The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-02-18
without tho slightest attempt ct excuse,
and-stayed out.
CHAPTER XIX.
DOWN TO HIS DEATH.

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CHAPTER XIX.
DOWN TO HIS DHAr1
Trembling with excitement, yet neryed
to the courage Of desperation, Love
| day approached the lonely gate In
the wall. and stood listening intensely
| Tor any sound to warn her Of Accrfng
toms proximity. There was nothing to
be heard but the sough of the wintry
wind through the dry leaves, and the
baying Of the far-away hound.
But the lane on the other side of the
wall was thickly carpeted with the grass
Of disuse, and he might easily be there
| with dozen ruf.ans behind him, and no
football be heard.
| Then the stable clock struck nine, and
an imperative hand knocked upon the
| thick open door.
One last convulsive bound of the heart,
and Loveday found herself IA q to face
with him she expected
Her innocent eyes scanned - face;
/ never before had she caught that look of
| Internal triumph. She shrank back, and
his iron clasp closed about her wrist; he
| drew her towards him with q burst of
reckless passion.
SIS it not for the last time, my own
love?" he whispered, beseechingly; swhy
grudge me one little kindness? You
know how desperate am TONIGHT"
She let her hand lie in his, she let his
arm steal round her waist; she no longer
needed what he did; she felt his hand
touch hers no more than II she had
turned to stone; for Auberon Crecy was
beside them, gazing in speeches. agita-
ton, and at the same instant two stran-
gers sprang from the shelter of the wall
outside, and advanced on Accrington.
Accrington surveyed the intruders,
and uttered fierce exclamation of as
constituent.
@What! you treacherous? You have
betrayed me, LOveday!" he cried. ooh,
monstrous! could have staked my life
upon your loyalty. All, well, I am no
longer bound to give you this prize-you
have forfeited it," He snatched out an
envelope. and showed 1t, tauntingly,
then crumpled it up in his hand.
"No, no. give it me; have done moth.
ing to forfeit it," she stammered. II
have kept your secret" She could say
no more, for swift as magical trans
formation, she and Accrington were out
side the gate, and the latter was turning
the key on Acberon and the two stran-
A closed carriage, drawn by two mag
nificent horses, which she recognized as
Accrington's, dashed forward from a
short distance. where they had evidently
awaited their owners pleasures; and
without stopping to check Loyeday's
terrified screams, he tore open the coach
door, and proceeded to spring inside.
he was flying, and he was taking the
precious confession with himi
That maddening thought drove away
every selfish fear; the heroism In gay
little Loveday's blood fired up; she re-
membered only that Lord Inchcape's
honor was at stake, and that she must
not fail him, now that she was all he
had to depend upon.
"You shall not break your PROMISE"
cried she. swOoping upon him, and wind
Ing her soft arms around his, 50 that he
could not enter tie carriage door with
out thrusting her away by force, an
alternative which he did not seem in
clined to take
"And why not, Lo7eday?" asked he,
looking down in her lovely little face,
with its new expression of resolve, and
suppressing q smile. "Why not, my
girl? You have deceived me, you see
81 solemn'y declare 1 have mott" she
answered, and by this time she had
seized his clencied hand, and was try
ing with al her dainty might to open
the iron fingers He dallied one or two
moments longer with her, so unspeak-
able sweet was her close contact to his
hungering love; but Auberon's voice
broke the spell, and urged him forward.
Engrossed as Loveday had been, she
had been quite aware that some sort of
struggle was taking place inside the wall,
though nothing reached her but an occa.
sfonal painting exclamation of one of the
rough men she had seen in the lane; but
now Auberon called out loud and clear:
"Here we arc, Edgar, most pleasantly
engaged. Come ON, old fellow; we'll
catch him yeti"
Acc-ington's demon look came back.
"Ha, Arden, too" muttered he, be-
tween his teeth. He suddenly passed
his arm around Loveday's waist, and
swung her into the carriage, speaking q
word or two to his coachman as he did
SO; next moment the carr age was
dashing down the lane like a whirl wind,
and Loveday was uttering shrek after |
shrek, without being heard by q soul |
save Accrington, who clasped her in his |
arms with giant strength, and let her |
scream as she would, with her face
crushed against his b east.
Even then, while using his supe -ior |
strength, like q bastard, against . wo-
man, his yearning love rose uppermost,
and he pressed his pall:d face upon
her silken head. plead;n g with her in
heart ending tones, to forgive him.
.Hush, hush! my darling, do not |
struggle so! Who win ever love you as |
I love you? No, no, sweet, 1 cannot let |
you leave me; have de troyed my life |
to win you. Loveday. you cannot fear me |
50 very much, dear? how is It that she will |
not love me when Lob, God, she is my |
all! Teas, my girl: let me- catch them
on my heart! for each one you shall
have life's, devotion. oh, LovedaY,
Loveday."
He wept; scalding drops fell upon her
brow; they were wrung from the one
pure spot in that guilty heart
She lay still ct last; she was exhausted
with struggling; she lay on his breast
half swooning Her hat had long ago