance very we'll together. II
! that is what you mean he replied
CURLY.
And then he turned TO address a
couple of ladies who had just drifted
! into this corner Of the room.
He is infatuated with her, but be-
| leve | could make him love me il she
were out OF the way" thought Grace.
! darkly; ''she has always been the first
in everything-has always stood be-
tween me and what | most desired.
She has robbed me Of my fathers
love. and all the servants in the house
would risk their lives for her while
they would not imperil finger to help
me; and now she has stolen the love
Of Roland Ayre, whom l love better
than life and whom I had resolved to
to marry Oh. If could but get rid of
her once for all, how different life
| would be-what brilliant future Of
success and happiness would then lie
before me"'
With these evil thoughts in her
mind Grace left the hall. and wander
10, - Il t,,Nl, ls.xIt n.
visited corridors of the old wing of the
| castle.
The sounds Of mirth and revelry fell
upon her ears, hut there was no reSpon-
sive echo in her heart.
Dark. vengeful thoughts filled her
breast, and as she listened to the shrill
north winds. as il hOwlcd round the
mansion, and putting her face close to
the window. saw the large white
fakes of snow that were beginning %
fall she shivered and wondered why
the world was full of contrasts. and
why her sisters lot should be 50 bright
aud happy,while, to her distorted inn
agination, her own was so dark and
| cherries.
That the fault lay with herself never
for moment occurred to her. and
when she complained Of tho devotion
Of the servants to Kate, she cOnyen-
iently chose to forget that her sister
never spared her purse nor her own
comfort when the children Or relatives
Of their dependents were sick or in
any trouble.
1t was Kate who sat up with the
gamekeeper'S mOtherleSs child when
the doctor despaired Of its life. AMI it
it was she who nursed the now sturdy
boy back to health and strength
| What wonder then that the bOy's IN =