The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-05-22
although Ulva Seldom joined IN The dis:

| lonely isle; ana my lOrQ anu MS laQy nau
prepared reception for him, little
enough like that which met him the last
time he approached, an unknown cast
away in the wrecked Mergauser.
He lands, as upon sacred ground; and
the glory of hopeful love is in his eyes,
| the proud swing Of the conqueror in LIS
| step. He is met at the very tide by my
| lord and his lady-like wife, with leal
Kenmore's rugged face beaming behind
| them; but where is his shy, proud Prin.
cess of the Sea? All! here she comes,
stealing down the grim rock-path, The
| last to greet him, but the first in all the
world in his swelling heart And who
so fair and kind in her stately attire
and glimmering pearls as this proud
| daughter of the lnchcapes to-day?
And there is indeed no more cause for
sorrow for Ulva? Is the tired sea-bird
to fold her snowy wings in haven Of
| JOY to-day?
There is sweet wonder in her dark
ling eyes as she fits nearer; and she
comes to q stop close to her fathers
side, with faiths unconscious appeal.
1t is Lady Inchcape, surely, this bril-
liant, beautiful lady, who first grects
the stranger with both eager hands out
stretched, and her heart in her happy
eyesl
Scarcely can Edgar recognize the pa
thetic Lady Dunraven whom he left in
this incarnation of beauty and joy!
sWelcome, thousand times to our
home and our hearts, Edgar Arden!"
cries she in voice like ringing joy-bells.
Il honored you above all men (save one)
when knew no kinship between US: but
1 may love the heir Of 1nchcape all my
life!" And she kissed him.
While yet his senses are reeling under
the sweet attack, Lord Inchcape is wiring
ing his hands and utlerng words he
never shall forget.
"And l welcome you to Dunraven with
the promise that, if your hearts desire
is in my gift, ] will surely give it you!"
Now Ulva, his very "hearts desire,"
what will you say to welcome him?
She is pale and amazed, and has me-
| chanically laid her dainty hand upon the
ready arm of faithful old Kenmore, to
steady herself; she gazeS and gazes at
the young man while her sweet eyes grow
wide and fill with tears, and her lovely
mouth quivers.
But when he has reached her, and has
stolen those dainty hands into his own
close keeping, and is pouring the whole
passionate love of his heart through his
eyes into hers, she conquers that first
strange pang and the gnawing thrill that
follows, and is speaking low and clear as
q noble lady should speak to her fathers
honored guest.
Mamma and I have grieved 80 Bit
terly over your supposed death, that you
are welcome back even under new
name; butt shall-always-miss Cap
tain Edgar!'" And her delicate tones fal.
ter and fall over the last words
"Do not misjudge me, Lady Ulva!"
pleads the handsome fellow humbly.
"By and by I shall explain everything
that seems strange to you, and perhaps
you will forgive me?" With q lingering
pressure he releases her lovely hands;
for is not Kenmore waiting for his no
tice, with his leal heart swelling with
pride and Joy?
sHurrah for the bonEie heir O. Inch
cape!" roars this heart Of oak, as he
swings his blue bonnet aloft; "an' fair
IA the day that brought him first to
Dunraven, to raise the curse off Inch
cape!"
These proud words fire the young
mans spirit; he turns so as to face the
whole group, and something in his
glance silences every one.
@Kenmore speaks truer than he
knows" says he; "the curse is indeed
raised off the house of Inchcape. /
bring good tidings, my lord; your justi.
fcation has been found among the Colo
nel's papers; it was instantly laid before
the lords of that committee before
whom your honor was impeached, and
here is, their reply"
He placed letter In Lord Inchcape's
hand; and for once the proud peer
seemed overcome as he devoured the
brief contents, and passed the paper to
his wife.
"a magnificent amende honorable!"
cried Lady Inchcape, her fair face
flushing proudly; "listen, Ulva; listen
Kenmore you have stuck to US through
good and through evil report. Lord
Inchcape stands triumphantly vindicat-
ed before the tribunal which heard him
accused Of dishonor five years ago, and
in token of their regret for the injury
he has suffered, they entreat him to &C
cept his old seat In the cabinet while in
acknowledgment of his past services to
the country, they cffer.him the Blue Rib
bon of the Garter And who brought
all to pass? You, am sure. Mr. Ar
den, though you do not say So"
And now, indeed, sweet Ulva presses
Edgar's hand as well aS my lady, and
gives him wonderful flash from eyes
glitter:ng with proud tears; but though
my Lord Inchcape is mute while he
wrings his young kinsman's hand his
eve speaks language which Edgar
understands well; and no one is so radi.
ant as he.
They move upward; of all the hover.
ing attendants Kenmore alone is per
mitted place near the enchanted group;
and Edgar is forced to explain in spite
of his gracious modesty.
Yes, it was through his entreates that
the dead mans kinsman, Archerfield,
searched his papers for anything bear
ing upon LORD Inchcape; and when the
precious information was discovered in
Accri1gton's diary of the year in ques-
ton, together with the whole romance
of his hopeless passion for Inchcape's
exquisite American bride, it was only
Edgar's wearied opportunities which
prevented the fiery Cd sea.dog from
dashing the whole black story into the
| heart of his own fire, to preserve Ac-
crington's reputation.
How Edward prayed him. hectored
| him, threatened him; how he appealed
TO his sense of justice. and all in vain;
how he began about the unhappy wife
and the sequestered daughter, and sud-
denly found himself on the Admiral's
| soft side. and the battle won; Of all this