Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-02-18


started and dropped his hands from his
CHASTITY face. Eyes, an Edgar Arden
continued Edgar, 3and although ] en-
tered Dunraven Tower by accident
ignorant OF Lady Inchcape's presence
there. 1 soon recognized her, and as
sumed my privilege as a relative TO care
for her welfare. 1 induced her TO con-
fde her sorrow TO me; l learned the
whole history; and left Sleat-na-Y Wreck
en- pledged 10 vindicate her as true wife
to my Lord Inchcape. He has sum-
mOned you TO repair the foul wrong you
have done Lady Incheape BY withhold
ing testimony which would have proved
her innocence. And. Mr. SircOmbe, 1
advise you &c do so, added Edgar sig
pifieantlys and forcing the secretary 70
meet his eyes
The whole situation was Gear to Sir
combe now.
BY his agitation at first he had so
eliminated himself that he must confess
TO some wrong which he had committed:
IL was evident that Arden had not as yet
exposed The attempt made on his life to
Lord Inchcape, and that he meant to
compel a confession on Lady Inchcape's
behalf as the price OF his silence AnX-
iously reviewing what he had said IN the
interview, he believed that he had be-
tFayed nothing that would not fit in as
v
cape; at all events, he was caught in
trap-he must confess 70 something.
i am ready to do anything I can for
Lady InchcaFe," said he, humbly. Sin
deed, / should have duplicated Lord
Ineheape on her behalf long ago, had
supposed he wished to believe her limo
cept-"
-Hypoerite!" exclaimed the Earl in
dignant J. aLong ago 1 would have
n=ai l. 10. Il -
she been guilty or loving another, but
for your insidious whisperings! Oh, how
l have been betrayed! And deserYedly;
how could dare to doubt her,H
He turned away with clenched hands
and scoWling brow; grief, shame and
anger gnawed at his heart
@What we require of you, said Edgar
ais that you will endeavor to re all a
certain conversation which took place
between Lady Inchcape and Colonel
AccringtOn that night when a duel was
fou- hit in eonse uence. The position of
your room rendered it impossible for
you 10 avoid hearing every word that
was spoken by Lady Inchcape, who
stood on the balcony above your open
window, and by Colonel Accrington, who
stood in the garden before it
~Your testimony will prove her limo
cence, and show how hopeless was Ac-
then, that you do not falsify one sylla-
bic. This, sir, is the only reparation
yOn can offer for the grlevOus wrong
you have done"
Sircombe writhed in humiliation.
! How sO!emnly he had affirmed that he
had heard nothing, in those days when
Lord Incheape's faith in his wife hung
upon his testimony.
And now he must stultify himself; he
l. L -
| that in o der TO maintain n comic table
ascendency in his patrons house he had
done his best TO keep husband and wife
/ sundered for yearsi Fnin would he have
refused to recOllect wo. d of the con
versation in question, but the esOlute
| expression Of Edgar Arden's face routed
that idea
He must either confess 10 hypocrisy
or be denounced for a crime as Odious as
murder. He was cOnque. ed.
81 am willing to co what you desire,
/ said he, -but how am ! to recall a con
vei satiOn heard five years ago? NJ
/ mo. tai could. The sense remains with
me, but if my life depended on il could
| not quote the exact phrases Employed by
the two speakers.
Il shall not leave you that excuse,
| aid Lord Inchcape, who had, unseen by
! SircOmbe spread my lady's manu- scrip
I
| when Colonel AccringtOn saw Lady
| Inchcape standing on the balcony d rect
/ ly above your window, did he not eau
tion her to speak softly because of YOU
/ pro imity?"
( That. believe, was what was said
| stammered the secreta in astOnish
ment, and then he saw the papers befor,
| the Earl and crimsOned with shame.
| Some other witnesses had come for
ward. then, with his testimony which tn,
! Ear had noted down. and which was L
! be test OF his own truth now. As
| sisted by these notes there could be NJ
more shamm ng 70 getfulness; he mus
| speak out.
In what terms did the Colonel men
tion yOu?D proceeded Lord InchcaPe.
~InsO entity answered SircOmbe. whit
had never forgotten or forgiven the i'm
| pertinence -And coupled with al
OdiOus insinuation. He implied that M
lords secretary would not hesitate Il
/ trade on my lady's secrets if he cOulC
see his advantage In It. Lady lnchcapl
allowed the SANDER to pass unQUes
TONED, which injustice naturally irri
tated me, for my attachment TO m
patrons interest had been most deyot ID.
~And this is yOur excuse for the in
jury you did her?" said Inchcape, con
temptuously. @How bfndy I hav
trusted a craveni But proceed VIVA
was Lady Inchcape's reply?"
@She asked why he had deserted hi
post, or some such reproach TIL
Colonel, 1 think, excused himself b.
quoting his desire for a reconciliation
before they should part; he spoke as
lover would speak"
~YOu give very free translation, sir,
! exclaimed Lord lnchcape. sternly; ere
mEer that have the truth before me
and be more exact i shall suffer u
distortions. Richard Accrington spok
as a lover, true, but was it not as
scOrned and rejected lover? Answe
me"
@He did sue for moro mercy, now re
member, " reluctantly owned SircOmbe
whose stubborn pride revolted at ever
self-condemntng admission he wa
obliged TO make.
swell, and the lady's answer?"
-She reprOached him for writing her
clandestine letter, and for the impudene
OF paying her a compromising visit q
such an hour He stopped short
gnawing his lip
~Continuel1 Numbered Lord Inchcap'
my lord, can recall no more. " prC
tested Sircombe. enjoying the equivOc;
light he had put the lady's words in.
@Was it anything like th.s?" demande
the Earl, who read as follows: 'TheE
can be no amity between you and M
You have dared to write me clandei
/ tine letter; we'll listen TO mel hay
not read it. You have come back to pa
me compromising visit; you shall gal
nothing by that but disgraeefui expo
, ure; for l am about TO call my hous
hold to protect me from the insu Is OF
midnight intruder Well, Mir. ST
combe, do you recOlleet these wOrds?"
Sircombe bowed in silence. What u
| to rebel any longer? He saw that LoI
Inchcape was in possession Of the trutl
and that Edgar Arden was ready 10 d.
I nOunce him If he evaded it
| CO.. .nu r.anaM Dnlnnnl a rnrin nrtllr,