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


Edgar Arden returned from a vain
quest from Miss Dellamere, with a spent
horse and the assurance that no runa-
way couple had left by any of the neigh
boring railway stations.
He found a note from Mrs. Dellamere
conveying the welcome news that her
daughter was safe. and the earnest re-
quest that he would come to her that
day, as she wished to consult him upon
a painful subject
Richard Accrington again." thought
Edgar, with rising wrath. Beware,
Sir Diplomatist, that you do not go too
far, for I may feel obliged to Unmask
you-n
Having rested and refreshed himself,
Edgar inquired where he might find Lord
Inch ape. He was conducted to a room
which went by the name of any Lady's
Chamber" he had been told long ago
that Lord Inchcape's beautiful second
wife had arranged it according to her
own taste, and had loved it in her time:
also. that Lord Inchcape had never en-
tered it since he lost her.
Signing the servant to leave him at
the door, Edgar knocked and spoke, that
my lord might know his visitor in time
to receive or refuse him, as he desired
Come in. Edgar, 1 want you," called
the earl, and Edgar entered, and found
both his hands instantly grasped by Lord
Inchcape, whose appearance indicated
that ne had been up all night. The table
was covered with papers; a bIIrned-out
fire smoldered in the CRATE.
Il have read her story" said my lord,
sand l pray God for proof of its truth.
To win back the love of such a heart
is she not a sweet soul? And if she did
for a single moment falter in her 10y
atty"
Then you do not believe her?" ex-
claimed Edgar, in grieved surprise; %you
think she deceived you?"
"No, mol" cried Inchcape, emphatic
ally: @but she has deceived herself. She
is now all my own; and she never was
unfaithful in look or word-she has for
gotten her heart. There must have
been some hope held out for Acerington,
unconsciously given, perhaps, but he I'M
derstoOd it, and sold his honor through
that hope. Sweet soul. l have been
harsh to her as fire to a butterfly; 1
should have remembered the disparity in
our ages, and not expected a perfect
love.
@Alas, my lordi you never wronged
her more than you wrong her now, said
Edgar, with heartfelt fervor; @yet how
can l prove it? If you win not believe
her, whom will You believe? Not even
SircOmbe's testimony, from which
hoped so much. will convince you"
That is a different matter" said my
lord. eagerly. 81 could believe the tes-
timony of a disinterested person, when
it is an impossibility for this stubborn
heart of mine to believe altogether the
emotional outpourings of an exquisite
spirit like my Engelonde's, after the
cruel sufferings which she has patiently
endured for my sake. She believes what
she has written, because it describes the
state of her heart now; but-oh, that
could believed"
The last words burst from him like a
wall; he turned from his young kinsman
and gazed with unseeing eyes from a
window.
Edgar's youthful anger died as he OBJ
served the naughty noble. The storm OF
misfortune which had passed over him
had wrought such a revolution in mis-
nature as only the afflicted know
The spring of his mind was broken; no
longer could he hope or love or trust al
will The cruel whisper of a sad ex-
perience was ever at his ear reminding
him that he had been betrayed
Edgar saw that, although Lady Inch
cape's story had moved him to the
depths of his heart, she had not yet
gained the victory; proof was needed.
He counted the hours to Sircombe's ar
rival
He remained for some time with the
Earl. and his whole talk was of Sleat.
ma Vrecken Lord Inchcape listened
like one spell bound, saying little, but
never suffering the subject to be
changed
Viva was spoken of, but as a child,
for her father had not seen her for two
years. and manlike, pictured her as he
had last seen her, without taking note
Of time Edgar guarded the sweet
F1vz he
was too highminded to utter his hopes
to Lord Inehcape at time when he was
laying him under such deep obligations.
Wait he thought, proudly; @when
he is happily reunited to his beautiful
young wife, he may give me Ulva of his
own free will, but this is not the time to
crave such favor"
That afternoon Edgar rode over to
Coonsl Accrington's new purchase,
Castle Skeldraik- He was astonished at
the evidences of unbounded wealth
which met him at every turn; he reeog-
nized the strength of his opponent more
fully, and his hopes OF a compromise
sank
A candidate with so much money at
command. could afford TO laugh 1t his
forbearance-trnly, it seemed IS II he
could get on without It
But he pushed forward with . grim
resolution 10 stand 10 MS guns
ENDURING for the Colonel, he was in
formed by the gent emanly foot an
that his master was IN his library, en-
gagged with his agent
But he viii see you, Mr. Arden
prophesied Hardy reVerentialiy. Just
step in here one moment while I send
in.H And he led the singular visitor into
3 snperbly designed and arranged re-
eaPtipn Faom, ard psekf1 eEk BURSTING
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