Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-12-31

LlOug1L Lltt the Toes laQ fought, that
my lord was wounded or slain, and
that Kenmore had returned to tell the
tale.
Clinging to the marble balustrade I
awaited the coming OF the messenger.
He dismounted at the gate. and strobe
through the clustering shadows OF the
gardens; I shook out my handkerchief in
mad Impotence. and he sWerYed and
came toward me But 1t was not the
rugged form OF cd Kenmore that burst
from the shadOwy alleys into the lam
bent moonshine 1t was my wicked
lover, it was his face, worn and desper-
ate, which looked up at me.
-Hushl" he murmured again. -and do
not taunt me-be more mercifuL Why
did you not answer my letter? Had you
done so I would not have been gOaded
to this madness No, madam, have not
deserted my post; I have but left the
camp where my Lord Inchcape sleeps in
peace-I hope to return before 1 am
missed. Lady Inchcape, l cannot leave
yOu-it may be fOreyer-without your
forgiveness For that sued yOu in my
letter, for that l have Ventured back
here tonight An, be kind for once,
and give me one gentle world"
In soft, imploring tones he spoke, and
the haggard WEAKNESS of his appraised
face might have touched me but for the
moHOEg VI the suffering ne Adu UEOuE4 Ut
upon my lord.
There can be no kindness between
you and me; you have dared to write
me a clandestine letter. Well, listen to
me; l have not read il. You have come
in the depth of night 10 pay me a com
promising visit-you shall gain nothing
by that but disgraceful exposure. l
shall call my household to protect me
from the insulting presence of mid
night intruder"
zone such call and you are ruinedl"
said he, fiercely. Beware; you can
turn my love to hate, and ROad me on to
seek revenge.
Il defy you-do your worst!" cried,
turning away.
do you indeed deliver up my Lord
Inchcape to my vengeance?" exclaimed
he laughing; thanks, fair coquette, for
carte blanche
But while I heard the menace in
trembling dread, his words were checked
by the sound Of galloping hoofs. @My
lord has walked. he went on with sud
den deadly calmness, "has missed his
colleague-has permitted jealous suspi-
ciOn TO enter his breast-has deserted
his post in his turn TO enact the role of
private petective He is come-he finds
his mourning wife amusing herself with
the balcony scene a a Romeo and Juliet
-AOh III q SCA411AAOAA AAA1A " HI A44aHC ll4C
world wonder!"
Surely my reason must have forsaken
me that l stood there in that damning
presence, to be discovered by a Jealous
lord Why did 1 not fly, call up Mr..
Sircombe, my maid, any one, rather than
TO cling TO the fatal spot in a trance Of
terror at the meeting of the enemies?
And it was my lord who sprang from
his steed, and burst through the scented
jungle to confront Colonel Accrington,
who with folded arms and a haunting
smile awaited him under my balcony.
Oh, my lord! my lordl had the throb-
bings OF my heart been words, you WOu d
have known that you had no cause for
the fury which turned YOUR wholesome
blood to gall But appearances were so
black-sO black. and l could utter no
word.
a mockery or two banded between
them, a muttered phrase, and they
moved away together, the colonel wav-
ing his hand in jaunty adieu to me; but
Lord Inchcape had no single look or word
for his suspected wife. The shadows
swallowed them up.
Then my locked senses stirred. fed
TO summon my lords secretary; he
opened to my loud knocking He was
fully dressed, as l had thought, and had
been listening TO all that was said, at his
open n4uuOh- Gull u54On anu QlSu41y were
imprinted on his visage.
Mr.. SircOmbe,'' I said, ''you, who
have heard what passed between Colonel
AccringtOn and me, know how little
cause there is tor my lord to be Jealous;
go and give your testimony 10 him, you
viii prevent bloodshed.
He went out but with tardy steps,
hesitating, biting his nails, his busy
brain scheming as he went, his furJive
eye scanning me.
The clash OF rapiers guided US to the
combatants, but before We could reach
them one had fallen. IL was my lord
The victor was wiping his blade.
Kenmore raised his masters head up
on his knee, l threw myself on the
ground beside him with outstretched
hands, but stern voice cried out, mot
you. Lady Inchcape," it was the secre-
Iary's. Kenmore heard the insult offer
ed me, and uttered bitter cry of indig-
nation. Colonel Accrington sprang to
support me, regardless Of my loathing
repulse.
1T is too late now for resistance" he
whispered, they all believe you guilty;
they drive you into my arms"
away, craven" 1 cried thrusting him
from me with superhuman strength,
''will you descend so far as even to act a
lie? No one knows my innocence so
we'll as you-will you deign TO play a
part like this poor wretch-my lords
secretary.
While they shrank and scowled in
shame the noble old Highlander lifted
his broad bonnet crying fervently:
snow God be praised, l know you are
wronged, my guiltless lady!" and then
he turned and cursed my base traducers,
so that they skulked apart abashed
At this moment my lord opened his
eyes upon me with a stifled cry of
wrath
~Retire, madam" said he sternly,
@what do you here? False heart, begonei"
These cruel words aWoke my crushed
spirit, honor forbade submission then.
MY lord, as God hears me you do me
foul wrong" L answered proudly. SMy
heart has never beat save for yOn."
waved forward Colonel Accrington. SAs
you claim to be an honorable man, de-
clare the truth" urged. But he only
shrugged his shoulders with a motion of
light appeal "a base revenge, this. sir,
which brands you liar and coward.
retOrted. l detained the secretary, who
fain would have escaped. SYOu, who
have listened 10 every word that passed
between that ase man and me, can give
back my lord his lost faith-dare not
TO withhold your testimony" said
He looked upon the ground with va
cant eye-he was mute.
l heard my lords insane burst of
laughter, while the red blood gushed
anew from his side; and then fell down
smitten TO the heart by love cruelty and
lust revenge
My lords wound was deep and danger
Gus. for many weeks he lay in helpless
suffering. incapable of defending his in
terests, and that was the time Colonel
AccringtOn took to compass his ruin.
He had taken from my lord all the
papers connected with the embassy, and