The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-04-03
CRUEL
-=AS=
THE CRAVE,
The Secret Of DunraVen
Castle. j
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author of faithful Margaret" Etc. Etc
CHAPTER xII.-Continueu.

OF her SOuerlnSS; DuC MS TduCOI dkdiHSs :
Edgar was all gone in the revulsion OF
feeling consequent upon recent oc-;
currences. When he could extract no
more from his unwilling informant, Ed
gar told him the whole story OF his accl-
dent and what followed.
Amazement and wrath burst forth
from Kenmore as he learned the TACT OF
Srcombe having known all the time
what Edgar's fate was.
1.-The foul fend's in the mani" mutter-
ed Kenmore, perfectly aghast. "Little
kent it was your life he coveted when
I was rogue enough to clogue WI him
to row ye over to Scotland an leave va
there!3
Edgar had fallen down an unknown
distance, and lay stunned for long
time. When lie recovered his senses he
found himself lying upon bed OF fine,
deep sand, in cell or cavern. whose
walls of natural rock seemed to stretch
a!oft to o great height He never could
discover the opening through which he
had fallen, which was no wonder, since
Sircombe had blocked it up while he
beyond his reach.
AS MS ldCulCleS IeIuIueu W lluls uo
laughed at his adventure; thinking that
Sircombe would arrive at any moment
with a reScuing party, when be would
return to Ulva with the news that he
had discovered the dungeon OF the
southern baStion.
He investigated the cell as well as he
could by torch; it was dry, Sanded, and
Theoretically sealed by the wall Of living
rock
AS time passed and no one came to re-
lease him he began to feel uneasy. and
wondered whether it was possible for
Sircombe to lose the opening of the
cavern, and to waste time in searching
In wrong direction.
This he could scarcely credit, so pc.
culiar had been the appearance Of the
spot where they had halted; and his per.
pIexity grew hourly, although it never
entered his honorable soul that Sircombe
had abandoned him to his fate. At last
he set to work in bitter earnest to iber.
ate himself. Round and round the base
Of the wall he went, scooping out the
sand with his hand to find some possible
egress, till at length he was rewarded.
A former captive had hown out a narrow
tunnel through the thickness Of the
rock; and this tunnel Edgar found
choked with sand. He cleared it out,
and crawling through, he was in a mar
row passage. which in its turn brought
him to another cave, and here he lost
himself in maze Of natural corridors
and cavernS which honeycombed the in.
terror of Dunraven Cliff
He spent much time and strength in
p2arino fbrn,Oh fha 10 hrriy,fh r1in1 h.
ing narrow and rugged aScents, cropping
down dizzy and precipitous crevasses,
where daylight never penetrated, though
the atmosphere was dry and pure. At
length lie happened upon the tiny rivlet,
. blessing indeed to the perishing man;
and after drinking and bathing his
Ievered temples in the crystal water, he
followed its capricious wanderings with
Infinite toll and patience, until 1t
brought him to dead wall behind which
be heard the roaring of the sea. He was
still making desperate efforts to find an
outlet when the blessed sound Of Ken
more's voice came to him.
All this Edgar told Kenmore in few
words, and not without painful excite
ment, for his sufferings had been
frightful.
"And now, all that I ask is that may
get away unsuSpected,7 said he in con-
elusion. 81 have stern work to do be-
fore my enemy may know that have
escaped alive"
"Oh, sir, but will ye no tell the Lady
Oolava-just her?" pleaded Kenmore;
Ishe can keep faith, she's true Dun
raven!"
"But what right have to burden her
happy heart with my grim secrets'" said
Edgar, thirsting for new assurance Of
her sorrow for his suppo ed fate.
"The burdens on her heart now,"
muttered Kenmore, sadly troubled be-
tween the fear Of saying too much and
of Edgar leaving Ulva pining under a
false deluSion.
sOh, my man, don't tempt me-"
groaned Edgar; "I'd give my life to see
her sweet face before go-but dare
III tell you all. ! adore your Lady
my life will be worthless to me. Now
you shall know who it is who dares to
look up to Lord lnchcape's daughter
"Gind gindle u.s." calculated the
amazed Kenmore-@ye ken that"
Edgar pulled out his pocket book and
opened to a page where he had written
In the dark heart of Sleat-na-Vreckcn
his farewell to life and Ulva; and he
held toward Kenmore the signature.
EDGAR ARDEN. OF INCHCApE."
~The heir" cried Kenmore, blanch.
ing. "Inchcape's ain next Of kin! Lord
sake: an I've daured TO hate an mis-
trust ye."
"Never mind that now, my brave
heart; it was all for love of Lady Ulva,
and surely should forgive that" saiC
Edgar, fervcntly. "And now listen tc
me. i am going homo to lnchcape,
hoping TO reconcile my lord with his
guiltless lady. Hush. Attend. Mr..
Srcombe has put himself in my power
by this business, and | think l can
wrcst the truth, which will prove her
Innocence, from him, in the presence OF
Lord Inchcape."
Kenmore stared with rapturous ad-
miration in the young mans face.
aIve just been an even-down ass"
said he. ITO think that ! wadna ken
Arden Of Inchcape wnen fell against
bimI Lord, but yell be Draw pair."
@Thank YOU" cried Edgar. raEur'
usly: "then you think may hope"
4Whv not ask herseP afore vo' co@"
.Because an nonesJ man would win
her fathers consent first, sighed Edgar.
.What if Lord Inchcape should say
that Ulva was not for me? Then
should have disturbed her for nothing.
Better far that she should never. know
who it was that loved and lost her"
He buried his face in his hands, for IL
was bitter potion that honor pressed