Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-11-27
summoned you homo had any inkllng


tions Of his secret wretchedness that he
read in every line ofHhis gloomy face
revelation Of the past.
He had Travelled Straight from Scot
land. and chanced to- have arrived On
the morning OF the hunt; ho was aston
ished when the sersants announced to
him that he would and his lordship at
home, for hunting was Inchcape's one
pleasure, and he wasseldom absent from
the meet.
aAnd why am / p8rtlculary welcome
to day, my lord?" aSYed the young heir,
seating himself in the chair before LORD
Inche apes, as he was desired.
With suppressed bitterness, lnchcape,
told him that powerful candidate had
appeared to conteststhe borough with
him.
ale has bought caste and wide
domain . said Iachcape; "he has o nu-
merous tenantry, and can command great
interests In Stafford Archerfiold is his
kinsman and supporter, and his friends
will be legion, no doubt He has been
indefatigable In conciliating the people,
and he is far more popular to-day, strah-
GER though he be, than you are. buC
then. my boy has not learned the art OF
beguiling men through their weaknesses,
which is the favor te policy Of Richard
Accrington.
at is Richard Accrington" cried
Edgar springing to his feet here, at
the very door! Glorious news!"
His eyes were sparkling with JOY; the
| miscreant, Tor whom he had expected to
search to the ends of the earth, was
here, within his grasp.
"What do you know Of that MANI"
demanded Lord Inchcape, amazedly'
81 know that he is your evil genius.
nv lord-that he has been the curse OF
Inchcape. Dear kinsman," said Edgar,
respectfully, 81 would never have pre-
sumed to peer into your past Affections
had not accident thrown me strangely
into a situat on where | learned all, In
voluntarily"
Dark grew the proud Earl's brow. Ho
cazed upon the unwe come discoverer OF
his disgrace with painful earnestness.
Edgar then narrated the ctccum-
stances which had cast him upon Sleat-
ma. Vrecken; his recognition OF Dunraycn
Tower as one of Lord Inchcape's proper
ties which he had seen in the chart; his
| AmAZemGUb upOH QiONO'NAiho o
and lovely Lady Dunraven, and his In
evitebe Identification OF her. Ana as ne
detailed this portion OF his life at Seat-
ma Vrecken, when he lay sick and help-
less, visited daily by hat gentle, melan-
choly lady-how tenderly he portrayed
her in her pining sorrow, and descrioed
the unutterable eloQuence OF her patlent
suffering, which pl a1ed with him day by
day TO deliver her from her undeserYcd
misery!
aWithout one word from her, a that
was most honorable in my manhood rose
mn within me to fight her ba ties" said
Edgar. watching with eager hope the
shifting express. .ons of the nobleman's
countenance "And then. was | not her
kinsman. bound to her cause by the
very accident that revealed her to me?"
"Ah!D muttered Lord Inchcape, rising
from his chair to lean upon the chimney
niece and bury his face in his han Is
Edgar told of his conva escenco, ol
his grief at witnessing Lady In hcape
incurable melancholy; and as he plct
ured her spirit like pallor and the febr
CLEAN of her hollow eyes which never
smiled Lord Inchcape stihod choking
sigh He told how he had prayed hel
TO make him her friend and how at las
she had trusted in him, and given hin
the written story of her misfortune.
@And when had read it," continue,
he. with thrilling earnestness, 81 saw
that these past five years or mlseraD
estrangement between my loved Lore
Inchcape and his lady had been utteri!
tAuseless." ,u.. ,.,s Nm
natural that you should think SOL" ex
claimed Lord Inchcape, hoarscly; "bu
what will cast out fell suspicion iron
my heart? l would give my life to be
level"
Edgar spread the manuscript befor
him.
"You will believe when you have rea'
this!n exc aimed he, with sparkling eye
"and then shall prove my lady's truth.
"Can you do that?"
eyes, am sure I can! But first
have favor to ask. Will you summon
| Mr.. Sircombe here upon a matter o
business?"
Lord Inchcape dispatched telegram
instantly Edgar explained that he la
not avowed his identity, conse uenC
that Mr.. Sircombe would come TO men
cape Fosse utterly unsuspicious OF al
presence there; and that through III
surprise he hoped to wiring the trut
from his lips He did not choose 10 re
veal to Lord Inchcape the attempt Will
Mr.. Sircombe had made on his lie: n
was keeping that as secret oy whicI
he might influence Sircombe
Lord Inchcape's hands trembled as d
turned over the many pages written
|, her own defense by his once idollze
Engelonde; the harsh and saturnlne o.
pression of his face melted away; III
, speakable anguish and tender, plnin
regret looked from his fixed and dream
ing eyes.
Edgar turned away that he might NJ
> spv upon the proud hearts softene
mood; his own eyes were wet, his oW
D heart swelled with tender hope.
At length he heard Incfcape das
down the unread papers, with gratir
:. laugh.
! mace the floor restlessly; "to tn nix tn
[ should ever again dream OF happlne
I or love: J., whose name is marx II
scorn through traitors IA sehood!"
e aYou mean Accringtonl" interrupt
a Edgar. eagerly. "And Accrington
9 here, within my reach. lie shall CO
fess."
Inchcape grasped his hand and wrur
d it. while his eyes glistened.
}. "You know all then, my boy; and "
d believe in my integrity" faltered he.
It ayes, my lord; your wife has tod
}. the story-taught me how utterly guI
q Iass Won were All, my lord when "
read what she has written, you Will
+, her the same justice which she GO
e yOu