Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-11-20
CRUEL
%AS=
THE CRAVE,
The Secret Of DunraYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author of Faithful Margaret" Etc. Etc
CHAPTER XIII.-Continued.

IOOk uUOu OuC pan, ~ oSO'uNA 4'NO
it! Her heart swelled bitterly; it was
hard to find herself in Auberon's way
to see that all this sTeet, loving intimacy
was but lovers ruse to bring Miss Rae
to termSl
She followed Accrington'S guidance
without doubt; she felt as if she could
never meet AuberOn again.
Accrington knew every foot Of the To-
calty; five years ago he had spent many
a day with his sporting companions
boating those gladeS for gamo
Ho did not at once disturb the painful
rcverie Of his companion, but to k ad-
vantage of her preoccupatiOn to lead
her so many turns and twists that when
at length she looked round, she felt COM
plctely at fault. Accrington confidently
assured her that they were On the route
for home, and drew her into conversa-
tion with such tact that sho gradually
yielded herself to his influence, and
listened, responded, and Lecame inter
eSted, while time few, and tho miles
stretched behind them
Never had Richard Accrngton eycrt-
ed himself so earnestly; he was talking
against tine, and each haf hour they
fingered together mile they left
behind them-waS another link to the
chain he was forging for the capture Of
Miss Delamere!
Ho wooed her thoughts far from her
self and her present surroundings, 10
follow him from land to land where he
had been; when marVelS might begin to
pail upon her, he caught her
anew with pathetic version of
his own history, specially adapted
to attra her tender and innocent
sympathieS she lent herself to his
charm willingly, for her own thoughts
were very bitter, and escape from them
was welcome
They reached the margin of a wide
moor; not another human being was
visible on all the broad expanse, only
the bleak October sky lowered Oyer it,
and a low wind rloaned across the
heather. ,-.4s-,.ss.
Loveday locked around her with a
shiver
81 don't in the east know whore wo
are," said she, blankly; "are you quito
sure that You do?"
Trust me, Miss Dcllamerc, you are
quito safe" said AccringtOn, with
frank smile which almost reaSSured her;
"no don't look az your watch entreat
you; let me take all care OF you for this
once; give me the delight of seeing that
you have perfect faith in me.
"YOu treat the matter more seriously
than it deserves" replied Lovela lay,
somewhat startled; but she had no mo-
tive strong enough to bid her cross his
mood, and slipped back her watch with
out glancng at it. However as they
crossed the moor, the only beings visible
upon it, and her wandering eyes encOun-
tered not one fami lar landmark, she be-
gan to own a secret uneaSineSS, and to
chide herself for having left her friends
so far behind as to be cOmmitte to
such q prolonged tete-a tcte with the
Co onel.'
Accrington, observing the turn OF her
thoughts, gradually lowed the cOnyer-
saticn to flag, and appeared to share her
gravity, often turning in his saddle to
watch the action of her mare for min
ute at time; and indeed she began to
notice herself that both the animals
seemed spent, and dropped their heads
weaily.
At last Accrington said, with visib.y
assumed lightneSs:
"Will you allow me to have look at
your mare's hind shoe? To me she
seems to vince at every stop"
A chill misgiying swept over Loveday,
sudden shocked realization of her
thoughtless imprudenCe. Without a
word she drew rein and dropped lightly
to the ground without waiting for assist
ance.
81 begin to foar that it is later, and
that we are farther from home than we
imagine" sac she anx onsly, and again
drew out her watch. One g!anco, and
cry of dsmay burst from her-it was
hours past tho time when the hunters
were expected t. reasSembe at Dorl-
mant. Bewidered, angered, and dis
trustfui, she moved apart from her COM
panion, without needing his cXclama-
tions of surprise; she felt as If his IroX-
unity stifed her.
An ordinary admirer might have
suffered pang of sorrow or mortiica-
tion at such movement on his ady's
part whenever her hour of need came
upon her, but the Colonel only glanced
after her with pccu lar Smi c, and bent
over Ahmcds hoof while he performed
slight operation with a deXtcrty worthy
of a prcstldigitator He laid down the
boof with look of ominous gloom.
"Come, Miss Dellamcro, courage" he
cried, with affected checrfulneSs, "there
i. nothing far wrong with Ahmed yet,
but VIC must deal gent y with her. A
mere cut, which her shoe irritatcS; if we
can reach blacksmith in time, he can
Shift the shle and preserve the wound
from pain ul pres ure. We cannct be
far from the village of Blackjack, where
VIC sha find help"
Loveday's crimsoning check and com
pressed lips showed her deep annoyance
at such an adventure; how heartily she
reproached herself for the illiMed D G.
occupation Cf mnd which hal placed
her in such an unwelcOme S.tuation, To
be separated from the general company
was bad enough, efcn had her ca, alier
been an old and trusted fr end, approved
b. her mother; but to be cast upon The
cOurtesieS of Richard Accringt0n for
long hOurS-tO exhibit h rSclf before the
curious cyes of Is ackr ok with him for
sole c0mpani n-w&S q MOI tifcation she |
could II endure.
"lf we are near BlackrOck, we are not
five nj Hes from home" said she coldlv.
Aand l W uld infinitely prefer wa king
the whole way to making any stop. Tut
since this mischanoe has befaIlcn me in
I