The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-10


you; we must at least get out Of this
desolate place"
Lovrday mounted her own animal
observed, with chagrin, that she would
barely allow him to touch her, springing
from his hand to her saddle with tho
marast touch on his shoulder to poise
herself, and giving him formal how OF
acknowledgment.
They resumed the way, Accr;ngton
walking by her mares head, and his
own fine animal following with docility
which scarcely concided with the char
acter which his master had given him.
In rapidly mounting impatience, Love
dav watched the slow advance, while the
Ranssa efesrTfy, "a the minutes
hed: ycI She dared not urge the pace,
for now, indeed, she detected the lame.
ness of her mare, which gradually in.
creased with every step she took, until
ut last, when the spire of the long
looked for village appeared in sight, she
started and WINGED in agony whenever
the woun"e ed hoof touched the ground.
81 see that we must find relief for my
Door Ahmed" said Loveday. tremu.
lousy, for her favorite's suffering tried
her sorely. and she welcomed the chance
now which had seemed so intolerable
before; the tears stood in her eyes, and
she scarcely realized her own disagree.
able position, and was in no mood to
detect the artificeS of her companion.
They approached still nearer to the
village, and Accrington remounted his
own horse for appearance sake; reused
by the diversion Loveday, for the first
time, gazed round her in search OF
familiar objects in the scene.
She had expected to see a rough little
hamlet built under the shelter of cliff;
clustering about the banks of wide
flowing river.
She grew pale with astonishment-
with rising anger.
Colonel Accrington, this is not Black
70 X, it is Silverstream." she cried
"Why. we are twenty miles from home!"
Accrington uttered an exclamation OF
deep remorSe; the expression Of his well
rutored features terrified her.
"I've ruined hcr!" he m uttered, but not
so low but that she heard the words anc
quailed. "Oh, Miss Dellamere!" he cried,
iinging himself again from his horse to
seize her hands, reins and all, and
press them convulsively, show can you
ever forgive me for this fatal mistake?
I must have been Observation-Disclosures
10 forget my path; who thought that
knew every rod Of land between Stafford
and Lynn! l was bewitched," he ex-
claimed, with sudden change to mourn
ful tenderness, while he fixed his strange
compelling eyes on hers; III was for once
happy-all that priced of earth was at
my side. l forgot that we two had fel-
low-creatures! My poor, child, would
have died to spare you moments annoy
ance-I have been the first 10 draw the
worlds suspicious eyes upon you!"
sColonel Accrington, what do you
mean?" she demanded, haughtily. wrest-
Ing her hands from his grasp with a sud.
den fierce lepuson.
II dare not-dare not insult you with
a clearer explanation, said he: "oh,
that had resisted the too welcome spell
which your presence cast over me, which
made hours to fly as minutes, and thrust
every thought of consequences out Of my
mind. But now, now-what can say
10 this watching, sneering world? Who
does not know that Richard Accrington
loved Miss Dellamere-"
Colonel Accrington!" interrupted
Loveday with flashing eyes, and she
would have left him had he not sprung
to catch her bride with burst of grief
and depreciation.
"Dear Miss Dellamere, I entreat you
to be calm and to listen to me, for your
own sake" he urged. II dare not let
you 60 in your defenseless innocence
straight into the snare which Slandel
will spread for your overthrow. We
must take counsel; you must DC saved at
any cost"
"You insult me; I will nos hear your
inSinuationS Let me 60 at
once" cried she, with indignation and
though a sickening appre-
henson lurked beneath, in spite Of her
defiance.
"Hcaven knows that 1 would rather
offer you my lfe-blood than an insult"
returned Accrington. ut is terrible
necessity which must perform. or else
you will have cause 10 curse my cow
ardice your whole life long. Permit me,
then, to speak Am / not devoted TO
;ou, heart and soul? Through my in
advertence have placed you in cruel
position. SANDER will say that our
flight was premeditated; no one will
credit the simple truth. You will be
made a mark for every jeering i'm.
pertinence-"
"Silence" exclaimed Loveday in burn
mg humiliation; show dare you apply
such words to me? If have been some
what unfortunate in my adventures to-
day, who shall presume to accuse me OF
"Aias, poor Innocent" groaned Ac.
crington in tone of poignant grief,
show shall screen her? What repara-
tion shall / offer her for the wrong
have done her? You little know how
evil are the thoughts Of those who seem
our friends, Miss Dellame-e," resumed
he, tenderly; "a simple improperly like
this of to day has often doomed the in.
nocent to the suspicion and scorn Of
society,""
"Oh, you are cruel! you haze no pity"
faltered Loveday, suddenly bursting
Into all agony of tears, as her girliSh
sensiblity at last succumbed to his re-
peated attacks and her fears, over.
whelmed her; "if you had been worthy
of the trust you asked of me ! should
not have been in this fa!se position now."
II deserve your reproaches," said Ac-
crington, hunbly; "but not for ventnr.
Ing to show you the edge Of the plccipice
upon which you are standing This 1
am obliged to do to prevent you from
committing yourself to the destruction
which awaits you. For there is pre-
rention."
He paused to allow her terrors to rack
bor into O. mood for his nurnose. she