Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-02-11

nothing WAS to be said about their anxi-
ETY., and they appeared at the hunt din
ner with not = cloud on their serenity.
Accrington had not been seen at the
hunt, so that the continued absence OF
Miss Dellamere and Auberon Crecy,
though gayly observed, was not con-
nected with his name.
AS time wore on, Mrs Crecy's anxiety
about the absence of Auberon Obliged
Mrs Dellamere to confide the matter to
her, when her approximations rose to
such a pitch that Edgar perceived her
misery, and connected it with the theme
of their late conversation
Fearing the worst from Richard Ac-
crington, he got the two ladies apart for
a moment and impiored them to make
him of use If Miss Dellamere's safety
was in question.
The terrified ladies looked beseech-
ingly at each other; should they trust
him? oh, yes, yes-n truth lived on
earth, surely it lived in Edgar Arden;
and, too, did he not possess a mysterious
power over the enemy?
So they eonfed all to him, and the re-
suit was that he started of with fresh
horse to aid Auberon Crecy.
All this time the honest squire had
I been kept in ignorance of the trouble;
for his place was obligatory at the head
! OF tie table, and he could not have dis
guised his uneasiness for moment
1t was trying to see his big, beaming
eyes travelling round and round the
table every few minutes in search of the
fairy Loveday and his idolized AuberOn;
but he was slow of speech, and Mrs
Dellamere was always ready with sally
IN time to repress his loud inquiries
Then came the dance, and then indeed
the bright queen OF Joy was missed; but
some subtle spirit set a hint circulating
that Mamma Dellamere did not care TO
commoniZe her daughter by granting
the same company two appearances in
/ one day; so that little LoYeday was very
! likely at home, dressed in giriish cam
brio and romping with her dog, instead
Of monopoliZing all the eligible partners;
and though the gentlemen might muir
muir against madam's policy, the ladies
approved her maternal Tenderness; and
made the best Of Loveday's absence
But where was Auberon Crecy? That
was the next query.
"You know that Edgar Arden is re-
turned?" said Merrion Rae, very impress
sively.
Eyes, was he not at dinner? What
then?"
Depend upon it, he has carried Au-
| boron Crecy off with him for a chat; you
know they always were wonderful
friends. oh, we sha'n't see Auberon
| Crecy here this evening; it is not every
day that an adored friend comes home.
So that explanation was accepted also;
| and busy rumor had nothing as yet to
insinuate concerning Miss Dellamere's
/ affairs.
The hunt dance ended, Dormant was
| left 10 repose; and still Auberon had not
returned
| Mrs. Dellamere went home to the Pa
| viliOn, hoping against hope that she
might find Loveday there; but no one
| greeted her save her own sleepy maid,
whom she hastily sent to bed before she
| could observe that Miss Dellamere was
not with her mother.
And then the unhappy lady drew her
| cashmeres about her again, and stole
/ outside to endure her wild terror alone.
Richard Accrington had taken his re-
venge on her for her early sin. Alasl
| he had known where 10 strike to wound
/ her mOrtally
Laura Dellamere's proud head bowed
under the blow; her heart bled for her
sweet child: something of the fell spirit
/ Of AccringtOn was revealed to her, she
| knew him now, merciless, vindictiye,
satanic; and this man held her darling
| LOveday at his mercy!
The night was cold and bleak, the aV-
| enue where she had paced was white
with the hail that had fallen few hours
| earlier; pining and bitter wind moaned
/ through the trees.
She felt no cold; like spirit she lott
| cred in the lime walk, weeping, praying,
| listening with strained ear, agonizing
with breaking heart-a mother bereaYed
| of her child.
And in that dark hour OF sorrow the
recollection of Engeonde Inchcape flash
ed upon her with new revelation of her
brief story
Alice ,recy had always believed her a
guiltless wife, DETAINED by Richard Ac-
crington in revenge; while she had con-
demned her through lurking sentiment
| in favor of Accrington.
And now her own innocent LoVeday
had fallen into his power; and OF what
avail had her innocence been to preserve
her from him?
He had craftily involved her in cir
! cumstanC es which would fatally com
promise her, even as EngelOnde Inch
cape had been compromised the
world would be as ready to condemn her
darling as she had been TO condemn the
! other
q may have wronged her all these
years." mOurned Mrs. Dellamere; eyes,
let me confess it before Heaven, be-
lieye through cruel jealousy 1 have
wrOnged the innocent Merciful God,
punish me. but not through my child!
| Take life, riches, ay, even my reason,
but spare my guiltless child"
She sank on her knees On the road;
her heart was bowed down within her;
the worldly, brilliant woman prayed
Even as she knelt, the sound of APP
preaching wheels reached her-stOpped
at the gate-entered. With a stifed
shrek she few toward the midnight Wis
| itors, but even then the instinct to con-
ceal the dread she had endured for her
| daughters sake dragged her back and
sent her the other way.
When the strangers halted at the
/ door, a crimson silk curtain was lifted
from the parlor window, and a cheerful
| stream of light illumined the faces of
| Col. Accrington, Auberon Crecy and the
| farmers lad who had driven them.
Mrs. Dellamere drew back from the
| window with one last throe of anguish
@He is here, but where is my daugh-
/ ter9 Has he married her already?"
/ thought she. But she appeared at the
| door with composed mien.
Auberon clasped her hands; his eyes
were flashing with Joy.
aShe is safe at Farmer Growers
house, said he; @there was an accident,
and she was exhausted, though unhurt;
we both came to tell you"
But Accrington was in one OF his
dark, silent RACES; he deigned no in
/ formation.
~And this lad-does he return home
tonight" indicating the gaping farm
er's boy.
Auberon had arranged that he should
obtain refreshment for himself and his
horse at Dormant, and return imme-
diately, bearing any message Mrs
Dellamere might wish TO send Miss
/ Dellamere.
He dispatched him to Dormant then,
| promising TO bring him the message
soon.
The three were left in the yestibule;
] 81 C1T A.