Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-12-25
MONTEREY, HIGHLAND COUNTY, VA, DECEMBER 25, 1885,

IlO0, lOTRlhC JUc. WuaO AiShV
expect any sympathy or support from
you2"
"You wrong me, Colonel Accrington'
indeed you dol" faltered Loveday, VINO
could scarce believe him for Joy. 81 owe
you all the aid can give you, besides
my heartfelt gratitude. Yet | cannot
see how 1 dace intermeddle II Lord
Inchcape's private affairs,
81 exact no such imprudehee; simply
ask YOU to be the bearer Of do ument
which Lord 1nchcape would give his life
to obtain for It will establish"
a will carry it to him" Loveday in
terru ted hastily, shrinking from learn
Ing any mo Of the Earls secret fiom
his enemy ait is sma return to
| make for all that you are willing to SUI
fer in the cause OF right"
Accrington could not quite reprcss a
| fitting sncer, but fastened towaris his
| purpose.
"I thank you, Miss Dellamere; with
your cooperation feel strong enough
| to complete the sacrifice without finch
| ing. Without it. confess / dread :he
| whisper ngs OF my stubborn pride, for
you must not forget how much / am
| about to lose il do this thing-the bost
of my existence.
"I shall take the document to Lord
| Inchcape," murmured Loveday again.
"When shall you send it me?"
Il shall not send 1t; l shall trust no
human being save you with the weapon
which is to destroy me. | shall bring it
to you-to-n night
He paused; she looked up wondering
" at his pale face and glittering eyes.
"To night" he continued; "and you
must come to me; shall be at yondcr
gate in the wall waiting you. And you
must como one"
Loyeday started, flashing a suspicious
look at HIM
"That Is too much to expect" said
she haughtily; "ehere can be no neceSsi'
ty for such thing: and | have not
found you so trustworthy that shou d
trust you again l decline to como hero
alone TO meet Colonel Accrihgtol 10.
night
He flung on his heel with short
laugh
"That ends the matter" said he h rSh.
"; "I, too, decline to grant Miss Della
mere prayer. FAREWELL"
He was actually going, thought Love-
day, and once more all her hopes were
vanishing away; she could not but re-
call the willy schemer, just as he had in
tended.
"You may have reasons for such re-
| Quest; at least let me hear them, said
she anxiously.
81 have, but fear that they will have
little weight with Miss Dellamere," re-
torted he bitterly. "My own safety do.
ponds upon the fidelity Of my messenger.
Bah! why humiliato myself needlessly?
l will plead no more. You were not in
earnest, neither was l. Let US consider
the whole matter jest"
al cannot dare mott" cried she n
great distress. 81 should be wretched
| forever II I were to abandon Lord Inch
cape now that you make 1t debeGd on
| me whether you will do him justice or
| not. Is there no other waY?"
"That way or none," said Accringtol,
sternly. "Am l dog to be treated with
OF On strust at the same time that you
are ready to accept such a terrible sac
rifice from me? Enough; my safety re-
quires some precaution, and in the whole
world you are the only being to whom
feel inclined to trust it,"
81 will come" faltered LoVeday,
trembling.
He drew long breath Of intense relief.
Thank youl" said he, earnestly. 81
shall be at the gate by nine oc ock To-
night with the paper, which you will not
deliver until to morrow morning.
must be far away ere then
lie gazed sadly in the sweet, troubled
face before him; his voice softened and
sank. II shall not fail you, Loveday,
even though / am destroying my life al
YOUR bid. l could not fail you, knowing
that you were waiting for me yondeI
alone, and that for the last time we twc
shared secret between ns."
He left her at last; left her over
wheln ed with apprehension and doubt
1t was so very hard to believe in him az
ter the day at Silverstream!
And now came the full realization OF
what she had promised to do
In the hurry and tewiderment Of the
interview, urged On by Accrlngton, She
had been too intent Oh fighting LorJ
Inchcape's battle to perceive all the con
sequences involved in her promise; she
saw them too clearly now.
She must keep Accrington' S confidence
yes, even from Auberon and her mother
until omorrow morning; she must r.sE
meet ng with him unknown to every
one; and, tina'l 'ly, she must herself beal
the fateful document to the naughty
Inchcape, who would, no doubt, be
plunged in amazement at the extent oi
her audacity and knowledge OF his m Isl
delicate affairs
And then, would her mamma ever for
give her imprudence when she confessed
it? what would Auberon think OF hel
granting G ESivate interview to the
man he had rescued her from?
Girlish little Love lay burst into tear;
of sheer fright, and heartily wished her
self out Of the worst scrape she had YET
been in: but suddenly thought OF Lord
Inchcapes restored happiness shone like
bright sunshine upon her dropping
spirits, and she flung off her fears indig
nantly
"Oh fel to be such a poltroon, instead
of dancing with joy at getting black
wrong righted at last" she exclaimed,
dashing away her tears. sam l not
Puck. you poor neglected mortal?" Here
she picked up her forgotten and whim.
pering dog, and wiped her eyes on its
snowy curls
"Come, you love; we'll keep our own
counsel and go through our adventure
valiantly; see If we can't play m )use
for once, uck, and gnaw through the
net which has imprisoned Lord Inch
cape so long, and set him free"
She set her pretty teeth nara aho