The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-08

upon your loyalty. Ah, well, I am no
longer bound to give you this prize-you
have forfeited It'll" he snatched out an
envelope, and showed it, tauntingly,
then crumpled it up in his hand.
1No, no, give 1t me; have done moth
| ing to forfeit it," she stammered. II
have kept your secret" She could say
no more, for swift as q magical trans
formation, she and Accrington were out
side the gate, and the latter was turning
| the key on ATberon and the two stran-
| gers, who remained inside.
A closed carriage, drawn by two mag.
nifcent horses, which she recognized as
| Accrington's, dashed forward from
short distance, where they had evidently
| awaited their owners pleasure; and
without stopping to check Loveday's
terrified screams, he tore open the coach
door, and proceeded to spring inside.
He was flying, and he was taking the
precious confession with him!
That maddening thought drove away
every selfish fear; the heroism in gay
little Loveday's blood fired up; she re-
membered only that Lord Inchcape's
honor was at stake. and that she must
not fail him, now that she was all he
had to depend upon.
"You shall not break your promisel"
cried she, swooping upon him, and wind
ing her soft arms around his, 80 that he
| could not enter the carriage door with
out thrusting her away by force, an
alternative which he did not seem in
clined to take.
GAnd why not Loveday?" asked hA
looking down in her lovely little face,
with its new expression Of resolve, and
suppressing q smile. @Why not, my
grip You have deceived me, you see
II solemnly declare I have not!" she
answered, and by this time she had
seized his clenched hand, and was try
Ing with all her dainty might to open
the iron fingers He dallied one or two
moments longer with her, so unspeak-
able sweet was her close contact to his
hungering love; but Auberon's voice
broke the spell, and urged him forward.
Engrossed as Loveday had been, she
had been quite aware that some sort Of
struggle was taking place inside the wall,
though nothing reached her but an occa-
sionar painting exclamation Of one OF the
rough men she had seen in the lane; but
now Auberon called out loud and clear:
@Here we are, Edgar, most pleasantly
cuSdSCO' Som0 oA, WV ASAtSWt W. -
catch him yeti"
Accrington's demon look came back.
ala, Arden, tool" muttered he, be-
tween his teeth, He suddenly passed
his arm around Loveday's waist, and
swung her into the carriage speaking 3
word or two to his coachman as he did
so; next moment the carriage was
dashing down the lane like whirl wind,
and Loveday was uttering shrek after
shrek, without being heard by soul
save Accrington, who clasped her in his
arms with giant strength, and let her
scream as she would, with her face
crushed against his breast
Even then, while using his superior
strength, like bastard, against wo-
man, his yearning love rose uppermost,
and he pressed his pallid face upon
her silken head, pleading with her in
heartrending tones, to forgive him.
aHush, hush! my darling, do not
struggle 80! Who will ever love you as
I love you? No, no, sweet, cannot let
you leave me; have destroyed my life
to win you. Loveday, you cannot fear me
so very much, dear? how is 1t that she will
not love me when I-oh, God, she is my
all! Tears, my girl; let me catch them
on my heart! for each one you shall
have life's, devotion. Oh, LovedaY,
Loveday."
He wept; scalding drops fell upon her
brow; they were wrung from the one
pure spot in that guilty heart
She lay still at last; she was exhausted
with struggling; she lay on his breast
half swooning. Her hat had long ago
fallen to the floor of the carriage; her
yellow hair flowed wildly about her
waist. bathing his arms and hands, fill
Ing him with rapture.
She had run out to keep her tryst in
nocently, all unprepared for q journey;
graceful trife of white chenille swathed
the bare shoulders Of her dinner cos
tune, and her feet were shod with
nothing more than. black velvet brode-
quins
But Accrington was prepared for all
this; when the desperate struggle was
over, and her weakness succumbed to
bis strength, then she should see now
idolatrously he could love and provide
Tor her.
rno pp rorrrHrrn