The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-02
BETRAYED:
A DARK MARRIAGE
MORN.
A Romance Of LoUe, Intrigue and
Crime.
BY MRS. ALICE P. CARR1SToN.
CHAPTER XX.-tContinued.)

An old servant slept on a settee before
the open door, smiling In her dreams 81
the beautiful scenes about her.
Leland awoke her, inquired Tor the
master of the house, and was ushereo
into the hall.
Thence he entered charming apart.
ment, where young lady in garden nal
was arranging bouquets IN porcelain
She turned at the noise of the opening
door. and Leland saw-Clara Denton!
As he saluted her with an air OF aston
ishment and doubt, she looked f1edly at
him with her great eyes.
He spoke first, with, however, more OF
hesitation than usual.
for Mr.. Metcalf.'
he is in a distant field, but will soon
return. Be kind enough to wait"
She led him into another apartment
and pointed him to chair, seating her
self near the fireplace.
But. madam, in the absence OF Mr.
Metcalf, can have the honor Of speak
ing with his daughter?"
The shadow Of smile fitted over
Clara Denton's dark but charming face.
His daughter2" she said; i am his
daughter"
.Youl Pardon me, beg, but thought
they said-I expected to find an elder
Y-a-person-that is rather severe
=" he hesitated, then added simply:
and I find am in error"
Clara Denton seemed completely un-
moved by this compliment.
will you be kind enough, sir, she
said, to let me know whom have the
honor of receiving.
Il am Warren Leland
-Ahl Indeed! Pray be seated, Mr.. Le-
land. Then have excuses also to make.
It was probably you whom We saw this
morning. We have been very rude-my
friend, my daughter, ana myself-but we
were ignorant Of your arrival, and the
Sedley farm has been so long deserted,
you know"
Il sincerely hope, Mrs. Denton. that
you and the other ladies will make no
change in your'ride
Mrs. Denton, by movement Of the
hand, implied that she appreciated the
offer, but should not accept it. :,
Then there was pause long enough
to embarrass Leland, during which his
eyes fell upon the piano, and his lips al
most formed the original remark:
You are musician, Mrs. Denton?"
Suddenly recollecting his tree, how
ever, he feared to betray himself by the
allusion, and was silent.
You come from New York, Mr.. Le-
land?" the young widow at length asked.
Il left the city only yesterday"
You are acquainted with our friend,
Mr.. Sweetland, believe"
Yes; it was he who suggested that l
should call upon you.
We are charmed that you have done
SO, and what an excellent man our Con-
gressman isl"
Excellent, indeed, Mrs. Denton"
There was another pause.
If you do not object to short walk In
the sun" said the widow, at length, "let
MS walk to meet nv father"
Leland bowed. Mrs. Denton rose and
rang the bell.
ASK Miss Lester and Edith, she said
to the old servant who answered it, "to
be kind enough to put on their hats and
Join u.s..
A moment later Mildred Lester and
Edith Denton entered the room.
On being introduced, Mildred flushed
little, seemed somewhat embarrassed.
then smiled sweetly and frankly, and
ended by giving the young man her hand.
Edith cast on him the steady, frank
look of an inquisitive child, bowed
slightly to him, and they all left the room
by door opening on the lawn.
Clara Denton, while responding cour-
teously to the graceful speeches Of Le-
aand, walked on with light and rapid
step, her fairy-like little boots leaving
their impression on the smooth surface OF
the gravel path. g.,
without knowing it, she walked with
indescribable grace; with that supple,
elastic undulation which would have been
coouettish, had it not been undeniably
natural.
Reaching the well-laid stone wall that
inclosed the right side of the home lot,
she opened little gate that led into
narrow path through an immense field Of
yo1np corn. She passed into this path,
-4olioWs;.. in single file by Edith, Mildred
and by Leland.
The child soon became restless and ex-
cited; Mildred was calm and silent.
Leland, who was close to the latter. be-
can to grow interested, as he watched her
beautiful and tranquil features.
But he was also deeply interested In
Clara Denton. He cast glance toward
her.
They were approaching the fence which
ran at the end Of the field He was about
to call to attract her attention, when,
suddenly, half turning, and raising her
hand, she said:
my father, sir" and Leland, looking
in the direction indicated, saw very tall
man gazing at them over the fence and
shading his eyes with his hand.
He was dressed in suit of heavy
tweed, and wore soft felt hat.
Leland Immediately recognized the
white hair and dark eyebrows as the same
he had seen bending over the violin the
%Father, said Mrs. Denton, introducing
the young man by Q wave Of the hand,
.4his is Mr.. Warren Leland"
"Mr. Leland" repeated the old man, in
deep and sonorous voice, you are most
welcomes" and coming through the bars,
he paye his guest q soft, brown hand, as
he Continued: "YoIr grandfather and I
were neighbors. l knew your mother we'll
in her younger days, and am delighted to
have her son under my roof. Your mother
is a most amlabIe person, young slr, and
Certainly you ought"
The old man hesitated, and 6nishsd his
sentence by a sonorous "hem!" that re-
sounded and rumbled in his chest as II IN
the vault Of a church.
"Ireceived your note inclosing Sweet
lands letter, he continued, after mo-
ment: WAS sorry YOU could not give us
the pleasure Of your acquaintance at that
time. Ihave been looking for you ever
since.
"Clara. nv dear, whenever you are
ready, We will follow you. Pardon me,
Mr.. Leland, for receiving you in this rus