The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-17

torted Accrington; Teast Of all yon, sir,
who are either playing with another
lady's heart or with hers"
Auberon felt Loveday vince at that,
and cried, Indignantly:
"That is false Col. Accrington. I
have no love, If this be not she. "
Take me home to mammal want to
be with her, I belong to no one else, yeti"
said Loveday, in sudden overwhelming
shame, and shrinking as far from
Auberon as his encircling arms would
permit
"That Is true, and it's shameful for us
to be wraDgIing over you instead OF
saving your life," said Auberon, peni.
tently. @Come, Colonel, trnce to prt"
Vate animosties; let US get out OF this. "
Accrington's look was dark enough to
Justify the suspicion that he would
almost prefer to perish where he was,
providing his two companions in danger
perished with him, rather than escape
to see his love carried off from his arms
by his rival. But he gnawed his lip in
silence and possessed his raging soul.
The two men raised q loud shout once
more; and probably because they were
somewhat revived by their brief rest,
uneasy though it was, their cry was
stronger, and reached, at last the pre-
occupied ears Of the miller and his men.
A figure or two came dimly into view
on the bank, there was sudden halloo-
ing and running; the sluice was dropped;
and in a moment the foaming whirlpool
was as q mirror, with the normal cur.
rent dimpling along its midst
Inen the rivals put Loveday into q
skiff, and the oars being lost, Auberon
swan bis horse ahead, while he held the
painter, and Accrington swan by the
stern, guiding her course. The current
swept them still further down the river,
but they landed in safety on the mill
bank, among an astonished crowd OF
men and boys.
Brief were the explanations made
while the half-frozen lady was being
carried to the miller's house on Auberons
horse, supported on either side by
rival. Accrington was the explainer;
being in the diplomatic line he felt quite
at home as an improvisation.
The three had started out with the
Stafford Hunt, he said; the lady's horse.
got lamed and they tried boat to the
railway station, and got capsized by ac'
cident. He deigned no fine links to per
feet the probability of the tale; and the
honest rustics, though much puzzled tc
account for some Of the facts, thought
it was all right, only they had not heard
clearly.
1t was nightfall when they entered
the wide, bright kitchen Of Miller Grow.
er's substantial stone cottage; Auberon
leading in the tottering figure Of Miss
Dellamere on his arm, while Accrington
lowered around her with o distinctly
possessive air, though, in truth, he
dared not touch her.
3Hot blankets and hot bath, as quick
as you can, my good mother" hustled
he to the mistress of the cottage, who
came forward with kindly CALCULATIONS
of concern; and he it was who ordered
round, expressed unbounded anxiety,
and showed the greatest distress about
the pale exhausted lady; while Auberon
only pressed close to her, and held her
trembling hand under cover of her
wraps; and wrung the water out OF her
long, long hair-at which his rival
turned white with envy!
"It's easy to be seen which Is lover
and which is the brother" observed
Mrs. Grover, nodding sagaciously, as she
and her red checked daughter Betty
stripped the bed in the "best chamber"
for the young lady.
@The oldest one is half out Of his mind
about her, while the brother takes IL
easy enough"
1T don't know, mother" objected
Betty, with a conscious look, "the
youngest one stands closest to her, and
looks at her the whole time as if he
could fairly eat her" And doubtless,
Betty being younger, had more recent
experience OF love affairs than had her
mother.
When Loveday was Just going to the
bedroom the good people had prepared
for her, she brought both gentlemen to
her with glance.
III am quite safe here for tonight"
said she, looking down, land know how
much mamma will be suffering on my
account; will you both go home and tell
her the whole story? Both; mean it
Accrington ground his teeth. in bitter
chagrin. Well he knew why she would
send them both away from her-she
trusted in Auberon, and set him as
kudl OfC& AImoCIIs lCoV lac oAooio SOLlS
back to her before she could return to
her home.
But he choked down his emotion, and
promised all she wished. Auberon, too,
cheeriuily prophesied that they would
be- at the Pavilion before dawn; that
@Ahmed" should be searched for and re.
stored to her stable, and everything else
that was omforting.
Then the rivals bade her good night,
not daring to take hand since She
seemed so shy and unresponsive; and
she shut the rough door between herself
and them.
So after having borrowed dry clothes
from honest Grover, ard eaten supper,
the pair set forth for Stafford in the mil.
ler's tax cart, driven by Grover junior,
and reached the Pavilion without adj
venture.
CHAPTER XIV.
srHRF MARRIAGE SHALL SAVE HER, BUT ]
SHALL BE THE BRIDEGROOM"
sYou have come at last" exclaimed
lord Inchcape. with brightening eve sc