The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-08


sWhen shall you send it me?"
II shall not send it; l shall trust no
human being save you with the weapon
which is to destroy me. shall bring it
to you-to-night-"
He paused; she looked up wondering
ly at his pale face and glittering eyes
"To-night," he continued; "and you
must come to me; I shall be at yonder
gate in the wall waiting you. And you
must come alone"
Loveday started, flashing suspicious
look at him.
THAT is too much to expect" said
she haughtily; "there can be no necessi-
ty for such thing; and l have not
found you 80 trustworthy that l should
trpst you again. I decline to come here
alone to meet Colonel Accrington to-
night"
He flung OF kis heel with short
laugh.
aThat ends the matter" said he harsh.
ly; II, too, decline to grant Miss Della.
meres prayer. FAREWELL"
He was actually going, thought Love-
day, and once more all her hopes were
vanishing away; she could not but re-
call the willy schemer, just as he had in
tended.
aYou may have reasons for such re-
quest; at least let me hear them," said
she anxiously.
II have, but fear that they will have
little weight with Miss Dellamere, re-
torted he bitterly. @My own safety de-
pends upon the fidelity Of my messenger.
Bah! why humiliate myself needlessly7
l will plead no more You we're not in
earnest neither was L Let US consider
the whole matter jest"
II cannot-I dare not!" cried she in
great distress 81 should be wretched
forever if l were to abandon Lord Inch
cape, now that you make 1t depend on
me whether you will do him justice or
not. Is there no other waV?"
THAT way or none!" said Accrington,
sternly. "Am l dog to be treated with
open dstrust at the same time that You
are ready to accept such terrible sac
riice from me? Enough; my safety re-
quires some precaution, and In the whole
world you are the only being to whom ]
feel inclined to trust it."
II will come" faltered Loveday.
trembling.
He drew long breath of intense relief.
aThank you'll" said he, earnestly. Il
shall be at tie gate by nine o'clock TO-
night with the paper, which you will not
deliver until tomorrow morning.
must be far away ere then"
He gazed sadly in the sweet, troubled
face before him; his voice softened and
sank. u shall not fail you, Loveday.
even though am destroying my life at
your bid. I could not fail you, knowing
that you were waiting for me yonder
alone, and that for the last time we two
shared secret between us!"
He left her at last; left her over.
whelmed with apprehension and doubt.
1t was so very hard to believe in him af-
ter the day at Silverstream!
And now came the full realization OF
what she had promised to do.
In the hurry and bewilderment OF the
urged on by Accrington, she
had been too intent on fighting Lord
Inchcapo's battle TO perceive all the con-
sequences involved in her promise; she
saw them too clearly now
She must keep Accrington's confidence,
yes, even from Auberon and her mother,
until tomorrow morning; she must risk
= meeting with him unknown to every
one; and, finally, she must herself beal
the fateful document to the naughty
Inchcape, who would, no doubt, be
plunged in amazeInent at the extent OF
her audacity and knowledge OF his most
delicate affairs
And then, would her mamma ever for.
give her imprudence when she confessed
It? what would Auberon think OF heI
granting private interview to the
man he had rescued her from?
Girlish little Loveaay burst into teari
Of sheer fright, and heartily wished her.
self out of the worst scrape she had yet
been in but suddenly thought of Lord
Inchcape's restored happiness shone like
bright sunshine upon her dropping
spirits, and she flung of her fears indig.
nantly.
"Oh ie! to be such a poltroon, instead
of dancing with JOY at getting black
wrong righted at last!" she Exclaimed,
dashing away her tears. "Am I not,
Puck. you poor neglected mortal?" Here
she picked up her forgotten and whim.
pering dog, and wiped her eyes on its
snowy curls.
"Come, you love; we'll keep our own
counsel and 60 through our adventure
valiantly; see if we can't play mouse
for once, Puck, and gnaw through tho
net which has imprisoned Lord Inch
cape so long, and set him free"
She set her pretty teeth hard and
breathed quickly, while her color rose
and her eyes flashed.
"I'm going to get that paper II have
to-cry for It'll" muttered she; and Oh
she SKINNED home with the infnitesimal
Puck scampering after: and neither OF
them confessed word to Mrs. Della
mere.
The few hours which intervened be.
fore nine, were very restlessly spent by
Miss Loveday: but she clung about her
mother, and would not review her ter
rors again.
Auberon chanced 10 be engaged that
evening to dine with neighboring FAM
lily, and had paid his daily visit to his
lady-love earlier; so that the girl was
forced to commit the promised indiscre-
:ion without the comfort of last inter
view with Auberon, and without having
been tempted to divulge the secret.
Eight o'clock came: she rose from hel
mammals footstool to hide her agitated
face at the piano; half-past and she was
still playing: ten minutes to nine and
she skinned out Of the drawing-room
without the slightest attempt at excuse,
and-stayed out.