The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-15


cid Highlander threw up. his bonnet in
the air and laughed aloud.
Strange! the same wild rapture trans.
figured the wan faces OF mother and
daughter, the same question burst from
ther simultaneously:
aHe is here! Who?"
"Ap' wha but oor ain Lord Inchcape,
come to his ain true leddy?" cried Ken.
more; and with the words my lords
majestic figure strobe into the middle OF
the group, hands outstretched to Lady
Inchcape, proud face pale and beseech-
ing, and somber eyes fiery with passion.
ate love
aMy true wifel" he began, but she did
not wait to hear his pleadin9s! her eyes
met bis IN one wild, questioning look,
and she was in his arms with such
strange, heart-piercing cry!
All, poor wife
They were alone, and seated hand In
hand, still in Ulva's dell; for both the
witnesses Of their meeting had vanished
at once, Kenmore wiping his eyes on his
bonnet, and UIva strangely torn by con-
ficting grief and gladness.
Forgive her! for she had believed fol
one unutteraby blessed moment that
Edgar was alive and had come back 10
herl
She soon laid this pang along with Che
sorrow in her heart; and then she could
with all deeply generous soul.
This, then, had been the sorrow which
bliqhted her life-a misunderstanding
between her and her husband.
Ah! how could he have doubted her.
Lord Inchcape and his restored wife
could not feast their eyes too much upon
each others long unseen faces.
"Ah, how you have suffered" 1nur.
INJURED Lady Engelonde, in her sweetest
tones, and she smoothed, with her small,
thin, burning hand, the deep lines craven
upon the forehead which she had last
seen as smooth as her own.
aBut you-but you, my Engelonde, Oh
Heaven! have I come too late?" exclaim'
ed Lord Inchcape in gathering dismay;
@are you dying, my wife? dying just
when I have awakened from my fatal
delusion-just when we might be happy
again?"
He gathered the shadowy form Of his
injured lady close to his strongly beating
breast; he scanned with infinite pity and
anguish each trace of the grief which
was consuming her; he lifted her trans.
parent hand, with the fever-rose burning
10 the palm, to examine it closely; and
then he strained her to his hungry heart
with passionate cry of rebellion.
Il will not give her up now! cannot!"
said he; and then his kisses fell like rain
upon her mute, smiling face, upon the
dark eyes which hungered no more, upon
the worn cheeks, which grew rosy under
them; and he pleaded with her, eagerly,
hotly, as ii she, poor, loving mortal, held
the key Of life in her hand!
aYou will not leave me, Engelondef
Say it. dear; you could not, now that we
have got each other back again?"
She drew long sigh, and nestled IN
had reached the desired haven at last.
leave you, my husband?" she said,
wistfully, "oh, l could not, could mott
Surely l may live now! No, no, no, not
death now, oh, let me live to drink
little more Of this sweet happiness! For
! am happy, my lord: your restored love
is a divine elixor which pours new life
into my veins; why, how could l be III
when my heart is bursting with joy?"
and she wept some Of earth's sweetest
tears
After long rapt silence she spoke
again.
lord, tell me the good news -
enemy has spoken at last, thenp You
are vindicated? You will once more
take your place IN the world? Tell me
al Doll Quar c0 on.
trancing to me-
But my lords brow clouded.
mo, sweet wife, Colonel Accringtop
has not spoken; he has died like das.
tard, with his guilt unconfessed,
said he.
"He is dead?" faltered my lady, paling
fearfully, "and your vindication is hope
less! Oh, my lord!"
She vept, pressing his hand to COM
fort him: but suddenly started from his
side as new thought struck her.
"But has he not vindicated me? Else
why are you here?"
He drew her back to her place with
loving insistence
aMy own noble. hearted wife," he said,
"in every thought and word you uncon.
sciously prove your loyalty to me. My
vindication is your first thought, not
your own. And this is the jewel I threw
away! On, who will give me back those
lost five years! Listen, sweet Engelonde,
with your head on my heart, its rightful
place, of which my jealous madness
robbed you so long. Co onel Accrinetou
has died without a word, and l never
shall be exonerated-never shall resume
public life; yet now that you are re-
stored to me, cleared from the last
shadow of doubt, look forward to a
sweet and noble life, which shall have
its elevated duties too; and shall ac
cept in all humility this one cross as a
Just chastisement for my sin toward
you Tears, Enge,orde, for me? Oh,
believe me, the sweetness OF our re.
united existence will far outlast the one
bitter drop in our cup"
"Yet your doubts of me will return, II
you have only come to me from gener.
Gus impulse" said Lady Inchcape trem.
ulously.
"I have come to you because those
doubts are forever laid" he returned.
u thank God who put it into your guile.
less heart to write that story of our
misfortune, for through the resistless
power OF truth it helped me to believe"
sAb nv heart smoke to vours therals
cried she raising herself to look at him
with timid tenderness.
aAnd have you really accepted my
simple word-which is no proof?"
II have not been so generous, Enge-
londe," answered the Earl sadly. "My
stubborn pride fought against my yearn-
ing love; we men are hard and stern,
sweet soul, not like you gentle beings,
whose love makes you so self-forgetful.