Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-10-16

to be in waiting; my lord turned long,
stranoe qaze upon his suspected wife,
who stretched out her arms for one last
embrace in speechless agitation-Dut
stretched them forth in vain.
0When | return-if you arc worthy
muttered he. -,
"Oh, God! you cannot leave me thus'
l whispered. TT.
But he could; he did leave me, with
out glance of loves relcnting.
He was gone; my love, my lifo! Zone
with the light shiver of harness and the
clash OF arms, with the thnnder OF cav
ary and the gay bugle call; gone Win
doubt OF his Engelonde In his breast, ana
a hated rival by his side, whose dearest
desire it must be to see his death.
l fell forward Oh my face as one
stricken to earth
Two voices speaking by the door
aroused me; believing me still uncon-
scous, Mr.. Sircombe, the director OF my
household, was questioning my malu
concerning the letter which had passed
between Colonel Accrington and Lazy
Inchcape. BY the insidious form OF his
inquiries, pc: ceiyed with indignatlon
that Mr. Sircombe was quite ready 10
suspect the worst of his beneIactor
wife. stirred, he retired; and the giri
eli unconscious of the terrible evil she
had done me, waited upon me Affection
ately.
Kenmore had accompanied his master.
Afterwards | discovered that 1t was
Mr.. Sircomb's own man Nathan VINO
had been bribed by Colonel Accrington
to carry elahdestine letter to me: mat
| Mr.. Sircombe had contriv that through
| the simplicity of my maid 1t should be
| delivered to me in the presence or my
| lord. and that Mr.. Sircombe's object in
| Questioning the maid was to infuse
| doubts of her mistress fidelity into her
mind. that might be judged and con-
demned by my household
Mr.. Sirtombe had mover welcomed o
mistress to his patrons house, his had
been the post Of confidential adviser TO
| Lord lnchcape too long for him 10 give
it up gracefully.
Night fell, the first which had seen my
lord sundered from me-
In that lonely suburb perfect s!len
reigned; | fingered on the balcony out
| side my chamber windows hour by hour,
needless of the passage Of the night,
| abandoning myself to my sorrow.
While / watched and prayed there
came to me from afa1 the light beat OF
horses hoofs-I almost thought 1t fancy,
for who coud be coming to me out OF
the heart Of the hot, sweet tropl night,
whose golden moon shone on all IoVea
many long league awayP
But it was no fancy-on 1t came,
heard the shiver Of harLess, the clash oi
armor; horseman was gallopln9
toward me; through the dense foliage
caught tho blue glimmer OF steel as be
rode up to the gate A dark pre-,
sentiment rooted me to the spot.
thought that the foes had fought, thai
nv lord was wounded or slain, anc
that Kenmore had returned to tell the
tale.
Clinging to the marble balustrade
awaited the coming Of the messenger
He dismounted at the gate. and strod'
through the clustering shadows OF tn'
gardens; ] shook out my handkerchief II
mad impatience, and he swerved anC
came toward me. But 1t was not TIT
rugged form of o'd Kenmore that burs
from the shadowy alleys into the lam
bent moonshine 1t was my wickeC
ate, which looked up at me.
"Hushl" be murmured again, "and q
not taunt me-be more merciful. Wh,
did YOU not answer my letter? Had yo'
done so I would not have been goade'
to this madne S. No, madam, have no
deserted my post; have but ielt IN
camp where my Lord 1nchcape sleeps Il
peace-I hope to return before l al
missed. Lady Inchcape, / cannot leav
you-it may be foreyer-wlthout you
forgiveness. For that sued you In m
letter, for that l have ventured oac
! here tonight All, be kind for once
ard give me one gentle word!"
"a SOFT imploring tones he spoke, an
the haggard WEAKNESS Of his upradse
face might have touched me but for u.
memory of the suffering he had brough
upon my lord.
, .'Tbere can be no kindness betwee
you and me; you have dared to writ
me a clandestine letter. Well, listen
me: I have not read it You have com
r in the depth Of night to pay me con
? promising yisit-you shall gain nothin
by that but o disgraceful exposure.
: shall call my household to protect m
! from the insulting presence OF ml(
l night intruder" :,
8 zone such call and you are ruinedl
' said he, fiercely. Beware; you ca
turn my love to hate, and goad me on
l seek revenge"
5 II defy you-do your worst!" I crie'
! turning away.
= "Do you indeed deliver up my Lor
q Inchcape to my yengeance9" exclaime
he laughing; "thanks, fair coquette, II
r carte blanche"
i But while I heard the menace
r trem bling dread. his words were checkt
t by the sound Of galloping hoofs. IN
o lord has waked," he went on with su
| den deadly calmness, "has missed b
O colIeague-has permitted Jealous susI
cion 10 enter his bgeast-has deserts
: his post in his turn to enact the role
= private petective. He is come-he i'm
his mourning wife amusing herself wi
. the balcony scene IA Romeo and JUL
y now for q sensation that will make Il
). world wonderl0
0 Surely my reason must have forsak'
{ me that | stood there in that damniI
0 presence, to be discovered by a Jealo
ford. Why did l not fly, call up M
o Sircombe, my maid, any one, rather th'