Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-12-24
CHAPTER TX.
Ny LADY,s STORY.

MI LADY y bIOh1
have borne my sorrow patiently these
many years, but time has not brought
deliverance. Still we are sundered, my
lord and I. He lives a brooding hermit
in his English castle; l pine here in this
Northern islet, hidden from the world
and he has not looked upon my face
since that bitter day when he drove me
out Of his life, because two villains lied
away my honor.
The wild winds moan around my lonely
toWer-the breakers roar at its feet l
mourn and pray throughout the long.
resounding nights, fever burning for
ever in my veins
oh, for deliverancei Oh, for deliver
ance!
But not till these two confess that
they have lied will my ord take me back
to his heart; and who will wiring con-
fession from them? Who will be my
champion to set me free from the shame
that is killing me?
Shall l cheat the maddening hours by
setting down my miserable story, to be
read when l am gone by my love, who
may judge me less harshly then? Surely
the truth will prevail, ii he hears it, as
it were, from dead Engelonde's grave.
AT least let me wander a while among
the remembrances of that gracious time
when we were together, loving and trust
ing each other, before the fatal shadow
of doubt fell between US.
Enge. onde Challoner, the daughter of
an American Senator. married at eight
cen Lord lnchcape, who was forty. He
was my first and is my only love; no
other passion has ever touched me. 1
went to him with ali the treasures of
freshest girlhOod untasted but by him
self.
1t was himself 1 Ioved-his noble
heart, his proud integrity; gloried in
his rank and power because they were
part of himself. Even the disparity in
our ages seemed to me fascinating, be-
cause it set him on a throne at the foot
of which 1 could wo. ship him.
He transplanted me into a brilliant
circle, he called around us a troop of
friends, and Inchcape Fosse became the
scene of continuous festivity, over which
he loved to see me reign
had two friends. WHO soon won my
tenderest love; my tavorite was gentle
Alice, the wife of honest Squire Crecy:
the other was the beautiful Laura Del
lamere, young wild wv. They both
lived in the neighborhOod, and came al
most every day to me to assist me in en-
tertaining the crowd of guests that
filled the castle
AT last one came, a fatal guest His
acc rsed name is Richard Accrington
He came to US preceded by a brilliant
had distinguished himself CALAMITY;
there were many records Of his heroism
and ability; we welcomed the young SOL
der among US with enthusiasm
There were other whispers, too. It
was said that Colonel Accrington had
been Laura's first lover-that she had
sacrificed herself and him, at her needy
fathers command, TO marry the wealthy
commOner, Miles Dellamere, and that he
was suing her a ain in her Widowhood
to lay his iaureis at her feet and win
her hand at last.
1t was my dear lords evil fate to bring
him to our home-to present the brilliant
stranger to me. Let me overpass the
loathed recollection. Enough to say
that he was base enough to make
blind of Mrs. Dellamere behind which to
indulge a guilty passion for one who
dreamed not of the truth-for hap
less me.
One day accident disclosed what he
fain would have hidden. The illness of
his father recalled him home; he sought
me in my priva y in haste to say adieu,
and my unsuspicious GOODNESS wrung
sudden burning words from him. Mis-
taking his agitation for grief on Mrs.
De lamere's account, unwittingly I
goaded him into a full declaration of his
dete tel passion. 1 was stupefed, ex-
cess of emotion he'd me dumb.
"Your amazement is well acted, if it
is acted, 4" Knocked he. "If it is sincere,
then am as lost and disgra ed a man
as lives to curse himself this day"
faltered Laura's name; his atten-
ton to her had been open and unqua i
! fed, to retract from them would most
cruelty injure her
He retorted with the utmost derision-
| quo ed the wrong she had done him
Wanted the completeness OF his re-
Venge.
In suddenly aroused wrath and scorn
I drove him from me; as he hurried
! from my presence in Writhing humilia-
ton, my lord met him-marked his agi-
tation as he passed with a hurried bow,
/ and entering, saw his guests agitation
r.te ted on the face of his wife. Should
1 have contided all to him? Alas! 1
was but girl was ashamed of the
base love had excited trembl, for
the consequences to my belo. ed hus-
band should he hear how he had been
insulted; 1 dared not confide the matter
to Lord Inchcape.
gave a hating explanation of my
emotion Colonel Accrington was i av-
/ ing us, and by a careless word which he
| had dropped it was evident that he had
been L amusing himself at the ex-
pense of my fr end. Mr.. Delamere. 1
/ had not concealed from him my anger,
and he was leaving US forever.
My lord accepted the explanation at
once; his honorable mini harbored no
| suspicion at the time but he remem
/ bered the episode afterWard. / did not
see Laura Tor many days after that; but
my sweet Alice told me that Colonel
/ Accrington had paid Laura a flying visit
| on his way to the raj road station. As
she, Mrs. Crecy, drove up to the Pavilion
/ to call for Laura, as she. usually d on
| her way to the Fosse, she met Accring
ton on his horse. He passed her with
sardonic smile and boW-his face looked
| like a demons. Laura denied herself to
her, sending word that she was Ill that
/ mo ming md would not leave her room
Their frlendsh p has ruptured-I won
der WhY?7 said nv innocent Alice
When Laura once more joined US she
/ was strangely changed toward me While
] jealouslV coneealing her own pain she
maze me comprehend In a thousand
subtle ways that 1 had fallen in her
estimation-that she could nc longer
admit me to the inner sanctuary OF her
( affection. What my enemy had said Of
me 1 know not She tainted me once
. thus: Il had An adieu from o. Accring
ton it was OF 3 high tragedy sOrts be
raved OF a mad ] ve-of the fatal beauty
Of an inSatiate eoQuetie-I laughed; he
was amusing And SC ] saw she jud ed
me guilty Of playing with her lovers
heart. SAD seorged ne, Tine pesseds