Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-12-25


I'll am satisfied wi Auberon'S, and
have no desire to exchange it for yours. -
said the young girl, proudly
"Ah. no, sweet soul; you little know
your own needs" exc!Rl med the Colon ell
in the low fervent tones he had so often
subjugatcd proud spirits with before
at is 40 crude, boyish liking which will
satisfy nature like yours; no dreaming
mystic can long retain your warm young
Living love.
"'iive yourse TO me; am strong and
patient, and to win Is life-to lose, death
to me. can teach you how to love me,
and l know how to make my tender
darling happy as an angel in heaven ----"
She checked his impassioned speech
by gesture OF hot repulsion.
"You shecf at Auberon Crecy's youth
and genius" said she, impetuously,
while her eyes flashed wrath aud scorn
upon the offender; "but how will your
past life compare with his? Is it as
crystal pure? Ha you as little need Of
con ealments? Thanks, no, / prefer to
marry man whose life has been as open
and honorable a, my own to marrying
Richard Accrihgton with his memories.
Accfington was ghastly; the stroke
had gone home to the one WI nerab Q
srot in his indurated heart The woman
he madly loved knew all-knew and de-
s2ised him! but what 90 I'D she know?
perhaps nothing but vague report
"Who has dared to suly your innocent
mind with ISLANDERS of my Tast?" de-
manded he with q show OF righteo is
wrath "Who could have had the Lad
heart to do it?"
"Can you disprove these slahders?"
said Loveday scornfully
He be ieved that she had learned moth
iay definite, and said mournfuily:
"A as. Miss Delamere. what mans
| past life is fit for a madcn's scanning?
| W. look to womanhOOd to redeem us
| from our errors, and tue love gives us
| the future in which to make due repara
t.on?"
81 will have no lover whose record is
] too shameful for me to read" cried
| loveday ieri!y; then sic fastened her
| indignant gaze upon Lin and added:
"Why do you speak OF reparati0n? have
you ever repa red the wrong YOU did
Lord Inchcape? and you ask me to love
a man like that"
A. crington stared back with a NUT
| tered curse, utterly overwhelmed.
She d d know all-she had learned his
| most shameful secret.
He was liar in her sight basest crime
in the calen ar; he had led away mans
honor, and then built his prosperity upon
his victims downfall.
Oh. If Lovcday knew the blackest OF
al his secrets he might we'll despair OF
| winaing her. even by forc2-she would
| 1t boR h. iar
And so he has lost ber, til s fairost,
| dearest love of his life, the one thing on
the earth he coveted most
And the boy will marry her, they will
adore each other Are they not we'll
matched in purity?
No death, destruction rather
What is he to see her~wrested from
| his strong han Is, in spite OF ! the fierce
pa sion which is urging him up to
| desperation? is he to be robbed Of the
being who is more precious to him than
the political prize h9 was straining for
more precious even than revenge on
Lord 1nchcape?
All, if she were his they would fly far
from scorning England to ioTelier lands,
were b. would drink sweeter happiness
than he had yet tasted.
if! maddening word what will induce
her
A. this point in his half delirious
thou.hts, Accrington started from his
gid att tude with new hope in his eyes;
there was one chance for him yet.
She had taken the opportunity OF his
stIpefactiOl to hurry away, only too
happy 70 escape him before worse befell;
but thoughts glance swift as light
through the brain, and Accrington's
reverie had not been long enough to
cover etreat OF moro than score OF
seps. He caught her and barred the
way before she was out Of the sheltered
walk; she saw wonderful change on
his face, such grief and humility arrest
cd her in spite Of herself.
".f / should repair this wrong you
reproach me with, what then?" he
asked.
Loveday felt her heart stand still.
Oh, If he on would do that. The
vision Of Lord Inchcape, worn with a
mysterious gr ef desolate in his grand
eur and solitary in his rr me, passed be.
fore her. Did this man hold the key Of
that locked life? And was it possible
that he m ght be induced to restore the
happiness VIII ch had been lost so 'ong?
"Oh, Colonel Accr ngton, if you will
Go that, how l shall thank and honor
you!" she sa d, with deep emot on.
"But what if it cost II name and fame
AID drove ne forever from M nat We
land?"
"The greater the sacrifice, the more
worthy the reparat on Oh, sir! can you
hesitate one moment'"
"MsS Dellamere, you can win the
sacrifice from me, ana you alone.
She recoiled in wild dismay.
"No-oh, n pity. no." she moaned.
90 not thrust the responsibility upon
me. What have to do with it?"
Sweetest love, you ready have my
heart; take my life, too, and mold it as
you w H. Is it home and honor or exile
and the worlds rcprobation?"
"Do right, Colonel Accr ngton, though
the heavens should fall
"And you will award me this little
hand which strips me of the best prizes
OF a bnsy life?"
"Ah, cruel You surrey could never
exact the sacr fic1. Shame." she sud-
Gealy cred in her anguish. "Can your
reparat on only be bought? Un, shame,
that a soldier should Stoop to such u
craven thought" And she moved away,
weeping bitterly, her hopes completely
crushed.
Accr.ngton could only gnaw his lip in
slckening abasement. How could he
have hoped that he could build ella m