The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-01-28
The Secret of DunraVen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author Of Faithful Margaret" Etc. Etc
CHATTER XIv.-Continued.


The stormy darkness, added to the shade
of clumD of water willows, hid his
features from her, but h. seemed like a
gentleman, perhaps one of the neighbOr-
ing gentry who had been out fishing.
The skiff was an elegant thing, such as
a gentleman might use.
Almost deliriouS with the idea Of Ac-
crington'S roIimity, Loveday gallOped
close up to him, dropped to the ground,
and stand ng before him, blinded and
daZed, gasIed out
"Will you-will You row me under the
bridge and hide, me until that person
who is coming r" ses bye"
Even as she as speaking, he was
leading the trembling Ahmed round be-
hind the thick trunks Of the clump of will
lows where she stood painting, with droOp-
ing neck ana heaving sides; he then lift
ed Loveday lightly INTO the cushioned
stern of the skiff, flung great white
bear skin over her, showed off: and was
safe hidden under the low stone arch Of
the bridge, when the horseman thun-
dered overhead, and up the road.
Then the skiff shot out into the swift
current, and the gentleman piled the
oars till they raced between the banks,
and in a few minutes were out OF sight
of bridge and horse.
Ioveday had lain just where she was
placed in something so nearly like a
swoon that she took no note of anything
for perhaps five minutes.
Then she heard the swift brush of the
water against the planLs, and felt the
tremor of each mighty pull of the oars,
and lifting her head from the downy
cushion, and smoothing back with both
languid hands the clingng maze of her
hair which had broken loose and fallen
over her face, she looked at her deliver
er, who faced her not three feet of.
1t was Col. Accrington himself!
The shock was enough to have killed
her: quite OBJ ivious of where she was,
she started up In the frail boat, uttering
scream after scream, so piercing in their
heart-rending intensity that they echoed
for mics around Accrington seized her
By the half coiled rope of hair which
swung toward him, and drew her back
just as she was plunging oberboard.
clasping her round with an exulting ex-
clamation: Il have yOu at last, safe,
poor frightened dariing!"
She vrithed down from his breast,
moaning, and convulSed with horror
the frail boat rocked in the swiring cur
rent un icr their violent motions; he
,clasred her again with all his reused
strength, blind to everything but the
capture OF his madly coveted love,-he
had her safe this time, when over surged
the skiff, and they were struggling in
the water.
: Even there he held on to her with q
grasp like naked nerve, and the instant
they regained tn surface he swan with
few vigo Gus strokes to the boat,
which f1oated near. bottom up, and
hung his unoccupied arm over the keel;
and thus braced, he could draw her head
and shou ders up out of the water. and
support her thus. Her sweet death
white face drcoped on his shoulder, her
dear eyes were closed.
"Ah! she will escape me yeti" groaned
the man, and he uttered a blasphemous
curse at the Power which had defeated
him after all his plotting.
He gazed around the darkening scene;
the liver rushed in strong, deep cur
rent between two precipitous banks as
far as the eye could reach; he knew that
for miles below the bridge there was no
dwelling or chance of rescue. and, a.
though strong swimmer might have
made his way horc alone, in Accring
tons encumbered situation he had as
much as he could do to k ep his COM
ramon above water.
4 sort of dark rage took possession Of
him: to perish thus was such a lame
conclusion to what promised to be the
most intoX eating love-idyl Of his life.
Why had he miScalculated the strength
of this timid. delicate creatures will
TO contend with him for her freedom?
Why had he allowed vanity 10 delUde
him into the belief that because his
gaze could fascinate her into a passive
bearing for the moment, she would not
rebound from him with tenfold revul-
sion when she UNEXPECTEDLY met him
again?
Tor his magnamimouS submission to
her will at Silversi ream had all been a
ruse to prevent scene. He had be
guiled her to Silverstream, where his
skiff was in waiting, hoping for quick
and quiet conclusion to the days miSad-
venture in ali e,opement by boat to a
remote railway station, by which they
might take fight to London. and thus
throw off pursuers until the marriage
was consummated. when he believed
that Mrs peliamere's pride would pre-
vent her from taking further steps to
Loveday had not been SO pliable as he
hoped; aud he had been obliged to let
her start for home a,one: but he had al
ready set an obstacle in the way Of her
/. return by looSoning her mares shoe with
his own hand with an cd cavalryman's
-deftness; and when she sta: ted by the
highway, he went the much swifter way
by the river. and was waiting at the
bri &c long before she appeared; expect
ing to see her cutie tanned by the acct
dent to her horse. and ready to let him
think for her. And here she lay hall
drowned against him. and much more
wi ling to die than run away with him.
ut is al thas accursei Crecy!" NUT
tered he venOmously; Laura said that
her heart was engaged" And he cursed
the youth wi b heart and soul
He wondered who the rider had been
from whom oveday was flying 50 fran
ticalIy: he guessed that she had mistaken
him for h mself, and endured . distinct
pang at tn proof Of her aversion to
him. Could It have been any ono sent
on their track? Surely no. yet?