The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-30
They were Longtime lntimates, and
had many chords OF sympathy between

They were Longtime Intimates, and
had many chords OF sympathy between
them.
give years since he left England, in
the zenith eff useful and able public
life, with his sweet young wife," contin-
ued Mrs. Crecy; "then came the mYsteri-
( GUS calamity which has blighted him,
and snatched her from his side. Sweet
loyal soul! All, Laura, you and Knew
how truly she loved her lord"
Each heart knoweth its own bitter
ness" answered Mrs Dellamere, her
proud face paling; sand If my lord had
cause for-shame" (she whispered the
word after momentary struggle with
herself), "ho has hidden 1t we'll"
"He never had, through Engelonde'
never, neverls exclaimed Alice Crecy,
with energyl "If the laintest shadow
G.. blame ever fell upon her, it was
through the wicked folly OF that cra'
ven-"
aHu3h! Don't utter that name," inter.
rupted Mrs. Dellamere, the blood mant.
| ling to her brow. II know to whom You
refer, though what your grounds for
suspicion in that quarter are cannot
guess .
Mrs. Creoy was silent, her sweet face
| shadowed with the sadness OF her
thoughts, for her friends challenge had
thrown open gate in the past, through
which crowded "reminiscences little sus-
pected by the proud Laura, and not for
worlds would she have humiliated her
by betraying her knowledge Of her sad
secret.
Mrs. Dellamere eyed her sesrchingly.
and, perceiving that she did not intend
to speak, remarked:
81 have noticed that your.suspicions Of
the Colonel date from the day Of his de-
parture from Stafford. Is it.not so?"
sPerhaps 1t is," faltered Mrs. Crecy;
@at all events I am convinced that q
great wrong was committed by that
man, and that an innocent lady was
made to suffer the consequences.
sInnoceut!" repeated Laura Della
more, In an indescribab]e tone.
"Yes, innocent white, fawless as
truth ITSELF" said Mrs. Crecy, firmly.
II would pledge my life upon that But
surely you are mad to breathe such o
theme here. Hush! Forget it, dear;
my Lord Inchcspe comes" ....s.
These two ladies were seated side by
side in two great blue easy chairs, in the
center Of o brilliant company; the place
was the little gem theater in Dormant,
the Crecy residence, and the occasion
was grand entertainment given to the
local gentry by the Squire and his wife,
in honor Of their only sons return home
from the university for the last time.
A fairy extravaganza was about to be
performed by several OF the youthful
bellies and beaux of the neighborbood,
and the goodly company were enjoying
light talk while waiting for the azure
and silver actdrop curtain to rise upon
fairy land,
aFaithl take this ss very kind Of
you'll" exclaimed the jolly Squire, who
had hustled forward to meet Lord Inch
cape, and he grssped the pale, sinewy
hand his lordship offered with a warmth
that might have crushed the fabby mem
Der OF fine gentleman.
II wanted to 90. your boy, Hail." re-
piled Inchcape, his dark unsmiling eyes
softening little as they met the simple
delight expressed in the Squire's.
nineteen now, isn't he? I've heard
Edgar Arden speak about him-he likes
him"
@Auberon's his mothers boy. There
amt much Of rough old Hal in him, I"
said the father, proudly. @But come
along, George; won't Alice be pleased?"
= He led him down the aisle towards
Mrs. Crecy. q murmur Of surprise and
interest following them. .., d.
The Earl Of Inchcape was still In the
prime of life; noble martial carriage
and the easy grace which IS learned In
courts, spoke Of q time not far past
when he must have participated in all
that was most stirring and glittaring in
life; and yet, as he walked down the
center Of that gazing tnrong, he might
have come from the antipodes 30 struck
were they by MS appearance in public,
and 30 sternly unresponsive was he to
all their glances.
But his proud mien altered when he
stood before Alice Crecy and Laura Del
lamere-they were indissolubly linked
with time when his earthly felicity was
at It's zenith. - -
These two fair women had been the
favorite associates Of his wife, En-
gelonde, his beautiful young wife whom
the world had for five years deemed
dead. The lady had been his second
wife, fascinating American; and for
one fair summer she had ruled, queen
of society, in his ancestral castle, and
these two ladies had been her chosen
aids in the entertainment Of her guests.
So inseparsble were they that flatterer
had poeESally named them the Three
Graces A phrase which must have re-
Cured to the earl with poignant asso-
Citations as he now stood in their pres.
ence for the. first time in five years, and
looked from face to face, wisttully, as II
be missed the third Grace from her place.
But he put an iron constraint upon
himself and greeted them with faultless
formaity. One would have supposed
that the naughty earl had not one
reminiscence In common with these
once intimate companions of his adored
wife; and the eager interest OF the on
lockers subsided as they saw there was
to be no scene for their amusement
~Your son is to remain at home with
you for the future, I understand" said
Lord Inchcape to his hostess.
An involuntary smile indicated the
mothers pleasure in the subject chosen
by his lordship.
, "That is his own election" said che,
proudly, sand very welcome ono to us.
although we would not have exacted It
as q duty, for Anberon possesses some
gifts beyond the requirements Of coun-
try gentleman. ...
MADAM, your son Is genius, Edgar
Arden says" remarked Inchcape, "a
poet and musician. He will lose
nothing by q seasons retirement in q
happy home with mother who compre-
hends him." and he pointed the compli-
ment by q courtier bow.