The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-27
added her grace. With . court bow .

century old.
sHe has returned with wealth thenq"
said Mrs. Dellamere, languidly In
! terested.
"Cartloads Of wealth; trust q man
with a face like his for thatl He did
something somewhere, and got cut at
the secret service fund, and so-he's
able to buy an ancestral castle and
borough"
Thus the old gossip prattled on, and
even she, suspicious as she was, could
not half comprehend the feverish In
1 terest with which Laura Dellamere
liL<ened to the splendid fortunes OF this
once obscure man whom she had madly
betrayed In her fatal ambition to wed
WITH Dellanere, the old, cold, brutal
husband who was dead.
She had broken Accrington's heart
Tor thought she had) as ruthlessly as
| she had broken her own; and had borne
proudly all the disglsts and bItternesses
Of life since; aye, even during that sick
| ening time when the man she had loved
seemed to come back to her with timid
| and tender adoration-only to fly like q
madman from England for love Of Lady
| Inchcape
But he has come once more, ah, why?
| She is so weary OF regret, so famished
| for true love, that she dreams bewtl-
| dering dreams where all seems possible,
| and almost believes in the mystical full
| fillment Of her life's unacknowledged
hope.
'Tis the third time of his coming
Fortune has special blessing for Num-
Der Three!
Colonel Accrington had not'been idle
during these few weeks since his re-.
turn. He soon comprehended tho con-
ditions Of Lord Inchcape's existence,
how seldom he was to be met in public
life, and how frigidly he kept aloof from
all that went on in the aeighborhood.
He ceased to fear him as a forbidden
presence forever intruding on his heurd
Of pleasure or ambition; he felt that
Inchcape's pride would prevent his seek
ing occasions to show his scorn of HIM
self-a little care might save any future
futare repetition Of that scene which
had burned into Accrington's conscious
ness like q shameful brand, discovering
his own helpless cowardice to himself,
and rousing o passionate desire for
vengeance.
No hate so vindictiye as that which
the injurer bears the injured-untii pen
itence and restitution wipe off the score.
Accrington could not repair the wrong
he had done Lord Inchcape without ex-
posing himself to the heads of political
power as g false man, and base, whom
to advance would be to disgrace them
selves.
And he Intended to advance; the eager
ambition Of manhood's prime was upon
him; he had proved his powers and seen
them recognized: and he now louged to
grasp the prizes that hung highest on tue
political course.
He would enter Parliament, that was
the first step. He had not dreamed OK
Stafford as possible arena for his abili-
ties when he came to England; the mere
presence Of inchcape would have been
enough to darken that scene; but the
radiant vision Of Loveday Dellamere had
dawned upon him like o new revelation
of happiness; her beauty wns much, but
her unutterable joyousness chained him
to her with fascination as strong as
that which draws man perishing with
thirst to the delicious sparkling fountain
He was very thirsty for deep draughs
of happiness. untinged by any taint OF
sin or regret; and life with Loveday
seemed sure to be as bright and care-free
as herself.
Love and vengeance twined q cord
strong enough to hold him fast in Sal
ford; and here he was. the admired lion
of fashionable fete, ano enc acKnowl-
edged antagonist Of Edgar Arden, In ths
approaching election for Stafford.
The member for Stafford, one Of the
neighboring landowners, had very re-
Gently died; and the Earl of Inchcape
had been telegraphing in every direction
for his heir to return, as he wished him
to stand for election; but Accrington was
first on the ground, and, supported by
his kinsman Archerfeld. and by his Law.
fish expenditure, he was already foe to
be dreaded. Still the Inchcape interest
was strong, and his side the popular one;
Arden's return might completely over
throw Accrington.
He had taken pains to meet Miss Del,
lamere as frequently as he dared; he had
Joined Mrs. Dellamere and her daughter
in their morning walks-had sat near
them in church, his dark, distinguished
face like a wel-cut cameo, bent dcvout-
iy over his praycr-book, and his gentle,
lingering glapces stealing toward the
Dcllamere pow at patient intervals.
1t was as favored friend that he now
offered his arm to Mrs pellamerc for q
promenade among the guests, after pay
Ing his devoirs to tho duchess.
aCone, fair friend, want to tell you
about my SUCCESS" said he, with softest
seriousness. @Can you spare her to mo.
madam? Wo are old-time conlidants"
@Assuredly." nodded the old dowager.
nal;ciously. sEvery man is the better
fo. feminine frioEd whom he doesn't
want to court; she civilizes his native
savagcry. I believe in friendship, It's
love without loves wings"
She moved away laughing wickadiy.
Sand without loves roses" said Mrs.
Dellamcre carelessly, rs she placed her
beautiful hand lightly upon his arm, and
followed his guidance into laurel alley.
where they wore to all intents and pur-
poses alone.
"Ol, do not say So" murmured AS
crington, looking at her; sour friendship
should be crowned with flowers, IL 10
were only with forget-me-nots!"
"a bad selection" returned the lady.
calmly; shat flower belongs to the loyal
and the happy, not to those who have
injured each other"
@True, fair oracle!" said Accringtop
pressing her hand; "yet even to such
it is given to repent and to make repara-
tion."
She startled, but forced dippant
smile.
. "Contrition is out Of fashion, and all
such self-mortificationS. But let US not