The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-15
The Secret of DunpaVen
Castle.
, BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author Of "Faithfll Margaret" ETC., Etc
CHAPTER XIX.-Continued.

he bent over her with fierce and
dreaming ecstasy. Oh, II those blue
heavenly eyes would only unclose and
look into his with timid glance, IN
which he might read dawning tender
ness! how patiently he would ian the
fame, how delicately he would defer to
her girlish caprices, how light his chain
should be until he had won her whole
sweet heart!
For without her heart he could not be
content so mighty was his love for her.
Alasl if he had only been a good man
he could have taught her to adore him.
Not many minutes passed thus, the
carriage tearing along the silent coun.
try road, and Loveday lying exhausted;
then she recovered the use Of her facul.
ties.
She evolved the situation, still lying
with closed eyes, the loathing recipient
of her fierce lovers rhapsodies; she re-
membered that they had entered the
carriage so hastily that the coachman
had not closed the door for them; it
must be still possible to open it from the
inside then.
They seemed to be flying over the
ground; yet if she must attempt to es-
cape-with her life if possible-.out II
not
Loveday's heart cried out to God; she
knew it might be her last prayer! she
thought then of her own adored Au-
beron; ah never would he know how
swcetly she loved him! and of her beau.
tiful mother, whose one bright Joy she
was; and two bitter tears gushed from
under her eyelids and glittered like dia-
monds in the brilliant moonbeams.
"You are conscious, my own love, my
wife!" murmured Accrington in her ear.
~And life brings only tears to you! wait!
] shall soon teach you happiness"
She bounded, with all her gathered
strength, against the carriage door; as
she had foreseen, it yielded to her pres
sure and she fell headlong almost across
the flashing wheels, but Accrington
caught Ter in time. and would have pin.
ioned her against his breast, uttering
passionate Sntreaties that she would
yield to what was now inevitable.
But Loveday was driven to desperar
ton; she must-she would escape this
demon-man, If she lost her life in the
attempt She struggled fercely; she
seemed possessed Of supernatural
strength; If he had her by the arms, She
had wrenched free the next moment; II
he grasped her by the waist, she writhed
down between his arms and his breast;
and all the while the carriage door
swung to and fro against the wheels,
and he could find no moment in which
to secure it.
Long ago the crumpled paper had
fallen from his hand, and lay on the
floor close BY the open door.
In all her frenzy Of terror, Loveday
never forgot that paper; and when she
writhed downward she caught it up and
held it in death-grip
Accrington had forgotten 1t.
"Loveday!" he said at last; @there is
no use in this. I will not give you up to
Auberon Crecy-no, not If have to take
your sweet life to prevent it,"
"You MY murder me-" painted the
poor quaking child; l suppose you will;
but I will not 20 another step with you
of my own will"
And with that she almost succeeded In
springing out of the carriage.
Having secured her once more, Ac.
crington chanced to glance through the
rear window. Then it was that Love-
day saw a look on his face that chilled
her heartS OloOQ.
They had talked of murder, but his
eye, in its strange gaze, now meant it.
He drew pistol, he grasped ner firmly
he placed the cold tube against her
temple, holding her head as in wise.
Loveday raised her wide frightened
eyes full to his; he pored over their
agonized entrraty, their sweet wild won
der and anguish that after all his love,
he could take her happy life away!
His hand shook-his teeth chartered;
then he remembered that Auberon Crecy
was close behind in pursuit; and jeal-
pusy, cruel as the grave, possessed him.
"You shall be mine, or no mans"
cried he with burst of insane laughter;
@come to your bridal, the grave; you
first, my dear; shall follow close"
Her agonized eyes, riveted upon his,
and catching every new thought, dis
covered his last fatal intent just IN time.
As his finger pressed the trigger, Love-
day dashed up her arm, the pistol was
struck from his hand and exploded as it
fell: she hal one glimpse OF Accring-
toms fierce white face and maniac eyes;
then came dreadful warning yell from
the coachman outSide-the carriage
rocked from side to side-Swayed and
toppled overland she flung herself to.
ward the open door.
When the appalling tumult had died
away, the grinding crash of glass and
metal on the tlintv verge, the heart sick"
ening scream Of terrified nurse, the
dull moan OF human agony, and all was
still under the bright mooulit sky, Love-
nay lifted her cazed eyes TO meet two
eyes full OF gentle love Keeping watch
over her. and her frozen heart began to
beat against the warm claSp!ng arms OF
Aub IRON (rccy.
For they :wo stood alone upon the
brink of the fa!al abyss where her guilty
lover had gone Gown to his death.
sRut what is this you have so con-
ruisivciy crasped in your hand, love?"
asked AuGeron, when lie could return to
the shuddcring and weeping girl, from
the mournfu duty OF diSpatcEing some
men who were attracted 10 the spot, to
descend. the ravine and examine the
wreck.
So dazed was she that she had to
smooth cu: the crumpled envelope and
read the address-to herself-before she
knew.
"Oh, Auberon!" she fa!tered with awe,
@it is his confession-some time you Shall
know more-but it will right a great
wrong he did good man, and he would
not give it me unless l came that way
Tor it.
u see, see that was why you granted
the secret meeting, not Oh, my
own true Loveday, 1 never for moment
doubted you"
For Accrington had done his best to