The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-05-31

"Ob, no, am not tired" she replied
lightly, Though we will look for q
cooler place IL you like; but how the
wind is bowling, and really believe 1t
Ia beginning to SNOW"
"It is." he replied, pressing her arm
to his side MS he felt she gave q little
shivcr, but the snow is falling slowly
and I dare soy 1t will last long time;
fortunately you have not to go out to-
night
"Nor you either" she replied with n
smile. II heard papa say TINT you
would remain with us over to-mor-
row."
He made no reply but made the way
to small drawing room which the
sisters used more than any one In the
house.
It was deserted now though a bright
fire burned in the crate. end Lord Ro-
land led the timid girl into the apart
ment then paused. and looking earnest
" into her deep dark eyes, he exclaim-
ed passionately:
kate I love you. Look Mt me, dear
est tell me, will you be my wifey.
She did look at him.
The love written on his face was too
earnest, too overpowering to be mis-
taken. or to admit of any coquetry on
her part; and she now answered as
simply IN any village maiden would
have done:
Eyes, Roland"
There was a bough Of mistletoe
hanging above them, but they did not
need this as an excuse for the long
kiss of love which their lips first met;
and Roland had led Kate close to the
fireplace, and they were both watch
Ing the logs burning brightly upon the
hearth, and he was telling her how
dearly and truly he loved her, while
his urn claspcd her graceful form,
and her head rested trustfully upon
his shoulder, when the door OF the
room was softly and noiselessly
opened.
So absorbed were they In their own
happiness that they did not observe
It, neither did they see the chtld-like
countenance Of Grace, with murder
GUS light in her blue eyes, looking ut
them.
She went away, however, without
making her presence known.
But as she left the room In which
her sister and Lord Roland were talk
Ing of their love, her heart seemed to
take fire, and her brain became active
for evil us that Of q fiend.
All the pent-up Malignity In her
nature now asserted itself, and she
was ready to commit any crime 80
that she might crafty her hatred and
win for herself some of the great I'D
yantages now possessed by her rival
Love misplaced and affection slight
ed. are sometimes pleaded as excuses
for deeds of passionate revenge; but,
though the plea is bad one, Grace
Grace Lilburne could not shield her.
\ self behind even That fiimsy pretext.
It is truethat she coveted tile ad.
miratiOn and devotion of Lord Roland
Ayre; but this was rather because
It was given to Kate than because She
set any great store upon 1t for itself.
Indeed, she was incapable Of the
strong. passionnte, self-lenying deyp
ton that is q quality Of even the most
selfish love, and thus, though she
would gladly enough have committed
any crime to win her sisters lover
she would very readily accept sub
stitutc IL she failed.
Therefore, It was not solely on &c
count OF Lord Roland tllat abe Tow
gave herself up heart and soul to worh
evil, but envy Of Rates beauty, hel
wealth, and sven If her virtues made
this wicked creature determine upon
her half-sister's destruction.
Rut how was 1t to be accomplished
1t IL easy to wish IN enemy dead
and only . little more difficult 10 a;me
natures to mako the wish q reality, Il
an opportunity TO do SO can le found
but 1t Is not always easy to make the
opportunity and to carry out the vile
intention In such manner that nc
suspicion shall attach itself to the
perpetrator.
.'She shall diew Missed Grace, as she
clenchcd her little hands till the :lailf
dug themselves into the pink palms
"yes, she shall die this very night
even II I risk my own life by putting
an end to hers But how-h0w am
to do it,"
She bent her head in morbid, anx
ious thought, and she wandered about
the deserted passages aud corridors RI
the ancient portion Of the castle. az
though she expected that the ghosts
of some Of her dead ancestors, who
had been notorious for their evil
deeds, would come to tell her how to
accomplish her. fnurderous design.
In her reStiessness she wandered pr
to the top chamber In the old tower
and listened 10 tho bowling Of the
wind, and peered through :he arrow
window into the darkness beyond.
A river ran near the base of this
tower-a deep, silent liver, that would
not readily betTay her if she gave It q
victim; but how could Kate be con:
signed to the dark water In such a
namRr that help would not lie forth
coming7
She unused on this scheme long
that she at length betllought her Of q
way In which to entrap Kate down IA
the river side. H.
If Kate received n note purporting ia
come from Frank Fairfield, the son Of
her fOster-mothcr. and whose mad in.
fAtuation for the baron's eldest daugl,.
ter had banished him from the castle,
Nato might perhaps yield to the ap.
peal and go out to meet him, and then
Under cover Of the dark night the rest
would he easy. ''f
put WOMB nate Keep the appoint.
ment, or would she not be more likely
to hand the note to her father and ash
him to deal: with the impudent writer;
Hero was the difficulty,
Grace knew that she would herself
be an easy dupe for such a plot, but
Kate was 90 nconsfortably straight.
forward, and had y high appreciation
Of what was due to her own honor and
dignity, that size might regard the
most impassioned appeal AZ an insult,
and resent It accordingly,
And then, again. Frank would not
dare to asl Kate to meet him, and
she would Know this, and for this rea.
son, II f9f no other. would not 20 to
the rendezvous.
"Next to Kate detest him." Grace
muttefed vindictiyely: "but there haa
been, no love lost between us all our
lives; he was the terror Of my child.
hood, and yet, for all that. played
,'i,!ia some clever tricks, and often got
him punished when DO would othor.
- !. ID q . {. i