The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-06

Crecy thought he was in one OF his
black moods, and forgot all about Ac-
crington.
3All that nonsense Is too much for
you, my lord; dare say your tired OF
it." Said he apologetically: aye see,
the young folks they like fun and frolic;
comes natural to 'eA; but little OF
that goes long way with US old fellows.
Come and have a smoke in my snug
gery?" He slipped his hand through
Inchcape's arm, and was leading him
off; but Inchcape took the kind hand
between his own and wrung it with
sudden revrlsion Of feeling.
"God bless you, Hal! you're good
fellow as ever 'breathed!" said he "Go
on in to YOUR guests and eniov yourself
with your good wife and noble son;
that's the most natural place for you.
But / can't stand it, Hal; was fool
to come. Ny day was bright, too, while
it lasted, but It's gone-what have / to
do with music and dancing, mirth and
beauty? Don't stop me, man, my hearts
sick"
He looked in the jovlal, kind, griev ed
face of his friend for moment the u
turned away hastily.
make due apologies TO Mrs. Crecy for
me-" he added, over his shoulder, "and
tell your boy to look among his gifts;
he'll find that sour old InoAcape hasn't
forgotten him.
Hestrode away, and the squire fetched
q great sigh before he obeyed hin. Aod
then went back to his guests.
Ihe'good companys attention was at
present somewhat diverted from Fairy
land; there was a good deal Of startled
whispering, and odd glances interchang-
ing. Nobody quito knew what had hap.
pened; for the departure OF Lord 1nch'
cape and the stranger, whom q few de-
clared to be Colonel Accrington, had
been so abrupt, swift and silent that
the repressed tragedy Of 1t was only
guessed at by the few who had obtained
q partial Wow of their two stormy faces
As Squire Crecy came in without either
Of his friends, but with rueful counten-
ance, q sturdy old fellow waylaid him to
ask in hoarse whisper:
"What's in the wind, Hal?"
"Eh?" cried simple Hal aHellos! !
say Archerfeld, wasn't that"
any nephew, Dick Accrington?"
chimed In the old man., rear admiral.
WuOo0 oQuInCl 4OoiaOhSO Woo III eao
neighborhood; "just what was going
to ask you. Where is he gomez"
@Blessed II l know" growled the old
sea-dog, whose mansion at Blackrock
was Q wonderful old barrack, crammed
with curios from many q foreign cline;
who was malignant bachelor, and who
was the constant associate OF all the
young bloods who came to his country
In the season.
Here burst Of applause from those
who were dutifully watching the doings
on the stage, recalled the jolly pair to
sense Of pIoprieJy, and the lucid con-
ference was over. Squire Crecv lounged
along to his wife, and found her bending
.snxiously over Mrs. Dellamere, conceal.
ing her pale face from those around.
@Helloa! hey?" blurted jolly Hal as
usual, opening his big, innocent eyes:
@Hush, dear!" whispered Mrs. Crecy,
finging him very wifely smile In the
midst of her troubles; 1take no notice OF
US, just hide us minute with yonr
blessed broad back. Laura was over.
come with the-the-"
@I'm warm myself" declared the
Squire, obligingly finishing her sentence
"Inchcape had enough of it-sent his
duty, ye know, and all that-gone
home
aYou saw him?" questioned Mrs
CrecJ, with beating heart
He nodded cheerfully.
@Where was the other gentleman?"
"Saw nobody e'se, and yet I'm quits
sure they went out together"
She signed him to his place as screen;
oil AnnrSp nj
must have shrank away from the face OF
his injured enemy. The Squire obliging-
ly dropped the puzzle, sat down, and,
turning his beaming eyes upon the
"younglings," began to nod his head and
tap his foot in time to the music.
Mrs. Dellamere opened her languid
eyes and smiled paiely upon her friend.
1Oh, Laura, Laurai" murmured Alice,
mournfully. Mrs. Dellamere bit little
color into her lips, smiled mo1e natural
ly, and sat up.
HE is gone; they are both gone" said
she, looking around the room. She lost
color again and sank back with stit1ed
sigh. Mrs. Crecy saw all with bleed
ing heart ..
Laura loved Richard Accrington, or
she could not suffer such anxiety on his
account ....,
The fairy fantasy was drawing to a
close; troops upon troops OF elves and
gnomes were fling upon the grassy
mead to the joyous fanfare of the
trumpets, while the fairy queen was
seen leading the liberated captive in
triumph to the gates OF dawn, through
which shone the mountains and distant
seas Of earth, all touched with the
earliest rose OF sunrise Loveday and
Auberon we're hand in hand; they
seemed so quietly, entirely content that
40 one could look upon them without OBJ
serving their utter fitness for each other.
Both fair as medieval angels; SO young
and fresh and joyous-Nature herself
suggested the union.
The two mothers regarded them With
emotion; perhaps they had already seen
the probability, but never before had it
Impressed itself so strongly upon them.
Involuntarily they exchanged an elo-
quent glance; each saw entire acquies.
cence in the others eyes; it was sweet
moment to the old-time friends.
A general murmur about them eX-
pressed the pleasure of the company in
the arrangement; the ancient Caris-
brooke reiterated her prophecy audibly.
A stifed sigh behind them caused
Alice and Laura to glance that way
they beheld, with far different feelings.
the dark and scowling face Of Accring-
ton.
He had hand placed on the back Of
each lady's chair, and stood thus close
to the hostess with as assured front as