The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-06-21
66s
s. CHARLOTTE BRARMH {Author 81 Dora Thors.,.
CnAFTna rv-(Csntanusa.)

~ CHARLOTTE BRAEM
=" C6AFTDA Iv-(CsnNanusa.)
M vas With sosne imratience that he
waited, day aftAr day, for the prom
ised communication; but . whole
week elapsed befete Q brief note came
from Fairfield asklng Lord Roland to
meet him on the following day.
The appointment was kept, aud
when the first brief salutation was
over the engineer said:
III you are diserxReed to-day, I
will take you to see my mother. You
know she was Miss Lilburne's nurse"
eyes; heard she was her foster
mother. I.
Fairfield inclined his head a. no
continued:
"My mother was 40 much devoted
to her a. though Miss Kate had been
her own child, and she il In great
trouble about her now. promised
to take you to her. PERHAPS you can
help each other"
"But how can I help herr Does she
know where Kate isf'
"She will explain every thing to you
herself" was the evasive answer.
DO you feel disposed to 10 with me
to my mothers horser'
Cert Certainly w.. my time is at your
liver"
about twenty miles this side of
Slverton Castle" was the reply, land
fifty from London; but we shall get
down there in couple Of hours" :.
Then the two young men went of
together, Fairfield leaving word AZ
the offic0 that he should not return for
the day.
| 1t was late In the afternoon when
they reached Beechcroft, ana Nnirfield
remarked that they had still three
miles to walk or ride.
Let us ride" said Lord Roland i'm
patiently. II feel de though every
moment We spend upon the road stands
between me and my meeting with
Fairfield looked at his companion in
startled surprise, and he said with q
sigh:
You are anticipating too much; my
lord. You must prepare yourself for
something the reverse Of happy. Whnt
maze my hair turn white In a single
week can bring you no comfort nor
satisfaction"
Was KATE the cause Of your white
hair7" asked Lord ROLAND in unfeigned
surprise.
Yes; last Christmas evening wns
as free from gray hairs as Won are.
Now look Mt me-"
but how did 1t happen? Why are
you 30 mysterious? Why don't you
deal frankly with me?''
my mother will toll vo,, MI <H,o< x,~,,,
need to KNOW" was the answer. ST
only warn you to anticipate evil rather
than good"
Lord Roland felt q chill come over
MIN. 1t was not the keen air of early
spring that made him shiver, but, the
cold FEELING OF dread and anxiety that
E1irteld's words caused him,
For. despite all reasoning to the con-
trary, he had cherished the hone thAt
when he reached Mrs. Fairfield's cot
tage he would clasp Kate Iilbarne to
his heart. - 2
When he glanced at the white hair of
his companion, however, and heard
what was the cause assigned for 1t,
he felt only too well convinced that
some dark tragedy had linked itself
with the fate Of his beloved.
For the rest Of the journey the two
men were silent; one as too sad and the
other was too nervOusly anxious to
talk.
1t was a 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 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 rnther than hu-
miiity IN her manner as she grAvely in
vlted MS iordship to enter, while she
nefself led the way into o comfortably
furnished sitting room.
j The young nObleman eagerly glanced
around the apartment, as though he
hoped to see some one, but Il 90 he
was disappointed; there was not a sim
gle sign Of anybody having been In the
room save the woman to whom ~ lre-
longed. S'-' "
Il have told Lord Roland Ayre that
You could probably help him in trao-
Ing Miss Kate" said Fairfield, when
they were all seated. 'But perhaps 1t
will be as well IL he tells yoaI first
now Kate disappeared and what steps
nave been taken to find her; YOU will
cnen 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 60 over
the old ground again; no wanted TO
know without delay what they could
tell him.
But Mrs. Fairfield, though very no
lite, was likewise very firm.
Moreover, she vas suspio iols.
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 linn with
questions. ~. 80.
"And when the search was being
made you heard nothing about any
false floor In the west turret, did your
asked Mrs. Fairfield with q searching
glnnce.
Certainly not; is there such q
thingY he asked eagerly.
'sThere was formerly-nt least, 80
hear from my soE-though never
heard Of 1t In oil the years lived ut
the castle, and don't think Lord
Liburne himself knew OF It; but Frank
asserts TINT Miss Grace did,"
"Grace!" exclaimed his l0rdship In
sudden dismay; '.cre you sure she
knew Of itT'
II am quite sure" here interposed
the young engineer, "for once showed
1t to her and threatened tc throw her
into the shaft below. OF course
only meant to friGttcn her, but she
was always getting me into scrapes
with her deceitful tongue. and I
thought I would put a stop to it."
Lord Roland pressed his hands over
his burning brows.
He remembered now how Grace had
induced her sister to hide, and how
she had afterward denied all know
ledge Of her whereabouts.
Yes, 1t all came back to his menu
DRY now,
even to the dust and dirt which he
had noticed on her white satin dress,
and to which he had called her atten-
ton.
At length he started to his feet ex-
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