The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-24
CRU
-=AS=-
THE GRAVE,
The Secret of DunraVen
Castle.
I BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author Of Faithful Margaret" Etc, Etc
CHAPTER xv-tContinued.)

and that he longed to begin the reading
pf Lady Inchcape's story; and he hoped
much from his lordship's softened mood.
1t had lain very close to Edgar heart
90 speak of Ulva during the whole OF
the interview; hut honor forbade that
he should obtrude any personal interest
before he had pleaded, like true knight,
his liege lady's cause.
He soon left Inchcape Fosse to visit
khe Crecys; he remembered in Lady
Enchcape's story how loyal one Of the
Three Graces had been to her, namely
Alice; and he wanted now to hear Alice
Crecys account OF Accrington's doings
In Stafford.
As he expected. he found her alone;
for it was not noon yet, and the hunters
had not returned. Squire Crecy and
Auberon had gone with the rest
Edgar Arden was favorite with the
gentle Mrs. Crecy; she respected him
for his own sake and loved him because
Auberon did so
He narrated the adventure Of the loss
Of the Mergauser, and his escape With
his crew upon sterile islet in the north
brn seas; but he gave no hint Of the
discoveries be had made there, but hav
Ing satisfied her curiosity about himself,
led her on to talk about the events
which had transpired in Stafford during
his absence
She soon mentioned the advent Of Ac.
arlington, and he detected the delicate
bhade Of restraint in her manner which
showed how little she liked the brilliant
bx-attache and pseudo.repreSe OF
Ealford.
sYour friends have been quite fretted
about your absence, Mr.. Arden" she
said. II confess to q strong desire for
-FOUR election, and Colonel Accrington's
Defeat He is dangerous man, and,
I'm obliged to say, an INSCRIPTIONS
one"
Her agitated demeanor riveted Ed
kar's attention; by little questioning he
drew from her delicate account of the
situation between Accringtoa and Miss
Dellamere; and the grievouS anxiety OF
both Mrs. Dallamere and herself about
the issue
"The dear girl is so utterly innocent
That he dares to employ his well.
bracticed art of fascination without fear
bf detection" said Mrs Crecy. "Mr$.
Dellamere is warmly opposed to any such
Alliance, and has emphatically told him
10; and yet he presumeS to make oppor-
tpnities Of meeting Loveday, and inter.
hsting her in his own pathetic history, as
she imagines his ugly past to be. can
not endure the idea OF his carrying of
Hear, guileless Loveday Dellamere.
@He must not be permitted any such
triumph" cried Edgar, boiling over With
Indignation as he thought Of Engelonde
tnchcape pining in far Sleat-na-Vreckep
through this mans lawleSs love; while he
was pursuing fresh love with all the old
delight.
~, too, confess to special antagonism
toward Colonel Accrington, and am re-
solved to balk him in several of his de-
biras. Is Miss Dellamere much faScin-
hted by him?"
Mrs Crecy searched his countenarce
earnestly. 81 fear it: he has been Pc
euliarly adrot in his manner with her.
he has gradually disarmed her first in.
btinctive distrust Of him-she believes
In his sincerity now. Mr.. Arden, 1 can
bee that you ki.o something concerning
that evil man, and implore you to use
fhat Knowledge on behalf Of Miss Del
1amere."
ain few days shall probably be In
3 position to confde all know TO you, ~"
said he, and then changed the subject
He was not ready to coafde anything
he knew about Lady Inchcape, even TO
her loyal friend, Mrs Crecy. until Sir
sombe had made his confession.
After lunch, Mrs. Dellamere drove
over to Dormant to assist Mrs. Crecy in
Entertaining the hunters as they strag-
sed back. for there was to be a hunt
tinner, and dance afterward. She
was delighted to see Edgar Arden back
again; she was now completely olsen
ehanted with Richard Accrington, feared
and loathed his approaches to her dauGh-
Ger, ard felt inclined to welcome stout
antagonist like Arden, who might give
Accrington something else to DO than to
make love to ladies'
From these two, Mrs. Dellamere and
Mrs Crecy, Edgar CLEANED almost all
the incomings and outgoings of Co!oGel
Acerington since he came to Stafford,
and felt ready to confront him.
The hunters began TO drop in by twos
and threes. Edgar waited on to see
Loveday AID Auberon. Pretty early in
the afternoon Merrion Rae came home,
and with blauched face begged Mrs Del
iamere to go with her to her room.
There she broke the i'll news that
Colonel Accrington had gone of riding |
alone with Loveday: that Auberon had
gone in pursuit. and that she had
FASTENED home to the Pavilion, to SEE
whether Loveday had returned, as she
had said she would.
Mrs Dellamere listened to the end
with ghastly looks which quickened the
humbled girls apprehensions
"And where was Auberon Crecy, that
4 1zfk II
enemy?" demanded Mrs. Dellamere,
bitterly; II put her in his sacred charge
for the day. thought he was trust
worthy, ana they were oId-trme Pray
mates"
"Blame no one but me-" said Merrion,
giving way to passionate self-reproach.
~My vanity made me Colonel Accring-
toms dupe. He begged me to arrange
for him 8 short interview with Loveday,
assuring me that Auheron-that Au-
beron-I will speak out; l deserve this
shame-preferred me to any woman"
She covered her burning face with her
hands, and wept convulsively; and Mrs.
Dellamere curbed her own emotion
pnoueh to draw her to her bosom; and
whisper sweetest thanks Tor her SELF
Bacriiicing confession.
~Dear girl. You are noI to blame. she
said. "MnaJ are we poor supplemented
women in the hands of a specious mis-.
creant whose boast is that he can use all
mankind through their weaknesses?
And my beautiful Merrion has her heart
ache, too! No, no, my child, there is
nothing TO be ashamed of; there are
few true-hearted women who have not
loved"
"But have they loved unsought?"
unhhad Mercion.