The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-06

front did he pause; there ne leaned
against the corner panel by the mimic
stage, folded his arms, and gave himself
up to the pleasure of gazing at Loveday
Dellamere.
Lord Ipchcape was white as death as
he shrank back in the shadow Of cur
tain, and gloomy fire glowed in the
eyes which he fastened upon the man
who had robbed him of wife and rsputa-
ton.
Loveday's dance went on.
From time to time she flung ttmid
g'ance at Auberon, noting every change
Two years had passed since She had seen
him; he had then been her intimate and
endeared companion, capable now OF
teasing her with all boyish pranks, and
now OF subduing her hy his dreamy,
visionary moods; but whatever he d:d,
his goodness always remained, to rivet
her innocent love. She saw him now in
the glorious springtide Of manhood,
gifted and fascinating; and as she stole
these shy glances and perceived how
calm and serious though kind his look
was, woman's ambition for the first time
fred her soul, and she resolved that he
should feel her maiden power.
Then her whole aspect changed as II
she was inspired; she slackened the airy
velocity of her steps to an undulating
motion, she slowly outstretched her
white arms, her head sank back-she
raised her softening eyes upward with a
look Of solemn fervor; she seemed to be
wooing down some transcendent spirit
from the heavens.
She made an Impassioned picture!
The effect was overwhelming.
Forgetting that she was an amateur
forgetting everything save her beauty
and inspiration. the spectators burst
into storm of applause; in q moment
the stage was sprinkled with drift Of
lowers, torn from the ladies bouquets
and the gentlemen's coats.
But Auberon? Her heart sank-he
had ceased to smile ut her, his beautiful
lace expressed severity and surprise;
clearly, he thought her bold to display
herself in that moment Of supreme fas-
cination save OF those who loved her.
She suffered a moment Of suffocatinG
shame, but recovered herself sufficiently
to finish the dance; but t g sweet flush
faded from her cheek, her eyes were
hidden beneath the golden lashes; moro
languidly she revolved to the lengJhen-
ing adagio Of the music, as If oppressed
meath the weight of that austere gaze;
at last she sank to earth in q final
curtsy, rose softly and glded behind
her fairy companions and was lost to
view.
The dark stranger, who had devoured
with his eyes her every motion, when
she was no longer visible, drew q
faint sigh and passed his hand over his
face, as II awakening from dream; and
not till then did he appear to realize his
surroundings, and cast leisurely, care
less glance around
The first eyes he met were Lord Inch
cape's.
The deadly foes were face to face,
Neither spoke; each scanned the
others ashen countenance keenly.
Inchcape's was fierce and bitterly scorn-
full the lightning Of his eye made the
other quail, and then rage and sicken
with impotent revolt at the open insult
Of such look.
aGo!" said the Earl l-one deep-toned
word, like knell.
In the rustling, gathering music Of the
elfin march, to which the elves were now
sweeping round the stage, the brief col
loquy was lost to all ears save those Of
Mrs. Crecy and Mrs. Dellamere who sat
nearest Ever since the strangers aD-
pearance they had remained motionless,
pale and trembling, and holding each
other by the hand. ..
At sight Of the raging, demoniac face
of Lord Inchcape's foe, Laura Della
mere's hand had dropped cold and Ian
guild from Mrs Crecy's, and she sank
back with stifled moan and closed
eyes For once they had loved, there
two; twas first love!
"Go!" said Lord Inchcape.
@My lord!" writhed the other.
aOut, caitiff!" He advanced with
flaming eye upon him; the man recoiled.
then tried to make stand, but could
not face that scorching gaze, and cow
cred backward from before him, step by
step, writhing, and wincing, teeth
gnashing and knees knocking together
all down the aisle, to the side door, the
earl marching upon him with an trre-
sistible front; and 80 out at the door,
both Of them, and the door shut.
"So much for Richard Accrington!"
exclaimed she; athrust out from the
presence Of honorable men. Think you
no would have wriggled away like a
driven serpent II guilt had not made a
coward of him? He is a convicted vii
lain before all Salford.n
She ceased her hot speech and looked
closer; Mrs Dellamere had tainted in
her chair.