Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-02-11
CRUEL
-AS
THE CRAVE,
The Secret of DunPaYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author of "Faithful Margaret" Etc. Etc


Of Lady Inchcape's story; and he hoped
much from his lordship's sOftened mood.
II had lain very close TO Cigars heart
10 speak of Viva during the whole of
the interview; hut honor forbade that
he should Obtrude any personal interest
before he had pleaded, like . true knight,
his liege lady's cause
He soon LETT Inrhcape FOsse TO visit
the Crecys; he remembered in Lady
InchcaLe's story how loyal one of the
Three Graees had been 10 her, namely
Alice; and he wanted now TO hear Alice
| Crecy's account OF AccringtOn's doings
in Stafford.
AS he expected, he found her alone;
for it was not noon yet, and the hunters
had not returned. Squire Crecy and
Auberon had gone with the rest
Edgar Arden was favorite with the
gentle Mrs Crecy; she respected him
for his own sake, and loved him because
AuberOn did so.
| He narrated the adventure OF the loss
Of the Mergauser, and his escape with
his crew upon a sterile islet in the north
ern seas; but he gave no hint of the
discoveries he had made there, but hav-
| ing satisfied her curiosity about himself
led her on to talk about the events
which had transpired in Stafford during
his absence.
She soon mentioned the advent of Ac-
crington, and he detected the delicate
shade Of restraint in her manner which
showed how little she liked the brilliant
ex-attache and pseudo representative Of
Stafford
@Your friends have been quite fretted
about your absence, Mr. Arden" she
said 81 confess TO a strong desire for
your election, and Colonel Accrington's
defeat He is a dangerous man, and,
am obliged to say, an INSCRIPTIONS
one
Her agitated demeanor riveted Ed
CARS attention; by little questioning he
drew from her delicate account of the
| situation between Accringtol and Miss
Dellamere; and the grlevOus anxiety OF
both Mrs. Dellamere and herself about
the issue
THE dear girl is so utterly innocent
that he dares TO employ his we'll
practIced art of fascination without fear
| Of detection" said Mrs Crecy Mrs.
Dellamere is warmly opposed to any such
alliance, and has emphatically told him
so; and yet he presumes TO make oppOr-
tunities OF meeting LOveday, and inter
| esting her IN his own pathetic history, as
| she imagines his ugly past to be 1 can
not endure the idea of his carrying off
! dear, guileless LOveday Dellamere
@He must not be permitted any such
triumph" cried Edgar, boiling over with
Indignation as he thought Of Engelonde
Inchcape pining in far Sleat-na- Vrecken
through this mans laWless love; while he
was pursuing fresh love with all the old
delight
~, too, confess to a special antagonism
toward Colonel Accrlngton. and am re-
solved to balk him in several OF his de-
sires. Is Miss Dellamere much fascin-
ated by him?"
Mrs Crecy searched his countenance
earnestly. Il fear it; he has been Pc
nF..- 4 4 L
He has gradually disarmed her first in
stinctive distrust of him-she believes
in his sincerity now Mr. Arden, / can
see that you K ow something co lcerniug
that evil man. aud l i'm plore you TO use
that knowledge on behalf of Miss Del
lamere."
an few days I shall probably be in
a position TO confide all know 10 you,
said he. and then changed the subject.
He was not ready to cOnfide anything
he knew about Lady Inchcape, even TO
her loyal friend, Mrs. Crecy. until Sir
cOmbe had made his confession
After lunch, Mrs. Dellamere drove
over TO Dormant to assist Mrs. Crecy in
entertaining the hunters as they strag-
gled back for there was to be a hunt
dinner, and a dance afterWard. She
was delighted to see Edgar Al den back
again; she was now completely olsen
chanted with Richard AccringtOn, feared
and loathed his approaches to her daugh-
ter, ard felt inclined to welcome a stout
antagonist like Arden, who might give
Accrington something else to DO than to
make love to ladies.
From these two, Mrs. Dellamere and
Mrs Crecy, Edgar CLEANED almost all
the incomings and Outgoings of CO.Onel
Accrington since he came to Stafford,
and felt ready TO confront him.
The hunters began TO drop in by tWos
and threes. Edgar waited on to see
LOveday and Auberon. Pretty early in
the afternoon Merton Rae came home
and with blanched face begged Mrs. Del
lamere TO go with her to her room.
There she broke the i'll news that
Colonel AceringtOn had gone off riding
alone with Loveday; that Auberon had
gone in pursuit and that she had
FASTENED home To the Pavilion, to see
whether Loveday had returned as she
had said she would.
Mrs Dellam re listened to the end
with CHASTITY looks which quickened the
humbled girls apprehensiOns
And where was Auberon CTeey, that
my daughter was left to the will of my
enemy?" demanded Mrs. Dellamere,
bitterly; Il put her in his sacred charge
for the day; l thought he was trust
worthy. and they were old-time play
mates"
Blame no one but me, said Merrion,
giving way TO passionate self-reprOach.
@My vanity made me Colonel Acering-
tons dupe. He begged me 10 arrange
for him a short interview with LOveday,
assuring me that AuberOn-that Au-
berOn-I will speak out; l deserve this
shame-preferred me 10 any woman.
She covered her burning face with her
hands, and wept convulsively; and Mrs
Dellamere curbed her own emotion
enough to draw her to her bosom; and
whisper sweetest thanks for her self
sacrificing confession
Dear girl, YOU are not to blame, she
said. @What are we poor simple-hearted
women in the hands Of a speeiOus mis-
| creant whose boast IS that he can use all
mankind through their weaknesses?
| And my beautiful Merrion has her heart
ache, tool No. no, my child, there is
nothing to be ashamed Of: there are
few true-hearted women who have not
| loved"
~But have they loved unsought?s
sobbed Merton
@You are. 1 think, mistaken in that,
said Mrs. Dellamere, generously hiding
her keen appointment 4 have
fancied many times Of lac that Auberon
loved you He does not love my poor
LoVeday, / am sure of that
@You did not see him as ! saw him
when first we missed Loveday and the
Colonel. said Merrion. despairingly.
such grief and self-reprOaeh l never
saw on human face
@He was distressed because he had
not been true 10 his trnst. suggested
Mrs Dellamere, though her hopes rose
-Ah, madam. simple chagrln never
wore such an aspeet.5 mcaned Merton
she said he would never return without
her-or Aeerington; love and jealousy