The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1895-07-18
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Dv CHARLOTTE BRAEME. (Author of Dora Thorne).
CHAPTER NiII-(Contiuue


iety she felt at Hates still uncon-
scious condition, and the dread she
had OF making bad matters worse, she
would at once have started for Silver
ton castle. and would have entreated
its owner To come without moments
delay to his suffering child.
But she dared not move. dared not
take one step until she heard her sons
account of this nights terrible work.
and even then she would have to judge
for herself whether or not there was
truth. or even probability. in his story.
Ii seemed long time before Frank
returned with the surgeon, who found
the still unconscious girl undressed
and III bed, and giving no sign of life
beyond an occasional low, faint moan.
Her white satin dress and every
thing she had worn that evening had
been carefully put out of sight, and
there was nothing about her TO indi-
cate she was not Mrs. Fairtield'S own
daughter.
The doctor examined her, believing
the story told him that she had been
thrown from Il gig.
There are no bones broken" he said
at length: but | am afraid that her
head has been seriously injured. A
part of the skull is pressing upon the
brain. and though she may regain her
bodily health, / very much fear her
reason will be permanently affected.
But / will come again in the morning"
Frank clasped his hands in despair
when Mr.. Kemble repeated this opin-
ion to him.
Judging by his own feelings he felt
that death would be ten thousand
times preferable to madness.
lie showed the doctor out of the
house. REFRESHING his emotion as far
as possible, but when the front door
was closed he did not dare TO 90 near
the chamber in which We're his mother
and poor Kate.
Something in the face of the former
had warned him to keep away until
she came to him.
Now the intense strain of excitement
was over, the necessity for eXertion
no longer existed, and nothing but
failure and despair stared him in the
face. Frank Fairfield's physical and
mental strength gave way before the
prospect that appalled, him.
When his mother at length appeared,
she found him so nearly unconscious
that she thought for a time that she
WIS SOlllS 10 nave lWO upon
her hands instead of one.
Judging that he was suffering as
much from exhaustion as anything,
she made him swallow an egg beaten
up In brandy and milk. and when he
had slightly recovered she said quite
Sternly:
You must make an effort to rouse
rouse yourself to meet the trouble you
hnvp hronpht rnnn I1S Toll mo in &c
few words as possible what has hap
pened, for l mean to send for Lord
Lilburne at once"
Her cold. hard words seemed to give
him fictitious strength, and he told
her the story of his adventure and of
his nights work, being careful alike
to avoid excuse and exaggeration.
And what business had you outside
Silyerton castle at such time?" she
demanded sharply.
II only wanted to catch one glimpse
of Kate" he replied humbly.
"Catch a glimpse Of Kate" she re-
peated with disdain. ''Who do you
think will ever believe that you spent
whole hours in the cold and the dark
with no other motive than that?" she
demanded
Evidently you do not" he retorted,
stung by her tone and manner.
mo, l don't!'' was the emphatic re-
Spouse.
"Then it is useless my trying to con-
vince you" he returned.
"Quite useless; and for any secret
passage or staircase that leads into
the castle, it is very strange that l
should have lived at Silverton all those
years and never heard of anything of
the kind. l should mighty like TO see
If ii is there
you can easily do that" he replied
calmly. Il found the place out many
years ago, and have gone in and out
that way at night hundreds of times"
And yet no living soul besides your
self knew of it?' she asked, with in
creased suspicion.
Eyes, Miss Grace knew of it. I
showed her the hole in the floor once,
and threatened to throw her down If
she watched me and told tales about
me again. l frightened my lady, can
tell you, and l remember the look of
mingled horror and wonder in her eyes
when l pressed the spring and made
the floor slide back into its place"
Miss Grace" repeated Mrs. Fair
field thoughtfully. mo; this isn't her
work; but she may have told some
body else how to open the place
through which you say Kate fell She
or somebody else may have been
showing the place to Kate herself"
But Frank shook his head as he
said:
1T could not have been an accident
or the place would not have been COW
cred in directly Kate fell. The false
door does not open nor shut easily, the
spring needs a good deal of pressure
and could never have closed by acct
dent"
Then you think man must have
thrust my poor child down the shaft?"
Not necessarily: a woman could do