The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-03-13
MS. arm; he scanned each Conscious Iacs

MS arm; he Scanned e5ich conscious face
with pitiless inQuisition, but not word.
"Yes, it is ], Col. Accrington," I re-
torted, stung into defiance by pain;
| aand why not 1? Am I the first wife
! who has found her happiness in wander
ing the world over by her husbands
side?"
sPerhaps not" replied he, demon
prompted; "nor are you the last poor
mortal who will wander the world over
in search Of lost peace, as have done,
| in vain
My lords brow darkened as the odious
picture rose before him Of two sad hearts
roaming the world over in search Of a
balm that might heal the wounds OF a
hopeless, an unlawful love.
could not defend myself against the
unjust thought in that hated presence,
and retired. From my windows
watched the two brother ENJOYS pacing
| to and fro; I need not have feared that
Lord Inchcape would forget his duty 10
his country to demand private satisfac-
| ton for personal injuries. They dis
cussed business, coldly, courteously,
with the Internal fires Of jealousy be.
tween them.
How changed was my wicked lovers
naughty beauty, how blurred by mental
strife, how marred by the triumph Of
! evil! Yet may judge him harshly; he
had seen service among the barbarians
since he lounged among US in silken
dalliance, and had borne peril and hard.
ship bravely for England's sake; who
shall say that he had not been suffering
whitening remorSe and shame because
of his fall from honor? Ay, who shall
say, when suffering had not taught him
mercy and he Willingly sowed misery
betwixt my lord and me!
Alone, pondered how I might save
our happiness. We two, so united by
truest love, surely we could never be
sundered by mere mistake? Should
I now confde that long withheld secret,
which had been the only disturber OF
our peace, leaying my husband to deal
with the matter as he judged best? All!
how l longed to do that! How weary
was Of standing in my own poor
strength!
But dared not What madness, to
Bet two fierce men at enmity, on the eve
Of mission which they must undertake
together! A revelation now would too
likely rupture the whole scheme; my
lord would be less than human If he
could postpone the punishment OF his
wife's insulter.
Silence, at any cost!
But, thought I, surely may appeal
TO my husbands love, to trust me de-
spite appearances,-or to await expla-
nation until his return? And with this
hope I supported myself till he should
come to bid me farewell.
watched them part for the time, the
colonel strobe to the gates, where his
cortege waited, my lord entered the
house. Slowly he assembled the marble
stairs,-was he coming straight to his
unhappy Engelonde, to take her In loving
arms, and to win from ner the truth with
generous forbearance?
Slowly, heavily he paced onward
passed my chamber door-oh, love! was
it we'll? and entering his private apart.
ment locked it upon all the world, and
me.
Shut out Judged. condemed, bereft'
OF even one chance Of vindication. Was
it we'll, my Lord Inchcape?
In stupid misery remained where I
was, and the precious moments fed
away forever. The sound Of the horses
hoofs, as Kenmore brought them to the
door, reused me at last. In sudden
panic I hurried to my husbands door,
and knocked till, against his will, he
opened. He started back when he saw
that 1t was his wife who would not be
denied, then led me in with cruel pune
tiliousness.
threw myself at his feet.
aYou have no cause in me for anger
or sorrow. Oh, Raleigh, lift me to your
heart again!" I pleaded
II have not accused you," said my
lord, "Rise; that is not the attitude OF
guitless wife" How austere; each
word a morsel Of ice! wondered at its
cruelty. 1 had yet to learn that jealousy
IS cruel as the grave.
"Ikneel for justice, not for mercy" I
answered proudly; "look in my true eyes
and say that you can doubt my loyal
love for you."' He gazed into my eyes
he was moved; what blight was on him
that he could foster doubt even yet?
GFain would I believe in your love for
he, "but have seen you sinking under
the weary strife of your heart against
honor. l am too old for you; you wish to
be true to me, you are true to me, as
believe, in act and thought but you are
dying Of the struggle"
GAnd you suspect my heart OF stray
Ing from you to that man?" cried de-
risively.
Just then came hurried knock, my
maid Mary was seeking her mistress to
deliver letter which she had been or
dered to place in my own hand; too
simple to divine the intended secrecy Of
The transaction, she had brought it to
me thus
NV lord handed me the letter with a
bitter sneer; it was from Colonel Ac-
crington, l kneI v the hand at once,
was stricken dumb by the calamitous
conjunction Of circumstances.
"Allow me to leave you, madam, to
the perusal Of your admirers rhapso-
dies" taunted Lord Inchcape- sprang
after him, thrust the loathed thing in
to his hand.
aOpen and read, and deal with the
writer as he merits" implored, my
courage fainting under his unjust dis.
dain. And then the,thought that had
delivered up my lord to destruction
pierced my heart, and wrung moan OF
anguish from my lips. My lords fierce
hand paused ere he had broken the
seal-he regarded me with sardonic
smile.
"You repent Of your candor?" Ques-
toned he.
.Only for your dear sake!" moaned.
aAnd partly for your friends, ehp"
mocked my cruel love; "very well, Sec
ond thoughts are often best. Should !
read this billet-doux to-day should be
i foi of han hafAra