The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-06
CRUEL
=AS=
THE CRAVE;
The Secret Of DunpaVen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author of Faithful Margaret" ETC.. Etc
CHAPTER vII.-Contfnued.

CHAPTER yII.-Continued.
She rose, deeply agitated, quito nm
conscious Of the beseeching expression
of her proud eyes, and only feeling that
she might betray her thrilling hope and
Tear unless she changed her position.
Stnl holding her hand, ho rose With
her, and spoke on with imperious urgen'
ey. Speak; do you grant my request
Or must tako my own?"
A stifed sob came from her very
heart; she could not comprehend him.
~The-the namo?" she stammeTed
~What is it?"
~What, you do not guess?" cried he,
with fierce incredulity-then a glance
of satanic mirth crossed his pale, anH-
ious face. She tore her hand from him
tn Q wild revulsion OF shame and wrath,
~aow should guess the new object OF
your vagrant fancy?" demanded she,
disdainfully.
mo, no; this is no fancy" exclaimed
Accring ION, forgetting every lesser emo
ton In his iervor, "this is the best love
of my life; l grew nobler merely by
musing on her; she Is my peace, my
happiness; without her can never be
eomplete-my golden-tressed Aurora!"
sHer namo?" breatcd Mrs. Dellamere
with bloodless lips and dilated eyes, like
one fascinated By te-ror.
~Oh, true, you claim q formal an
nouncement" said Accrington, recover
ing himself u love your daughter Love-
day, dear madam, and crave her for my
wife"
The tido Of Mrs. Dellamere's feelings
No. 60 Srs, mint NJ
"My daughter your wife!" she e1-
claimed bitterly, with recoillng gest-
are. Il shall never consent! Such a
rnion would be abhorrent to every nat
nral instinct"
. ~You refuse." said Accrington with
flashing eyes ais the past, which l
have outlived, 50 sweet to you that It
renders such union unnatural?"
But he could not goad Ler into consent
thus; it was her ch!io's happiness she
was defendiGg-shc could suffer hunili-
nting taunts fer her sake.
ut is impossible On that and every
ground" said she, her Voico shaken
with passionate 1opusnance. You are
4 treacherous man; there have been
ialsenesses in your life that even have
Also her heart IS engaged"
She shook Of bis Srasping hand from
her cashmcres, and nastened away.
But not far; before she hal taken
half dozen steps he was by her. look
lng into her face with laughing devil
In each OF his eyes.
There can ne but one explanation OF
this resistaDc ce," said he. @You love nc
yeti"
. She sto~G locking up at him, her eyes
flashing with Nerce scorn; her hands
locked together 20 crush down tho wild
forces within her which threatened to
aeap out IN some yenseful act
"You are a craven" she said. with
Somothing grating in her sweet tones
III my hear: could still cling to man
like you I should tear it from my breast.
You are false, ! shrink from you, I
desp.se you; is that love?
!. She waited moment, with glowing
s3es fastened upon him, for any reply
be might venture to make, put as be
padn mono, only sIawed his lip in
Speechless humiliation, sae turned quick
n, and passed from bis view with her
b&n silcnt, sweeping Craze.
Hs returned to the fountain and
ahrew himself once more upon the stone
sect with mrttered malediction.
. BE had not beloved she could defy
him; he hsd not prepared himself for
tho open exhibition Of her scorn.
=. Conscious OF lis powers OF manage
mont, he lad thought to manipulate
Mrs. De!lscore through her wounded
prido until she would give him her con-
sen: to win Loyeday to save herself from
the suspicion OF loving him yet
She had laughed him to scorn, and
he xas vulnerable to tie shame OF be-
ing scoraed lie began. to fear and
hate hsr.
Many thoaghts passed through his
busy brain. He recalled his various
loves, end how sincere each had been in
4ts time. How mach this proud. imperial
beauty, Laura, t&d beon to him in her
3ayi how sweet and warm had been
Shat early love! and how he had suf-
3e:ed whcr she cast him aside fpr a
richer mate!
ALL she cosarved to suffer in her turn;
he should rot spGro her.
Then 6 wild memory OF Engelonde
VNCEC1DS UcW tlkb ACt-AOV w
Through lis soul, ber majestic purity,
hey rrsul!tea aaclity, and her bitter
3a!e.
4 He senctce his hand and drove tho
Si.shiiag thought away with heart-!e!'
1mprecat;on.
g Then stole the image Of Loveday Del
aamere npcn him. tendor. softly; nc
shadow OF nortidcsSon or remorse
blurred t3at memory: he unused upon
her Ga~a-!:,se youth and innocence, hci
sunny beauty, which radiated pure Joy
aud he ciaved 70: hc- With passionate
intensity IS tho wretched crave for lap
fiEe+R
. Then 10 reviewed tho resistance just
offered 80 his desire, aud laughed sar
dcnicaliy.
He woa,c Hrush aside this opposing
viii as i 4: were cobweb across h:i
path, let VITO might sIHn-.
CHAPTER VIII.
,.LAs. I HAVE a RIVAL"