The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-24

Wlen urSG we mlSSeQ LOSeUdy duU tuo
Colonel" said Merrion, despairingly.
sSuch grief and self-reproach I never
saw on human face"
3He was distressed because he had
not been true to his trust" suggested
Mrs Delamere, though her hopes rose.
.Ah, madam, simple chagrin never
wore snch an aspect" moaned Merrion.
"He said he would never return without
her-or Accrington; love and Jealousy
breathed in every accent Ay, and
they are worthy of each other!" cried
she, nobly; @and if he loves her, will
pray heaven that she may love him"
"Great heart," murmured Mrs. Del.
lamere, with emotion. And she pressed
one of her rare kisses upon Merrion's
brow.
1t was agreed between them that
nothing was to be said about their anxi.
ETY.. and they appeared at the hunt din
ner with not cloud on their serenity.
Accrington had not been seen at the
hunt, so that the continued absence OF
Miss Dellamere and Auberon Crecy,
though gayly observed, was not con-
nected with his name.
AS time wore on, Mrs. Crecy's anxiety
about the absence of Auberon obliged
Mrs. Dellamere to contide the matter to
her, when her apprehensions rose to
such pitch that Edgar perceived hel
misery, and connected it with the theme
of their late conversation.
Fearing the worst from Richard Ac.
cripgton, he got the two ladies apart for
a moment, and implored them to make
him of use il Miss Dellameres safety
was in question.
The terrified ladies looked beseech.
ingly at each other; should they trust
him? oh, yes, yes-if truth lived on
earth, surely it lived in Edgar Arden,
and, too, did he not possess mysterious
power over the enemy?
So they confied all to him, and the re-
suit was that he started off with fresh
horse to aid Auberon Crecy.
All this time the honest squire had
been kept in ignorance of the trouble;
for his place was obligatory at the head
OF the table, and he could not have dis
guised his uneaSness for moment.
1t was trying to see his big, beam1ng
eyes travelling round and round the
table every few minutes in search OF the
fairy Loveday and his idolized Auberon,
but he was slow of speech, and Mrs.
Dellamere was always ready with sally
IN time to repress his loud inquiries
Then came the dance, and then indeed
the bright queen of Joy was missed; but
some subtle spirit set hint circulating
that Mamma Dellamere did not care te
commonize her daughter by granting
the same company two appearances in
one day; so that little Loyeday was very
likely at home, dressed in gir.ish cam.
brio and romping with her dog, instead
of monopo'izing all the eligible partnersi
and though the gentlemen might muir.
muir against madam's policy, the ladies
approved her maternal terderness; and
made the best of Loveday's absence.
But where was Auberon Crecy? That
was the next query.
"You know that Edgar Arden is re-
turned?" said Merrion Rae, very impreS.
sively.
Eyes, was he not at dinner? What
them"
depend upon it, he has carried Au.
beron Crecy off with him for chat; you
know they always were wonderful
friends. Oh, we sha'n't see Auberon
Crecy here this evening; it is not every
day that an adored friend comes home"
So that explanation was accepted also;
and busy rumor had nothing as yet to
insinuate concerning Miss Dellamere's
affairs.
The hunt dance ended, DORMANT was
left to repose; and still Auberon had not
returned.
Mrs Dellamere went home to the Pa
vilion, hoping against hope that she
might find Loveday there; but ne one
greeted her save her own sleepy maid,
whom she hastily sent to bed before she
could observe that Miss Dellamere was
not with her mother.
And then the unhappy lady drew her
cashmeres about her again, and stole
outside to endure her wild terror alone.
Richard Accrington had taken his re.
venge on her for her early sin. Alas!
he had known where 10 strike to wound
her mortally.
Laura Dellamere's proud head bowed
under the blow; her heart bled for her
sweet child; something of the fell spirit
of Accrington was revealed to her, she
knew him now, merciess, vindictive,
and this man held her darling
Loveday at his mercy
The night was cold and bleak, the av.
enue where she had paced was white
with the hail that had fallen few hours
earlier; pining and bitter wind poaned
through the trees.
She felt no cold; like spirit she lott.
cred in the lime walk, weeping, praying,
with strained ear, agonizing
with breaking heart-a mother bereaved
of her child.
And in that dark hour Of sorrow tha
recollection of Engelonde Inc
ed upon her with new revelation of her
brief story.
Alice Crecy had always believed her a
guiltless wife, DETAINED by Richard Ac-
crington in revenge; while she had con-
demncd her through lurking sentiment
in favor Of Accrington.
And now her own innocent Loveday
had fallen into his power; and OF what
avail had her innocence been to preserve
her from him?
He had craftily involved her in cir.
which would fatally COM
promise her, even as Engelonde Inch
care had been compromised and the
world would be as ready to condemn her
darling as she had been to condemn the
other.
II may have wronged her all these
years." mou!ned Mrs. Delamere; "yes,
let me confess it before Heaven, I be-
Iieve through cruel jealousy have
wronged the innocent Mrciful God,
punish me. but not through my child!
Take life, riches, ay, even my reason,
but spare my guiltless child!"
She sank on her knees On the road;
her heart was bowed down within her;
the worldly, brilliant woman prayed.
Even as she knelt, the sound Of ap-
proaching wheels reached her-stonped |