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

,os,tot;no' biting bis nails, his busy
brain scEeming as ne went his 1urtiVe
eve scanning me.
Tho clash OF rapieE guided us TO the
oo,batants. bat befsme We could reach
them one had fallenA 1t was my lord
The victor was wipin8 his blaCe.
Konmore raised hfa masters head up
on his kneo, l thlcW mysolf on the
ground beside him with outstfetched
hands, but stern vQ'ee cried out, "no'
Won. Lady Incheape# IT was the sccre-
,sry,s Kehmofe heard the insult offer
I'd me, and uttered bitter cry of indig-
ration. Colonel Accrington sprang to
sunport me; regardless of my loathing
repulse.
at Is too late now for resistance" he
vhisrored, "they all believe you guilty;
thew drive you into mYarms-
"A wav craven" l cried thrusting him
from mo with superhuman strength,
evil you descend so far as oven 10 act d
lie? No one knows my innocence so
we'll as you-will yo1 deign to pay
part like this poor wretch-my lords
secretary l.,
While they shrank and scowled In
shame the noble o.d Highlander hltod
his broad bonnet crying feryently;
aNow God be praised, l know you are
wronged my guiltiess LADY," aud then
he turned and cursed my base traducers,
30 that they skuked apart abashed.,
At this moment my lord opened 5
eves upon me with stifed cry OF
wrath.
aRetre, madam" said he sternly,
Ewhat do YOU here? False heart, begone!
Those cruel words awoke my crushed
snirit. honor forbade submission tnen'
aMv lord. as God hears me you do mo
fonl wrong" | answered proudly my
heart has never beat save ior yon'
waved forward Colonel Accrlngton "A'
YOU claim to be an honorable man, oe'
clare the truth" l urged. But he only
! shrugged his shoulders with motion o.
light appeal. "a base revenge, this, sir,
which brands you lar and coward.
retorted. detained the secretary, wnf
fain would have escaped. "fou' whI
have listened to every word that passee
between that lase man and me. can give
! hack nv lord his lost faith-darc no'
to withhold your testimony" ! said
He looked upon the ground with va
l
| cant eye-he was mute,
| heard my lords insane burst OF
laughter, while the red blood gushed
anew from his side; and then fe down
smitten to the heart by love cruelty ano
lust's revenge.
NV lords wound was deep and danger
GUS. for many weeks he lay In helpless
suffering, incapable of defending his IN
terests, and that was the time Colonc
Accrington took to compass his ruin
He had taken from my lord all th(
papers connected with the embassy, an(
departed. accompanied by his owl
servant. to accomplish the work whlcl
had been connded to Lord Inchcape
was alike beyond the reach OF sor
row or shame, the shock OF that nlgh
had thrown ne into langulshlnS ieVer
in which for many sad days dellriun
lured and mocked me with visions OF los
happiness; but my lucid intervals wef
spent in humble prayer. earnestly ex
ahmed nv gseat lege.to sec of- VIA
blemish l might purify It, SO that Oo
might have pity upon me ana give Ia
back my husbands,
Alasi wherein was / lacking, tnat
got no deliverance at all?
NV lord recovered sufficiently to traye
before knew one face from another
he had received orders to return to Eng
land instantly, and he obeyed. Mr. S!l
combe accompanied him-bettcr woui
II have been for me If he had never OF
tanned the ear of Inchape again, for m
destruction was now become necessar
fo his tenure of Office, and too we'll
know that he welded malign inhuenc
over my ord's mind with regard 10 I'd
suspected wife.
Not till months had passed and m
health was restored, did | learn inc ca
Iamity which had befallen my Lor
Inchcape through his Fatal delusio
that night. Co'oncl Accrington ha
taken q foul revenge, his basenesS I
wards me was transcended lar oy u
incredible treachery with which he b
trayed Lord Inchape
Colonel Accrington had accompl1she'
with brilliant success, the mission wnlC
had been confded to my lord, he had
turned to England to report his success
and when questioned concerning the s
pular Disappearance Of his prlnSlp
from the scene Of action, hao bold
stated that Lord Inchape and he hi
started on the expedition together, til
Lord Inchape had turned back alter
few hours riding, on private business
his own, and that he had been left
proceed by himself.
So, while honors and emolumen
were showered upon the successful e
voy, the deserter from his post was sul
moned before the Oriental commission
make his defense.
What explanation had my lord
offer?
My lord had no explanation to ofr(
,, as his enemy well knew. The tru
would have blotteo out his fault, a
blasted his adversary-but to tell /
: truth would have been to smirch t
s reputation of his wife.
= any lords, said he to his frowni
q conferrees, "honor compels me to siien'
I can only say that Richard Accringt
s and have played deadly game, q
d that have lost
y ITo BE CONTINUED.