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

felt toward him the imperiouS power OF
W II subdued her raging spirit to listen
paSsively to that which he now was
ready to say.
"Miss Delamerc," began he, with soft,
respectful tenderness, "this not the time
to descant upon my love for you; you
have long seen it, and the future will
prove its sincerity. In this, your hour
of need, my love gives me a right to say
to you, Make me your protector and you
are safe from every VIII srcr. Accept
me for your future husband, betroth
yourself to me. and the world has moth
ing left to say"
For q few moments Loveday remained
speech ess, returning her lover S passion
ate gaze with look of fear and amaze
ment 1t seemed to her that he had sud
denly opened door through which she
could see into dark country, filled with
shadowy forms OF. horror. A host OF
vague suspicious beset her; it needed
not the passing memory Of Auberon to
make her shrink back from this man as
if he had been serpent
81 do not ask your answer now," Ac.
crlngton FASTENED to add, as he saw the
stern refusal on her lips; "but think OF
what l have said; think Of how much
depends upon your decision; and, above
all, realize the fact that l am your loya
friend, whatever may befall And now
l shall conduct you to place where you
NAV take some rest while l attend to
your mare"
Without giving her chance to utter
o dissenting word he hurried her for
ward to the pretty rustic village inn,
and the prospect Of being relieved from
his presence for even short time went
far to reconcile her to the dreaded ne
cessity of appearing before the public
in the company of Colonel Accrington.
Content to leave the case thus for the
present, sine, deprived Of her horse,
She would be completely in his power,
he murmured few last tender reaSSur-
ances and they were before the "Siiver
stream, Arms" the cynosure of all the
admiring loungers about tho inn court.
The landlord advanced to receive his
distinguished company, and Accrlngton
spoke loudly, for the benefit of the Gu
riouS listeners:
"Can this lady obtain private room
for short time, while her ponys hurt
hoof is being examined? We have been
detained behind our party by the acci-
dent and wish to follow them as soon as
possible
The portly landlady instantly appeared
to take care Of the young Lady, and Ac-
crington pres nted his hand to assist
Loveday to diSmount, but she, coldly
waving him aside, rode to the mount
ing block and allghted unassisted, van
lshing with the woman with a formal
bow to her escort When he turned from
watching her departure, modify, he was
Just In time to see an ostl r in the act Of
extracting a sharp flint from the un-
lucky Ahmeds hoof.
"If We had cast half glance ye would
have seen it yourself, master" grinned
the man, holding it up for inspection;
dts q wonder the poor brute walked
STEP"
Accrington impatiently hurried him
off with the horses, casting nervous
look toward the open window near.
Doubtless he feared that Miss Della
nero would be needlessly panied if she
overheard the cause Of her favorite's
sutferlngs
His whole object now was to spin out
Loyeday to take the road for such
long journey that night He had pro
posed her betrothal to him; he meant to
propose an clopcnent now; he was ready
for it, His whole day had been governed
by that intention.
Having scnt in some tea to Miss Del
lamore and refreshed himself, he quietly
locked the stable door upon the two
horses and walked away to perfect some
arrangements, This business took him
to the river bank, to boat-house OF
which he possessed the key. Having un-
locked this place, he launched q beauti.
full little sklff which lay within, rowcd
1T along the stream until 1t came under
the inn, and, conccaling it under
clumr of trees, he returned to request
an interview with Miss Dellamere.
He had delayed to the last minute he
dared. He was now ready to prove to
Lovcday that her only safety lay in mar
rying him at once.
Tie landlord met him with very
puzzled face
"Your lady's been wanting to start
off by herself, sir. She wasn't for wait
ing a minute after you went" said he.
an lee i?" muttcred Accrington, scowl-
ing w tn modification. "We.l, you didn't
let her go without me, l hOl CO"
"Oh, no. sir, surely not, since you were
to be right back again. l b'lleve you
took the stable key with you anyhow,
didn't you, sir? Though of course 1
didn't say so to her"
Il like my horses to cat in reace," " sa' d
the Colonel, coolly, handing back the
key and guinea with It, "You gave
some decent excuse, suppose, for not
fetching round her mare?"
Trust me for that. sir; both horses
was off to the blacksmfths getting their
shoes 10 ked to- She then wanted to
hire team with driver, but put her
off till you would come, Sir"
every good; you have done right"
said Accringt ton; but this continued re-
slstance was unexpected and chafed him
much.
The honest landlord, supposing that
he had stumbled upon a pretty lovers
quarrel went on 10 Darrate that the
lady asked particularly after her horses
hurt, and was much pleased to hear
that it was q mere pebble in the hoof
ard that the animal would be as fit for
the road as ever aftor feed.
"WorSe and worse" thought Accring-
ion; "this bungling fool has made her
independent of me, If she has the cour-
age to shake me of; perhaps she even
suspects -pshaw! nothing venture moth
ing win!"
lie strobe to her room and knocked;
she instantly opened, but he did not walk
in as he expected, for she held the door
lonlrnd n,,k k,,,i4b q