The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-06
CRUEL.
=AS=-
THE GRAVE;
The Secret of DunpaVen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author OF f'Faithf1l Margaret" Etc. Eto
CHAPTER Iu-fContinued.)

Cd before friends, soft ruStling stirred
tho throng. Fair faces lit up with
pleased surprise, and Mrs Crecy's soft
eye settled upon him with eloquent
satisfaction.
Lord Inchape shaded his joyless coun-
tenance with one hand. He too might
have had sonl
The play went on, to the tripping pro-
gression Of the music which ushered IN
the 1uttering fairies ::
They seemed to pour out OF the shin
ing palace upon the moon-bathed lawn,
and with rhythmic motions and wreath
ing arms to weave themselves into a
1abyrinthine dance, In and out, and
round and about again, with the captive
as q center and inspiring theme The
captive pleaded most eloquently, in dumb
show for freedom, but they only whirled
around the faster, and Knocked him with
delicate peals of elfn laughter.
These sylphicles were the daughters OF
neighboring gentry, there present, and
looking on with critical complacency.
For weeks past they had haunted
DORMANT to rehearse their roles, under
the tutelsge Of certain Signora,
premiere danseuse of Royal Opera, who
had condescended to run down from
London for the purpose; later they had
united their genius and energy to ar
range the floral scenes; for the fairy
extravaganza had been composed by
Auberon Crecy, and they worshiped him
from afar with all their guileless hearts.
1t was only yesterday that he had ar
rived at Dormant, after two years
absence, so that his elves perfection in
their parts was as much surprise to
him as it was to the spectators. As for
Loveday Dellamere, whom the cd
Duchess so generously presented to him
as his future wife, he had not caught
one glimpse Of her yet, although she was
the queen OF his fairies, for whose sake
he had written the vaudeville In vain
he had inquired for his old-time play
mate; she was not to be seen about
DORMANT after his arrival, and his un-
avoidable engagement prevented him
from following her to the Pavilion, her
mothers residence
But Auberon knew who was coming
when he heard q long-drawn violin note
like an elfin horn, and all the dancing
fairies sank down to their knees, look
ing upward at single fay, more airy
and elfin than any Of them, who came
floating out of giant Gala cup and
down to earth; it was Loveday-but
Loveday after some breath OF enchant-
ment had blown over her and trans
formed her into beautiful woman, with
woman's mystic power.
She was golden blonde, her flowing
tresses seemed to be saturated with yell
low sunshine; her eyes were purely
sapphire, with fire in their depths; her
countenance was perfect oval, with
cheeks so pure rose that the brilliance
of her eyes was increased tenfold, while
her delicatelY aQuiline nose gave dignity
to her hab.t .tual expression Of arch mock
cry. Her form was o rayishing petite;
she was lovesome, attractive creature,
created for love and happiness.
Having descended to earth, she paused
. moment in an inimitable attitude, with
hor bright head on one side, and
sparkling roguery in her eyes, while she
scrutinized the intrpding earthling who
had fallen into her power. The elfin
host still hrRbly knelt in a glittering
semi-circle, the flowers Of fairyand
glowed in rainbow Gordon around
them; but all the silvery light seemed to
gather about the Queen, as she hovereo
alone before the captive.
Auberon gazed at his o.d.time play
mate with eyes that gradually deepened
until they were almost black.
Astonishment at her superb develop
ment was his first sensation, then, as
his artisteyes marked all and drank 1t
In, q smile grew in their clear depths so
wonderfully sweet and exulting, that the
Girl turned her head away with mo-
nent's delicious timidity, fluttered and
fascinated Involuntarily the youth
stretched out his hand to touch hers,
forgetting his role-which sign of her
power instantly restored her self-posses.
sion; and she eluded him with peal Of
the smallest, silveriest elfn laughter
that mortal ear ever caught, and with
wave OF her wand that sent her attend
ants drifting well out Of the way, she
spread her arms as il they were wings,
and bounded into her pas de zephyr.
The trumpets blew q wild measure
shat made the heart beat faster, while
Abe floated round and round the limits of
she mead; now you caught the flash OF
her eyes, now her tresses spun an aure-
ole about her head, and her white arms
teemed to sustain her airy figure mid
Spaca Most intricate was the dance,
che time rapid and precise, and the steps
absolutely twinkling; so light those
winged flights, she seemed to float on the
nooubeams Of fairy-land, marking, with
delicate precision, each reauent pulse OF
the music, and each flying bound shook
tut 8 shower Of silvery chimiDgs from
the fringes OF tiny bells that edged her
sunic.
This pretty sight was watched in
sreathless delight by the company, but
with deeper emotion by one or two
among them.
Lord 1nchcape gazed upon this gay
spr!te In oil hrr exultant beauty and Joy
Ance, and his own sorrow and loneliness
pressed heavily upon him. Where was
his beautiful Ulva, young and innocent
ss this sweet girl? And he thought Of
Slcat-na- Vrecken, with its swollen seas
around it, and the blasts that swept
thom into wrath Ct the old tower walls.
forgotten in IA r England, within which
he had imprisoned unhappy Engelonde,
with no consolation save his child to
1ovo and bear her company,
And he thought Of the man who had
come into his life to spoil 1t; who had
e&olcn the errant fancy Of his wife; who
had fastened stigma upon his public
character; who had poisoned five long
Years Of the best of his life: and again
he looked round upon all this gayety
and re. oicing, which Knocked his desola-
ton, and beheld his enemy.
A stranger was just gliding his sinu-
Gus way among the chairs to the front
"a tall. 1.-the. dark man OF thirty-tive
with suggestion of foreign travel about