The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-20
CRUEL
-=AS=
THE GRAVE,
The Secret Of DunraVen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author OF Faithful Margaret" Etc. Etc
~fmAPTER v-(Continued.l


you would have liked to let them drown,
do youp" cried she Strengthening herself
and looking down upon him with two
flashing, incredulous eyes.
Up to this, Edgar had listened as to
IN Idle colloquy, for the mere delight OF
hearing Ulva's voice, but now more
personal interest chained him TO the
spot What lover could withstand the
temptation OF hearing his lady speak
about him while ignorant OF his proX-
fmitye
t:And by the dawning rose in her cheek
and the keener gaze Of the old man, he
knew his name was coming.
ts&There was but one life especially In
dsnger-and it was not who saved It.
Il was my lady's will that sent me three
times down after him-and it was my
lady's ain proud hands that pulled him
from the wave"
y,sHushl" whispered Ulva, blushing
scarlet, and darting uneasy glances
around; while Edgar turned cold and
faint 'noath the shock Of delight-for
this ho had not heard till now.
RsWho said that?" demanded Ulva,
aeflautly; certainly you were in no
condition to know what happened; poor
fellow, you did your duty like brave
man then, and won't believe you regret
Enow."
/, aWeel, then, Mr.. Sircombe said it."
+ Diva looked astonished; then dis
missed the point as trivial, and attacked
the main one.
. sand is it Mr.. Edgar you are warning
me against?"
@'Deed it ia Lady Oolava; and an i'll
day for Dunraven when the soft and
supple Lowlander won in"
j. "sKenmore, you are wicked. What
possible harm could he or any other
danghter?"
aWhen the day comes the deed will
be done. Twas your ain hand laid it
upon him as his weird. he will never
die until he has paid ye for his life with
woe and wrong. All, lady, ye blanch
an falter-listen, there may yet be time
to turn the doom aside, if ye wad speak
the word"
Ulva was silent, however. Edgar saw
that her sweet face was wan and
troubled.
sOne word" urged Kenmore, eagerly,
~and the Englshman will be on the
main land before this sun goes down?"
@Nonsense!" exclaimed Ulva, indig.
nantly. @Is Lord Inchcape's daughter
to drive forth guest from her fathers
roof like village boor, out OF respect
to o barbarous superstition?"
@Ohone! woe worth the day!" lamented
Kenmore, Sthe giamour's upon you al
Seady. he's cast his spell over you, you've
taken that first step on that fatal road
when your maiden heart goes out to him
in pity"
sSilence!" cried Ulva imperiously,
pride and shame crimsoning her cheeks
and flashing from her eyes "You over
step respect; permit no such liberty"
She descended the mossy steps, waiv-
ing him out of her path with royal
30 gesture, but he still stood before her
with clasped hands and beseeching face.
10h, my bonny mistress, whom have
borne in my arms bairn, it's not in
heart so leal to you to let you pass on
unwarned to woful love 1t was his
and parted-God forgive me, am mad
to come over it to her? Mind you this,
Lady Oolava: Hearts as proud and
pure as your own havo been made a
Summer toy by comely Englishmen, and
flung under the heel when tired of. And
] warn you'll warn you-as sure as
death III do it-upon that day when
Captain Edgar puts forth his hand to
take your heart, a. Highland dirk will
find sheath in his own il all England
should cry murder!"
Kenmore spoke quietly, but with q
fierce menace in his manner; but the
lady did not finch. Her form lowered
haughtily, her fine nostrils Quivered;
her dark eyes shot forth wrathful light
pings.
aAnd warn you, Kenmore, that II
you ever again betray sign Of this
brutal superstition-or NEEDLE with the
guest who Is under this roos-if he were
Satan himself-I shall Danish you from
my presence, and never look upon your
face again." Having thus passed judg-
ment, she swept past him with incum-
parable dignity, and left the garden.
Kenmore gszed sadly after her.
"Ah, ayi" mnrmured he, with plaint-
I've lengthening Of tho word. "there 70
gang, proud an disdainful as queen:
but it's q maiden's heart ye carry in
your bonny breast, an maidens' hearts
can aye be won an broken. Ohone!
Ohonel black fall the day whom steered
the Cursed Guest to Sleat.na- Vrecken"
Edgar sank down in his place with his
head between his hands A tumult Of
thoughts whirled through his brain;
pain-hope-and newborn dread Of the
future
Lappod in luxurious weakness since
his eonvalescence began, he had done
nothing but think Of her and let his
heart drift on to alteration, unchecked
BY one doubt Now conscience prickcd
him and bade him consider to what mis-
cry he might bind her future, should he
Rsin the prayer Of his heart and awake
her Iove Il gu11 OF unknown depLn
separated him from Lord Inchcape's
daughter; the secret which had spoiled
Lord Inchcape's life, parted him from
his wife, and sent Ulva to share her eX-
ilc-this was tho gulf that divided them.
and until he had fathomed it he had no
right in honor to lay one thought Of love
at her feet True, he might never
awake her heart; still he know that as
sure as he permitted his own to 60 out
irrevocably to her, he could never keep
out OF her life until he had fought his
best to win her.
Unjust fly from this place" groancd
he in sudden anguish; ut is not only my
peace that risk-it might be hers"
> And then great food OF passion
swept over him-.he scorned ut that v1r-
tuous resolve Why should he not light
Il out, and perhaps win her, and save
her from the mysterious life OF unnatural
beclusion which seemed to await her,
through no guilt Of hers2
And again honor spoke, and he re-
called the love and duty which he owed
t~,- Poif