The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-07-18

10 which her sister ndu COuslSheu hei
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
ture for him to go there often, he
could not keep away for more than u
few days at time.
1t was in vain that the local surgeon
gave no hope Of a change, and held out
no prospect for poor Hates ultimate
recovery.
Frank would not accept the adverse
decision, but declared TO his mother
that he would call in the aid of Il
specialist-one who had made the sub
ject of mental disease the study OF his
life.
But Mrs. Fairchild replied bitterly:
Your duty is to go to Lord Lilburne,
and il 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 respons-
Utility, for if it doesn't cure it will
Kill her, and | shall feel as IL had
helped To commit Il murder
Frank shuddered.
He felt as though he himself were
taking part in some deed of the kind.
and yet all 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 he loved far better
than he loved his own life.
Now even. if by sacrificing himself,
he could restore her reason and give
her back to comfort and happiness, he
would unhesitatingly have done so;
but the sacrifice. 50 far as 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 Liiburne'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
ne nau neafu ii ClOSeu.
Strangely enough. though Frank dis
liked Grace Lilburne, he never sus-
pected her as the author of her sis
ter's attliction. The bare suggestion
seemed unnatural, and he was COM
pletely at loss to understand who
could have any motive for so black
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
partner. and in view of such con-
tingency he was trying 10 make up his
mind to brave all consequences, go to
Lord Lilburne and make a full con-
feSSIon of his share in Hates abduc-
ton. when. fortunately for him, Lord
Roland Ayre visited him at his office
as 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 atfianced bride
of the young nObleman.
Still. he was reasonable enough TO
know that this was what he might
have expected and what was sure to
happen sooner or later.
Hates 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 be
glad for her sake that she had given
her heart to a 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.
Kate was to be considered, and he
resolved that until he had thought
the matter thoroughly over and had
taken counsel with his mother
it 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.
Fairfelds cottage, where it will be
very unwillingly following Rates
former nurse into an inner room, his
anxiety to hasten to SilvertOn Castle
and make Grace confess what she had
done with her sister making him inn
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 a
large garden thickly planted with
fruit trees.
A work basket with pretty, bright
pieces of silk and wool and feminine
fancy work lay temptingly upon a
small table. but it's contents We're I'M
touched. bright fire, with guard
over it burned in the CRATE, and near
it in a low easy-chair, with her hands
clasped listlessly upon her knee, sat
Kate Lilburne.
Lord Roland recognized her in an in
slant, though he vas dimly conscious
of some great change, having taken
place in the woman he loved, and he