The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-30
CRUEL
.-.- -.. 4
GRAVE,
The Secret of DunraYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE AsHMoRE,
Author Of f''Faithful Margaret" Etc. Etc
CHAPTER u-fcontinued.D

EQRar'S QearG Deab ldster dS 10 rcCdlleu
she vision Of the beautiful girl. with her
inspired face, and her dauntless glance
chat swept the ravening waves, -disput-
ing with them for their prey.
Il could describe her for you-every
1owing curve" said he, his tones vibrat.
Ing with feeling, while he raised himself
20 his elbow IN his enthusiasm. She Is
Mark and richly beautiful, like an
hssyrian; her hair ripples in blue black
\ kaves above her proud, innocent brow;
She is as merciful as she Is brave; the
people worship her for her tender good
hess and she is just what 3 sea princess
ought to bel" ....-
a slight stir and sound like etifed
breath attracted their eyes to . tall fg-
bre which stood just without the circle
bf candle-light. " "'-
Lady Dunraven' started vlsibly, and
yecoiled with q swift and notable change
Of countenance. All the soft wondering
interest was gone, she had turned proud
from head to foot her eyes flashed with
b wonderful fire; yet her voice was low
and even as she spoke.
sApproach. Mr. Sircombe; you know
! how welcome you always are. Mr.. Sir
gCOuUos ILA6ols 4Oo2 PopA0As -
comfortable, you see, SIR" -
How Icy her glancel how austere! In
oil his astonishment Edgar could not but
Examine the man who had wrought the
Z transformation with sudden, eager sus-
pfcion. Remembering that this lady
was wronged, he was ready to suspect
any one whom she disliked as being the
wronger. he saw tall, gaunt man,
middle-aged; his shoulders were bowed
and his chest ,hollowed; his temples were
bunk. his forehead bald, his eyes weary
Ind haggard, and his countenance care
worn. he looked like worn-out stu.
dent, or like man who has outlived
avery satisfaction his life ever possessed.
There was, however, o gloomy fire In
! his eyes when they first encountered Ed.
kar's which showed that he had even yet
bone interest in life, and was quite cap.
Able Of animosities. His acknowledg.
hent OF Lady Dunrsven's Introduction
20 the stranger was particularly formal.
II am grstifed to learn that Mr.. Ed.
gar Is comfortable. Although not doc.
tor; ! was fortunate enough to have &C.
quired some medical knowledge in my
university days; and such simple skill as
possess Is sometimes useful on this un.
frequented island. I"
Edgar murmured his thanks for Mr..
Eircombe's ministrations. He wondered
whether Mr.. Sircombe had been among
his men applying his simple skill to thetr
bruises, and II so, whether he had ex.
tracted from them the information which
he was soenxious to keep back, namely,
that he WIS Arden OF Inchcape and they
were Inchcape lads He thought not
Nr. Sircombe's morose visage expressed
20 indignant astonishment when Lady
Ounraven named him Mr.. Edgar. IS.
s. Butiif he was safe so far. he could not
count upon his future safety unless he
made an effort to maintain it. He in
\ Quired how his men were situated, and
gathered from Mr.. Sircombe's answer
that their hurts had been efficiently
: dressed by the old @Spaewife" Of Sleat-
ha-Vrecken while he was engaged with
Edgar, and that by the time he was at
liberty to walk down to see them st the
cluster of cottages by the shore, they
were reported to be all @dead asleep"
Il sand how Jared my fine, old enemy,
Kenmore?n asked Edgar.
Kenmore had Jared the worst Of any.
The old sea lion, inspired by his adored
, Oolaya's presence on the scene, had
dived after the stunned and sinking
{. young captain again and again; and
having brought him up, and supported
him until they were both drawn to land,
he had sunk down at Ulva's feet utterly
exhausted, and had not shown any signs
OF life for many hours
Indeed, Lady DunraYen's whole night
( had been spent between the rooms Of her
tayorite servant and her guest and the
attention which she gave to Sircombe's
report of Kenmore's present state show
Ad how deeply she would have mourned
his loss ...... ....
sHas he spoken yet?n asked she. No,
/ he had been conscious, but too weak for
any effort, Mr.. Sircombe had left him
sleeping profoundly with 8 watcher in
the room; he believed all danger was
past.
Edgar heard the story Of his rescue
& by the stern old Highlander and the
lovely girl-noble with thrilling emotion.
It seemed like some fine old romance Of
ancient chivalry; he made picture Of
: the wild scene in his mind and pondered
over it There was something fascinnt-
ing in the situation, and fair Ulvs grew
and grew in his imagination with ever
Frightening beauty. He asked no more
questions but with half-shut eyes,
which saw nothing present, and faint
smile on his lips, lay dreaming.
Observing his silence, Lady Dun
raven made negligent sign Of dismissal,
which Mr.. Sircombe instantly obeyed,
with q low, submissive bow; and then
she turned her brilliant eyes eagerly
of
and pored over 1t with intense interest
The night sped; the fire flickered and
fled, and flickered again; q low, ftful
wind complained around the walls; the
eternal roar OF the hollow ocean thun.
1ered afar.
Edgar's open-eyed dream passed into
restless slumber; he woke again to q
; clearer vision Of his dream; wild
thoughts and impulses came to weary
him; he began to perplex himself about
his SURROUNDINGS; and still through
every varying phase OF his mood ne sa"
fair Oolava in her dark-blue attire
standing upon the cliff, with her pale
face and dark, flashing eyes. calling on
Kenmore to try again! try again! fol
Ahe stranger must be saved. And ne
began to long for the touch OF thai
eeething surf, and to pant Tor the chilli
ness Of the night wind; and then he
would forget his heat and thirst again
aud go back to fair Oolava-
y, At last a low, murmuring voice at.
tracted his attention. A young glr
stood by Lady DunraVen-a slender,
snow-white creature, with dencatei!
modelled form and pale, poetic face.
She never was daughter Of the bleaA
Northland, this splendid, dark-eyeo
beauty? Not for her the brief summer
4 and the long, moaning, winter OF the