The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-07-11
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of which Kate was the victim; but
who had planned or executed it he
had not the fainteSt idea.
He was completely ignorant Of what
had taken place inside the castle dur
ing the hours he had loitered about
outside it's walls: and now for many
months past he had held no communl-
cation with Lord Lilburne, nor with
either of his daughters, so that who
was living there with them or what
their. manner of life might be he did
not know.
Arguing from the unknown. it was
very probab bic that if he raised IN
alarm and gave Kate back to those to
whom she belonged. he might be only
handing her back to the power Of her
enemy, who would soon find some
meaOS to complete the work so vi
ciously begun.
And then, again. he felt that his
own story would sound incredible, and
that if Kate died from her injuries he
would be accredited with her death. &,
But there was another feeling much
stronger than fear, and more potent
than prudence, that really actuated
Frank Fairfeld's conduct.
He was loyal to Lord I.ilburne, and
he would die rather than break his
word by even limiting Of his love for
the baron's daughter: but while he did
this. he could likewise take care of
her and guard her until it was safe to
restore her to her father.
His love for her might do this much,
and yet be loyal and true and self
sacrificing, as all pure and noble love
must be.
mo one can nurse her like my moth
er, who has been the only mother she
has ever known" he murmured as he
lifted the fair girl tenderly in his arms
and carried her out of the vault into
the open air.
She was very heavy. and he had 10
lay her on the grass so that he might
rest, as we'll as To enable him to but
ton his ulster completely over her.
1t was very long and thick. having
been made on purpose for long, cold
journeys, and it covered the girls
white satin gown completely.
He had a small travelling cap in his
pocket, and he fastened this on her
head. then he drew over it the hood
of the ulster so that the night air and
the cold snow should affect her as lit
tie as possible.
While she Law there so still and so
motionless he quickly closed the secret
door that led to the vault and the
room above, covered over all traces of
his visit, and then, nerving himself To
the task, he lifted Kate in his arms
and carried her down to the boat.
Strong excitement had given him n
fictitious strength, and the same feel
ing now impelled him to ply his oars
with all his skill, and to get away
from the vicinity of Silverton castle
as speedily as possible.
1t was mad thing to do, this taking
of a delicately -nurtured girl Il long
journey by river and road through Il
snow storm in the dead of the night,
when, too. she had just received an
injury which might prove fatal.
But Frank Fairfield was mad this
night
All his acts showed it from the time
of his leaving his mothers cottage on
the afternoon of Christmas day till he
returned to it before daybreak the
next morning. bringing his senseless
and apparently lifeless burden with
him.
How he accomplished that journey
through the snow storm he never
rightly knew. but when he was
obliged to leave the boat. as the river
would have taken him out of his way
beyond certain point, he bribed n
homeless tramp whom he found taking
shelter in the deserted boat house, 10
help him carry Ibis brother" who, he
said. had met with an accident, to the
shed where he had left his cob and
phaeton.
He placed Kate in the carriage and
thus the tramp only saw an inanimate
figure wrapped in a brown ulster.
And the man. when the task was
completed. went on his way. glad Of
the handful of silver given him for
his pains, and. as day after day took
him farther away from this part of
the country, he never heard of the
strange disappearance # Kate Lii
burne, and even had he done so, he
would probably have failed to connect
it with the piece of good fortune that
had befallen him this bitter night
The poor animal was almost as
much beaten as it's driver when they
at length reached their destination
and directly the girl was carried into
the house and placed on Il couch
Frank reused his mother To attend to
her. then led the horse To the stable
where he hastily supplied him with
food, water and clean straw, and left
him.
When he returned to the house he
found his mother standing by the
side of the couch upon which Kate
still lay as he had placed her.
The old wOmaE's face was white
and stern. and when her son approach
ed her, she turned upon him angrily
and asked
What have you done to her? Is
she dead?"
God only knows, ne replied defect
Il In. L.. 1