The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-07-25
CHAPTER IX-IContinued.D

speak 10 MIN, uedIle, anu ''ii H''' ""
will let him take you back TO your IA
Their and to Grace.
The words made no impression upon
her. though Lord Roland held her
hand tenderly while the nurse was
speaking. :.
If there was a change in her race IL
was at the name OF Grace, out Tue
frown was so slight as scarcely 10 ne
perceptible. and beyond tins sac might
have been a lay figure for all the heeu
sha Maid to the man who had once
tho mower above all others to move
her TO respond to his devotion.
..What is the matter with herr What
has caused this CHANGE he asked, ue-
jectedly. A.,
CIR mind has been gone since the
hour Won last saw her" was the reply
s.hut She is stronger in health than she
has been since that dreadful night,
and I believe her reason may be re-
stored to her. Modern science has
worked even greater miracles
at nav be-it may be-" assented his
lordship drearily; but you have not
told me how she came here"
NO. When | told my mother she
would not believe me-" replied Frank,
with ill-concealed bitterness, but you,
who know what happened before Kate
was lost. may not be so scepti'al.
IF YOU doubt me, however, con
take YOU to the very spot where she
fell at my feet" :,
"rhere is no reason why l should
doubt you" replied Lord Roland. sad
ly. Lord Lilburne. who knew you
well. could not have spoken more high
ly of YOU had you been his own son,
and il is evident that his daughter
has not wanted for kindness at your
hands or at those OF your mother"
NO. We would give our lives TO do
Miss Kate service; but whether
acted wisely or not in bringing her
here | leave Won and her father to
Judge. | did what believed to be the
best"
81 am sure you did; and now tell me
what happened"
Fairfield complied.
He made no attempt TO shield him.
self, or in any way to hide the hope
less love that on Christmas night
seemed to gain the mastery over him.
~ had no intention of speaking 10
Miss Kate" he said humbly. Il should
met her face to face but | wanted to
look ut her. and after | had wandered
around the castle in the cold for hours.
an impulse that could not conquer or
control drove me to go to the old tow
er and get into the building by the Sc
cret entrance | had used when boy"
ut is strange that the secret way
was not known TO Lord Lilburnt or
Al 80 n1.c r,I is.
lordship.
oh. no, it was not. | only found it
out by accident. and | kept il a secret
to myself, for | had n weakness for
poaching when l was a lad, and |
could get in and ont of the castle with
out being detected.
Grace Lilburne watched me once,
and II was then showed her the trap
door and frightened herbut unless she
has explored il since she does not
know that there is anything more than
a vault below
"And you are sure she pushed her
sister down into that vault?"
II am sure that somebody did so,
and that the floor was closed second
or two afterward by a person who
must have known the trick OF the
spring" was the answer, but let me
get on with my story"
Lord Roland did not interrupt him
again, and he listened with breathless
attention while Failtield described how
he wrapped Kate In his ulster, carried
her TO the river. placed her In boat
end brought her through the darkness
and the thickly falling snow all those
weary miles to his mothers house.
Vividly as though he had been with
him the young nobleman seemed to see
the scene. and he said frankly when
Fairfield paused in his narrative:
If l had been you, | believe should
have acted as you did. and l think
now that il was the wisest course 10
take. If Grace really tried to kill her
sister. she would have found some
means 10 accomplish her end and even
tually and in poor Hates condition
she could neither protect herself nor
expose the traitress."
"That was my feeling in regard TO
the person. whoever he or she might
be, who had been guilty of such
piece Of cruelty and treachery," re-
sponded Frank.
II knew that Miss Kate must be
seriously injured, he Went on, for
such fall was enough to kill her: but
i did not for a moment anticipate that
reason would so completely and per
manently desert her as ii has done"
The depressing silence. that ensued
was broken by Mrs. Fairfield. who ex-
pressed her opinion that Lord I.ilburne
ought to be acquainted with his daugh-
ter's condition, aud his consent obtain
ed to any operation that might endan-
ger life
Bnt Lord Roland said positively:
mo; Lord Lilburne has suffered
enough, and the shock of knowing
Rates condition. coupled with the fac.