The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-13
shrueaed his shoulders with q motlon OF

shrugged his shoulders with motion OF
light appeal. "a base revenge, this, sir,
which brands you liar and coward"
retorted. l detained the secretary, who
fain would have escaped. "You, who
have listened to every word that passed
between that base man ard me, can give
back my lord his lost faith--dare not
to withhold your testimony" I said.
He looked upon the ground with va
cant eye-he was mute.
1 heard my lords insane burst OF
laughter, while the red blood gushed
anew from his side; and then I fell down
smitten to the heart by loves cruelty and
lust's revenge.
My lords wound was deep and danger
Gus, for many weeks he lay in helpless
suffering, incapable Of defending his in
terests, and that was the time Colonel
:Accrington took to compass his ruin.
He had taken from my lord all the
papers connected with the embassy, and
departed, accompanied by his own
servant, to accomplish the work which
had been confded to Lord Inchcape.
was alike beyond the reach Of sof-
row or shame, the shock Of that night
had thrown me into a languishing fever,
in which for many sad days delirium
lured and Knocked me with visions of lost
happiness; but my lucid Intervals were
spent in humble prayer. I earnestly ex-
amined my great love to see of what
blemish I might purify it, so that God
might have pity upon me and give me
back my husbands.
Alas! wherein was I lacking, that
got no deliyerance at all? u.
My lord recovered sufficiently to travel
before I knew one face from another
he had received orders to return to Eng.
land instantly, and he obeyed. Mr.. Sir
combe accompanied him-better would
1t have been for me If he had never OBJ
tanned the ear Of Inchape again, for my
destruction was now become necessary
to his tenure of Office. and too well I
know that he welded malign influence
over my lords mind with regard to the
suspected wife
Not till months had passed and my
health was restored, did I learn the ca
lamity which had befallen my Lord
Inchcape through his fatal delusion
that night Colonel Accrington had
taken foul revenge, his baseness to-
wards me was transcended far by the
Incredible .treacnery with which he oe-
trayed Lord Inchape.
Colonel Accrington had accomplished.
with brilliant success, the mission which
had been confded to my lord. he had re-
turned to England to report his success,>
and when questioned concerning the sim
gular disappearance of his principal
from the scene of action, had boldly
stated that Lord Inchape and he had
started on the expedition together, that
Lord Inchape had turned back after a
few hours riding, on private business Of
his own, am that he had been left to
proceed by himself.
So, while honors and emoluments
were showered upon the successful en-
voy, the deserter from his post was sum-
moned before the Oriental commission to
make his defense.
What explanation had my lord to
offer?
My lord had no explanation to offer,
as his enemy we'll knew. The truth
would have blotted out his fault, and
blasted his adversary-but to tell the
truth would have been to smirch the
reputation Of his wife.
"My lords" said he to his frowning
conferrees, "honor compels me to silence;
I can only say that Richard Accrington
and have played deadly game, and
that have lost"
TO BE CONTINUED.