Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-11-20

assistance may ask of him."
Ac rington tow,d, murmur.ng his de-
votiOn.
Lend nc your horse, then, and allow
me TO haStcn home at once and send
h m back with servant, who will at.
tend to my po + Ahmed" said Loveday,
with her innocent eyes on Accrington's
impenetrable face, upon which an ex-
preston of the utmost regret instantly
appeared.
"How can l disappolnt you, Miss Del
,amele," exclaimed he; "yet dare not
risk your life up this fercc brute, who
has never carried a lady in his life. And
alonel No, NJ, that plan will not do
Ahmed may be able to take you home,
with little care; come, let me remoun?
sou; we must at least get out OF this
deS late place"
I.oveday m unte1 her own animal
without another word; but AccringtOn
observed, with chagrin, that she would
barely allow him to touch her, springin3
from his hand to her saddle with the
merest touch on his shoulder to poiso
herself, and giving him u formal how Of
acknowledgment.
They resumed the way, Accr ngton
walking by her mares head, and his
own fine animal following with docility
which scarcely conceded with the char
actor which his master had given him.
In rapidly mounting impatience, Love
day watched the slow advance, while the
sky darkened drearily, and the minutes
fled; vet she dared not urge the pace,
for now, indeed, she detected the lame
ness of her mare, which gradually in
creased with every step she took, until
at last when the spire of the long
looked for village appeared in sight, she
started and WINGED In agony whenever
the woun cd hoof touched the ground.
81 see that we must find relief for my
roor Ahmed" said Loveday, tremu-
lou,ly, for her favorite's suffering tried
her sorely, and she we coined the chance
now which had seemed so intolerab @
before; tho tears stood in her eyes, and
she scarcely realized her own disagree
able position, and was in no mood to
detect the articles of her companion.
They approached still nearer to the
village, and Accrington remounted his
own horse for appearance sake; reused
by the diversion Loveday, for the first
familiar objects in the scene.
She had expected to see rough lite
hamlet built under the shelter of cliff;
what she did sec was pretty village
clustering about tho banks of wide
flowing river.
She grew pale with astonishment-
with rising anger
colonel Accrlngton, this is not Black
70 k, it is Silverstream!" she cried.
"Why. we are twenty miles from home"
Accrington uttered an exclamation OF
deep remorSe; the oXprcss on OF his well
tutored features terrified Eer.
"I've ruined her!" he muttered, but not
so low but that she heard the IDS and
ouaied. "Oh, Miss Dellamere!" lie led, ;
6inging himself again from his horse to
seize her hands, rens and ali, and
press them convusively, chow can you
ever forgive me for this fatal mistake?
| must havo been dreaming-bewitched,
to forget nay Iath; I.who tho ght that
knew every rod of lard between Stafford
and Lynn! l was bewi ched," he ex-
Gained, with sudden change to mourn
full tenderness, while he fixed his strange
compelling eyes on hers; Il was for once
happy-a!l that priced of earth was at
my side | forgot that VIC two had fell
Iow-crcatures! Ny poor child, l would
have died to spare you a moments annoy
ancc-I have been tho first to draw the
worlds Suspicious eyes upon yOu!"
Colonel AccringtOn, what do you
mean?" she demanded, haughtily, wrest-
ing her hands from his grasp with sud
den fierce epu sion.
81 dare not-dare not insult you with
a clearer explanat on," said he; ooh,
that had resisted the too welcome spell
which your presence cast over me, which
made hours to fly as minutes, and thrust
every thought OF cOnse iuenceS out Of my
mind! But now, nOw-what can | say
TO this watching, sneering world? Who
does not know that Richard AccringtOn
loved Miss Del amere-"
Colonel Accrington!" interrupted
Loveday with flashing eyes, and she
would have left him had he not sprung
to catch her bride with burst of griel
and depreciation.
"Dear Miss Dellamere, l cntreat you
to be calm and TO listen to me, for your
own sake" he urged Il dare not let
you go in your defenseless innocence
straight into the snare which slander
will spread for your overthrow. We
must take counsel; you must be saved at
any cost"
"You insult me; l will not hear your
disgracefu in mutations. Let me go ut
once" cried she, with indignation and
Incredulity, though a sickcning appre-
hension lurked beneath, In spite OF her
defiance.
"Hcavon knows that l would rather
offer you my life b ood than an insult"
returned Accrington. at is terrible
necessity whith h | must perform, or else
you will have cause 10 curse my cow
ardice your whole life long. Permit me,
then, to speak Am l not devoted to
you, heart and soul? Through my in
advertence have placed you In cruel
/ osition. Sander will say that our
flight was premeditated; no one will
credit the simple truth. You will be
made a mark for every jeering i'm
pertnence -"
"Si'ence." exclaimed Loveday in burn
ing humiliation; chow dare you apply
such words to me? II have been some
what unfortunate in my adventures to-
day, who shall plcsume to accuse mo OF
I'm rudcnce?"
"a as, poor innocent!" groaned Ac'
crington In a tone or poignant grief,
show shall | screen her? What repara-
+ on shall l offer her for the wrong l
have done her? You little know how
evil arc the thoughts of those who seem
our friends, Miss Dcllamcre," resumed
he, tenderly; "a simple improperly like
this Of to day has often doomed the In