The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-10-02

gradation, and he felt half inclined t
spring upon Sir William as it was, an
show him that when it comes to clos
fighting between man and man, wealt
and rank make no difference in pride Q
manhood or strength of limb. Sir viii
liam saw the fierce spirit that was strug
Cling in the acrobat's breast. He fel
that he could not bear the steady gaz
he fixed on him, and that his proud an
overbearing nature had met its match
His blood boiled with rage.
"Impudent villain !" he at last ez
claimed, stamping on the ground, sd
you dare to beard me, to browbeat m
with your insolent look? Take that"
And, lifting his arm, be brought dow
his whip with a thud on the acrobat
back that could be heard as far off as tn
Lodge.
Mad with rage, frenzied with insult
Duval, with tiger spring, rushed at tn
baronet, and dearly would Sir William
have paid for his rash act if the acroba
could only have had one blow at him
delivered with the prodigious strength
of his muscular arm and broad shoulders
But, as Duval rushed forward, Leo, ON
of the noblest hounds in Sir William
kennel, which had for some time watch
ed the parley between his master ant
Duval with grave, sedate face, spran!
upon the acrobat and intercepted his at
tack. Meanwhile two under gamekeep
ers had arrived. And Lady Windls
from her bedroom easement, saw th'
struggle between the man and the dog
and wondered what it all could be about
"Down, Leo, down." cried Sir Will
liam, and the dog sprang away from th'
man, and sat down by his masters side
''Now put him out" said the baronet
as he turned away and walked off TOWARD
the hall.
"It's no use making any more fus'
about it, said the good-natured game
keeper, as Duval sprang upon his feet
his face and hands covered with dus
and blood. "You we're wrong in thu
beginning. Be advised, and go you
way quietly"
And Dnval was advised, the more
easily because of the appealing look hit
wife gave him as she gently wiped the
blood from his face. He flung his boy
once more over his shoulders, and walk
ed slowly toward the gate. He pssseG
through it, closed it, and then, pausing
he clenched his hand, and, lifting it ur
toward Heaven, cried out, in the agony
of his heart:
"My God, I only ask this favor Of
Thee-that T may one day be revenged!
So he aud his wife resumed theil
journey.
Presently a pony-chaise, driven by o
lady, was heard behind them; when ii
came close to them, the lady drew up,
and asked them, with slight agitation,
the way to Natwich; then asked Martha
the infant she carried was boy
or girl, looked at it, kissed it, dropped a
sovereign into Martha's hand, and sud
denly drove of. 1t was Lady Windus.
CHAPTER II.
Two years passed, and q beautiful
lady reclined upon q sofa in large and
richly furnished drawing room Of a
country mansion, everything about
which betokened the great wealth OF
the proprietor, who sat by the window,
patting the head of a noble mastiff,
which every now and then looked up at
it's master, and gave q bark, as if to ask
what he could do for him. There was
not much that dog or man could do for
the wealthy owner of Windus Park, for
time had lavished on him all her favors
ancient descent, great wealth, beau
tiful wife, and two promising children,
Well might Sir William be proud.
Suddenly the luxurious silence OF the
room was disturbed by loud clamor in
The hall, in which questions we're heard
rapidly put by some one in m agitated
voice: "Where is my lady? Where is
Sir William o. and the next moment
Emily Garter, Miss Joan's maid, rushed
nto the drawiug-room.
Sir William and Lady Windus started
mp.
"What is the matter?" demanded the
oaronet.
"Oh, Sir William! oh, my lady-oh,
my dear, good Lady"
And then Emily shrieked three or four
lines running, and, turning white as
leath, fell back into the chair in fit.
"Heavens and earth!' exclaimed Sir
William; "what is the meaning of all
his? Chambers, do you know?"
"Only, Sir William" said Chambers,
very slowly, and selecting her words
with a precision which showed that she
was resolved neither to under or over
state what she had heard from Emily;
'only, Sir William, this much. Emily
Carter came to the door, rs l were look
ing out OF the lawn, and with an awful
'ountenance-and every one knows what
Emily's countenance is when Emily's in
1ne of her"
"Confouud it, woman come to the
point p cried Sir William.
$50, sir, she says to me" said Cham
bers, suddenly quickening her pace ;
the children, says she; the boat, says
she; where's my lady?' And when I
told her, sir, where you and my lady
was, she rushes in, and as my names
5arah's Chambers, that's all as Emily
Garter said to me"
Though Chambers information was
neither copious nor distinct, it conveyed
Forcibly enough that the children we're
in danger, and that the boat had some
thing to do with it.
It is impossible to describe the ghastly
hue which spread over Sir Williams 8
face, as the thought flashed across his
mind that his children had been drowned.
But he had hardly time to realize the
possibility of such calamity, when in
stole the curate, with o soft step and
smiling face.
"There is no imminent danger" he
said, at once. "There is yet half an
hour, during which it is quite possible
to save them. But lose not a moment
in sending n messenger on horseback to
the nearest fisherman, and bid him bring
round his boat directly. If you'll lend
me one of your horses, I'll go myself. u
Orders were given for the immediate
saddling of horse, and meanwhile Sil
William learned from MIR. Ling that
Master William had run his boat upon
a sunken rock; that she had filled and
gone down and that the boy, with his
sister, were now upon point of rock 8
quarter of mile from the shore from
which they were cut off by the flowing
tide. In half an hour the point or
which they stood would be foot below
water. and unless a boat could be pro
cured by that time they would be il
peril,