The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-20

naturally thought of him much while he
lay in the great state bed In the guest
chamber, battling for the life that she
had saved from the waves, but now she
looked upon his image with very differ
ent eyes. Poor laundering Kenm orel
He had with his own hand unsealed the
fountain Of the maiden's romance, and
made Edgar the hero OF it.
AS for Edgar, the secretary's inter-
ference had thoroughly reused his op-
position. The more he pondered over
the extraordinary statement he had
made concerning UlVa, the more iercely
he doubted it. A deep distrust Of Sir
combe's character and motives began to
haunt him; he felt it almost SIS neces-
sity laid uGon him to stay and watch the
man long enough to learn something OF
his nature and aims. Evidently Lord
1nchcape trusted him fully, or he would
never have placed him in such position
in his household; but then. Lord Inch
cape never came to Dunravec, and
knew no more than was reported to him
probably by Sircombe himself.
As near connection Of the family,
Edgar reasoned that he had Q right to
remain with them il he chose, or could,
and though he did not quite close his
eyes to the fact that love had great
deal to do with his decision, he would
not allow this to daunt him.
He joined the ladies as he had been
invited, and found Mr.. Sircombe in
stalled beside Ulva by distant window,
and Lady Dunraven seated apart By. q
little work table But she was not
working; like some antique statue OF
sorrow she leaned forward with both
arms outstretched across the table, and
listless hands dropping from the edge,
her face all pale and rapt her bright
bright eyes fixed upon the heaving waste
of waters which stretched between hef
and the world.
No mortal, spending sickness could
have spread such a haggard shadow over
that beautiful countenance; there was
the very abandon Of hopeless, agonizing
misery in her attitude. Never before
had Edgar chanced to see her thus,
when, su2po5ing herself quite unob.
served, she had forgotten all around
her, and given herself up to her despair
Silently as q shadow he was az her
side before one Of the three noticed his
entrance; Aeart-wrung and sore dis.
mayed as he was, it was an ungoverna.
BILE impulse that made him grasp tho
hand that hung so lifeless, and hold it
close between his two palms, while
he gazed at her with devotion IN his
eyes.
She was not Shareholder thoughts
had been too far off for that. She
slowly came back to the present, and
looked at him with recognition-a
strange glance, that seemed to appeal to
him like murmur Of pain; not asking
him for help, but needing it as the
drowning mute needs rescue.
Then, with faint quivering sign, she
released her hand and signed him to a
place on couch, luXuriously cushioned,
which had evidently been prepared fof
him.
"Ah, you are not strong yet; be docile
and recline here beside me-" she said
with sweetest solicitude. And then she
raised her voice and called Ulva, who
turned round with little bright cry OF
surprise, and came swiftly down the long
room, smiling welcome.
She wore dark-blue transparent
dress, lucid as the mountain mists, and
threaded here and there with gold; her
slender waist was also girded with gold,
and her blue black hair, dressed for the
evening, was fastened by comb of
pretty gold filagreo His whole heart
went out to her as she came smiling to
welcome him. Not only beauty had she,
put sucn modesty and truth, and gentle
that all that was noblest in
him bowed down before her.
This fair woman doomed to q loveless
solitude?
BY that nobility which he had ever
found in Inchcape-nol
Yonder dark-lined, lowering face be
longed to traitor, that was easier to
believe.
"Now you shall soon be WE'LL" said
Ulva, giving him her hand while her
lustrous eyes beamed pure friendliness
upon him. "1'he worst is passed when
you can leave the sick room; before the
week is out prUphesy that you will be
all the wonders of this old
fortress with Mr.. Sircombe, who is an
archaologist
Mr.. Sircombe, from his distant vantage
ground, bowed here as Edgar glanced at
him; and queer smile, just the end OF
one, flickered about his mouth.
"And are you also archaeological"
asked Edgar covetously, as a vision OF
that charming girl wandering by his side
through gloomy dungeons and half
choked corridors rose before his minds
eye.
She had seated herself close to Lady
Dunraven, and was spreading out the
meshes of some exquisite bit OF needle
work she had been busy over, on my
lady's knee. Edgar watched the fairy
nimb!eness Of her fingers, small and
pointed as Spaniard's, but ivory white,
with rosy nails; not a ring marred their
delicacy, not a bracelet spoiled the per-
feet arch of her wrists; her gauzy
bodice clung about her warm pearly
shoulders like tho diaphanous yelling Of
q chiselled water-nymph. He watched
her with the feeding gaze OF enraptured
admiration, a hectic fire kindling in each
wan cheek.
1t was the beautiful hour Of first love;
poor Edgar's heart was at her feet.
81 am nothing so severely intellectual"
replied she lightly to his last question;
though of course I am interested in all
that belongs to my fathers race, and I
believe this ancient sea-tower has been
in our hands 300 years. I have been,
in all the holas and corners that Mr..
srrcombe would allow me to exploro,
but the best are sealed mysteries to me.
There are chambers cut in the solid rock
beneath the tower-below tho levei OF
the high tide mark; in old days we
smothered our enemies there
II should like to explore them," said
Edgar, thinking less of the ath-traps
than Of the ruby lips that spoke OF
them.