The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-06-20
CHAPTER IV-(COntinued.D

week elapsed before 4 brief note came
from Fairfield asking Lord Roland to
meet him on the following day.
The appointment was kept, and
when the first brief salutation was
over the engineer said:
IF you are disergC ced to-day,
will take you to see my mother. You
know she was Miss Lilburne's nurse"
"Yes: l heard she was her foster
mother.
Fairfield inclined his head as he
continued.
MY mother was as much devoted
to her as though Miss Kate had been
her own child, and she Is I'm great
trouble about her now l promised
to take you to her. Perhaps you can
help each other"
But how can help her? Does she
know where Kate is:'
''She will explain every thing to you
herself was the evasive answer.
"Do YOU feel disposed to go with me
to my mothers house,"
Certainly; my time Is at your
service. Where does your mother
live"
About twenty miles this side Of
Silverton Castle" was the reply, land
fifty from London: but we shall get
down there in a couple of hours"
Then the two young men went off
together, Fairfield leaving word at
the office that he should not return for
the day.
1t was late in the afternoon when
they reached Beechcroft, and Fairfield
remarked that they had still three
miles to walk or ride.
let Ills ride" said Lord Roland i'm
patiently. Il feel as though every
moment we spend upon the road stands
between me and my meeting with
Kate"
Fairfield looked at his companion in
startled surprise, and he said with
sigh:
You are anticipating too much. my
lord. You must prepare yourself for
something the reverse Of happy. What
made my hair turn white in a single
week can bring you no comfort nor
satisfaction"
"Was Kate the cause Of your white
hair?' asked Lord Roland in unfeigned
surprise.
YES; last Christmas evening I was
as free from gray hairs as you are.
Now look at me-"
But how did it happen? Why are
you so mysterious? Why don't You
deal frankly with me?''
MY mother will tell you all that you
need to know" was the answer. Il
only warn you to anticipate evil rather
than good"
Lord Roland felt a chill come over
him. 1t was not the keen air Of early
spring that made him shiver. but the
cold feeling Of dread and anxiety that
Cairfield's words caused him.
For, despite all reasoning to the con-
trary, he had cherished the hope that
when he reached Mrs. Fairtield's cot
tage he would clasp Kate Lilburne to
his heart.
When he glanced at the white hair of
his companion, however, and heard
what was the cause assigned for it.
he felt only too we'll convinced that
some dark tragedy had linked itself
with the fate Of his beloved.
For tho rest Of the journey the two
men We're silent; one rs too sad and the
other was too nervously anxious to
talk.
1t was large. handsome cottage. at
the gate Of which they drew up. and as
they walked towards the door it was
opened by Mrs. Fairfield herself.
She was a tall, fine-loOking woman.
comparatively young looking still, and
very like her son, though her dark
brown hair as yet showed no sign Of
approaching age.
There was Difference rather than hui
mility In her manner as she grayely in
vited his lordship to enter. while she
herself led the way into comfortably
furnished sitting-Oom.
The young nObleman eagerly glanced
around the apartment, as though he
hoped to see some one, but il so he
was disappointed; there was not a sim
gle sign Of anybody having been in the
room save the woman to whom Ii be-
longed.
II have told Lord Roland Ayre that
you could probably help him in trac-
Ing Miss Kate" said Fairfield, when
they We're all seated. "But perhaps it
will be as we'll if he tells YOU first
how Kate disappeared and what steps
have been taken to find her: you will
then be able to connect his part of the
story with the little you know"
Lord Roland almost fumed with i'm
patience. He did not want to GO over
the old ground again: he wanted to
know without delay what they could
tell him.
But Mrs. Fairfield, though very DO
lite, was likewise very firm.
Moreover, she was suspicious.
Yes, she was suspicious even Of her
own son, and as Lord Roland, finding
no escape, began to tell the story of
that Christmas night over again, she
more than once interrupted him with
questions.
And when the search was being
made you heard nothing about any
false floor In the west turret, did you?"