The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-13
CRUEL
=AS=
THE GRAVE,
The Secret of DunraYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author Of faithful Margaret" ETC.. Etc
CHAPTER Iv-(Continued.D

rubbing his hanQS ana cnuckllnR 10 sec
his defeated rival-a wretched little
'erizzled ape with the vanity and assum.
ton Of clown.
Accrington bowed low and mockingly;
then seized the unhappy lady's hand
raising it by the wedding-ring which he
had between his finger and thumb-not
even grasping her skin in his over
,whelming scorn, and affecting to be ad-
miring the lovely hand with rough
soldiers gallantry, he said in tone per-
fectly audible to those who stood about:
J. MADAM, you promised this to me;
shall use my sword to secure my prop
erty? But faith! I believe you knew
best-'twas not worth the giving" And
with that he left her.
She never saw him again until she had
been ten years widow, when he came
TO Inchcape FoSse the summer Lord
lnchcape's second wife was there.
Laura Dellamere was then an exquis-
1tely preserved beauty Of twenty-nine.
He amused himself by deceiving her
rs to his feelings, and left her heart
wrung with grief and shame.
He went abroad again, to the East
this time; performed ably some special
service for the Government, sold out
last has returned to England, hand
somely pensioned in recognition OF his
usefulness. He intends to make home
for himself in his own land; he is tired
of exile, perhaps weary Of sad memories
Of England, and eager to exercise them
by fresh and, perhaps, brighter expert
enceS
He had at first no settled plan; no
preference Of one spot above another;
he was never a lover Of his fathers
home, and will certainly not choose that
locality for his future residence.
But Stafford called him by its crowd
ing memories-he resolved to pay fly
Ing visit to it and look round upon the
old faces, and perhaps hear word or
two about the old tragic romance His
uncle Archerfeld would be his excuse,
and would give him bed. He had long
known Of Lord Inchcape's withdrawal
from society, and his hermit existence;
he had no fear Of encountering him.
When nearing Stafford he chanced to
hear Of the entertainment at DORMANT
given in honor Of the son; he smiled
dryly as lie thought Of certain unique
curiosity he had packed into his case
along with his sporting gear; although 1
fear he had intended 1t for far differ
ent person-one whom it might be COM
Portable to concilate-it would do excel
1ently for young Crecy, and would be
graceful gift to tranScendental poet.
, With this in his hands wherewith to
purchase a favorable reception, he ar
rived at the Dormant portal, was in
formed where the assembly were anus
ing themselves, and allowed to place his
Ill - Ia
grand. array which already awaited
young Auberon's acceptance.
Then he made his way into the thea
ter, and was stunned by the presence Of
the one man above the earth whom he
feared with mortal dread-the one
uan who could call him liar. :.
From that brief encounter Accrington
had emerged a different creature. He
came to Stafford man without pur-:
pose-he had found his purpose now
ay, with vengeance!
A group Of exquisites clustered around
the ex-attache, each eager to renew or
commence an acquaintance with one
who, tt was whispered in diplomatic cir
cles, had risen to such importance
abroad that he welded no little inHu-;
ence at home. !:
In political England statecraft Is for
the most able to engage in, and those
who succeed are men to be courted by
tho noblest Of the land, for their hands
hold the keys Of office, and their good
word sometimes is enough to secure the
portfolio for the anxious candidate ::
In colcilsting Accrington, these men,
younger sons Of noble houses, and
lords near the bottom Of their ex-
cheQuer, had an eye to the future, and
paid him marked attention, con-
veniently smothering any suspicious
they might have had Of him from that
passing glimpse Of Inchcape's imperious'
disdain. !;
He was besieged with questions about
bis residence abroad, and his intentions
for the future, all Of which he answered
with the discretion Of the attache.
@And where do you quarter yourself?"
asked Lucius Leicester, fashionable
sporting man, near the end Of his patri-
mony.
, Accrington's smile was non-commitaL'
with me-" chuckled Archerfeld, "un-
less I've been too late, and Hal Crecy's
's:Sse0 mo. yt% you're ahesdaof me; but let's
leave it to himself" said the hospitable
Crecy.
Accrington threw an involuntary
glance toward the two great easy chairs
IN which Mrs Crecy and Mrs. Dellamere
had been sitting; and next instant had the
modification Of perceiving old Archer
folds red face expand in grin of ex-
traordinary significance.
Every body hung eXpectantly upon his
next utterance. !:
"By these mighty contortions OF our
doughty Triton's countenance, we may
hope ror something recherche" remark.
I'd Lucius Leicester; "come, sir, leieve'
your mind-I shall protect you from the
consequences.
The speaker was slim, girlish, ex-;
quisitc, with an air Of elegant apathy;
and the rear-admiral was burly giant:
with hoarse voice.
Stealing aglance atAccrington's at frigid
face, his uncle complied.
"Stow that, ye ribald crew." said he
majestically; aye should blush for the
prolIgacy of your ideas. The expression
which Luce presumes to describe by the!
offensive word 'hideous' was sIontane-
Gus tribute to the power Of the fair. l.
know that if there was any choice be-
tween my bachelor den and DORMANT
with its fascinating hostess-not to speak
Of its proximity to q place called the
Pavilion"
sOh, as for that, you are quite Efstak-
en!" hastily interposed Accrington, his
bright eyes emitting fash which mi ght
we'll have intimidated the audacious
jester. 81 am scarcely fit guest for