The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-20

lnclcapeS mOrDlQ 1eelluS aDOuG nle
daughter; that he could never permit
any honorable man to marry the daugh-
ter OF an attainted name; so he had sent
her to lonely Dunraven to be compan-
ion TO his wife.
What cruel future for Ulva, if this
were all.
The first moment that Lady Inchcape
and he were alone she turned to him
eagerly.
sYou have read ft?" asked she, tremu-
lousy, her sensitive face burning.
"Every word, Lady Dunraven, and
with such reverence, such conviction, as
only the truth could inspire" he an
swered. He could see how his words
soothed and comforted her. and how her
wrung and tortured susceptiblities rest.
ed in peace upon the welcome belief that
he still reverenced her, eventhough She
was repudiatcd wife, with q Disgrace
full stigma upon her.
"Would it convince my lord?" she
whispered with Frightening eyes.
Poor Edgar dared not reply, for he
knew the indomitable pride of InchcaEe.
@Ah, no; you think 1t won!d not" said
she, mournfully. Jealousy is cruel as
the grave, and estranged love is harder
to convince than Indifference
She sank back signing; she was very
grateful for his sympathy, but she had
no hope.
aMy whole heart is in the matter"
said Edgar, humbly. "When l leave
you it shall be to do what l can to OBJ
tain justice for you. Can you trust in
me so far?"
aI believe in your loyalty and cour-
age" said she, giving him her hand with
one of her old-time fascinating smiles;
@but cannot see how mortal man can
wiring the truth from those two cravens
who lied my happiness away"
"Let me try" he implored, II may
succeed"
She looked at him with starting tears.
"Noble heart!" she murmured. 81 do
think you might. Very well, make
you my champion, and bid you God
speed"
He soJemnly kissed her hand to seal
the contract; he felt 1T binding as sacred
obligation.
She little dreamed who this champion
was who had undertaken to restore her
to her husband and home-that it was
tion at Inchcape Fosse as the Earl's heir
had so wrung her poor heart, and EN-
bittered her recollections of that stately
home where once she reigned supreme.
But Edgar eXulted over his unknown
relationship; he felt strong to work for
her with such right as that, and how
could Inchcape hold out against his
wife, when the very heir, whose interests
were naturally antagonistic to hers,
vowed that he believed in her wholly.
And still he hid his identity from her,
fearing to chill her faith in him.
I A few days restored Edgar almost
completely. He yielded to his friends
earnest desire, and did not leave her the
moment he was strong enough to travel.
think what boon it is to me to have
a friend once MORE" she pleaded at is
like cold water to prisoner perishing Of
thirst. Stay but few days longer and
let me grow strong by seeing your
strength and goodness I am so weary
of sorrow, ah, SO weary" e..
But he trembied for dread while he
stayed, for Ulva had stolen all his heart,
and what If he should betray this to her,
and disturb her peace?
. Ulva was proud to lead him about,
showing him all her haunts inside and
outside of the tower and up and down.
the island; wherever her dainty caprice
pointed, she was sure of q companion,
docile and trusty, whose interest never
tagged.
Of course they did lot ramble about
thus en- tete- a-tete in the American
mode. England, liks France, sets up
many barriers between the sexes, and
the young lady's rank added to these.
Sometimes it was the grave and rev.
erend Mr.. Sircombe who chaperoned
them, sometimes Ulva's. own middle
aged maid, once her nurse, who carried
her wraps after her, and sedately sat
behind whenever they stopped to rest.
But no third person could interpose
between these two young spirits, which
day by day drew nearer to each other,
drawn by mutual sympathies
When Ulva took him among the High
land people who lived in the tiny ham
let by the shore, and supported them
selves by fishing, and he saw how they
loved their Oolava, and how she loved
them-that was another fascination to
draw him to her. And when she per-
ceived how simple, kind, and compass
sionate he was to her poor people, how
eager to cheer the sorrowful and help
the feeble, how untiring his interest in
their picturesque daily lives-that wooed
her toward him, as personal fattery
never could have done.
Then they would find some silent nook
amid the silver-gray rocks, on dfvan
of red-ball heather hedged round with
the fox-glove standing high, and car
pet of bracken. gold and emerald. em.
bro;dered with hair, stemmed blue-bells,
and the red cranes bill, and what he
read so well she drank in with every
feeling charmed, and that drew them
very near each others hearts
All, yes; wherever her fearless, dainty
feet could 20 she had taken him; and in
spite Of the boding watchful eyes of my
lords secretary and his hearthiding
smile, they had been happy, unutterably
happy together, these two.
Il think Mr.. Edgar has got to the end
Of my repertory," laughed Ulva to her
stepmother one gloomy, gray afternoon
as the three stood on small stone ter
race which overhung the scarped cliff on
the inland side of the tower. "Even
MI. ,Sircombe has nothing left, ! can
see." That gentleman stood, as usual.
a little apart in secretrforced Difference
to Lady Inchcape's fierce repulson.
@Between u.s." Ulva went on. 1--WE
have made him acquainted with all our
barbican, our demi-lunes, our terre- -plein,
our dungeons, everything that we have
"Our small island holds few attractions
TO detain q stranger long among u.s."
said Mr.. Sircombe from his distance,
with a serious air, "but / could direct |
Mr. Edgar to some noble ruins on the |