Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-11-27

rush d together and were knitted In
that sweet bond that Death even cannon
unlOOse
@No one shall part US now!" SAID ne,
solemnly. "Thank God yol are mnei"
"No one shall part u.s." echoed she,
with sweet dazed Joy in her voice.
Accrington heard that voice, ana
started round to gaze. his haggard face
foot apart from hers She lecol ed
with a violent shock; everything rushed
back upou her, she looked and compre-
hend, all. .,
"You are better now, beloyed?" said
Accrington, distinctly, having resolved
upon his course-that Of compromising
her with him elf as m ch as possible
"Permit me now, Mr.. Crecy, 10 lay her
in the boat; she is my care now, am
proud to say" and he laid hold on her
to draw her from Auberon's arms
Without word Loveday clung con-
vulsively to Auberon, who struck OIL
Accrington's hands, saying, sternly:
"You claim too much, sir; respect the
ladys will, If you Please Miss Della
mere was placed in my charge by her
mother, and l shall relinQuish her to
none"
"And I shall permit none to meddie
between my bet othed wife and me-" re-
| tosted Accrington; "least Of all you. sir,
who are either playing with another
lady's heart or with hers
Auberon felt Loveday win at that,
and cried, Indignantly:
sThat is false, Col Accrlngton. l
have no love, il this be not she.
"Take me homo to mamma want TO
be with her, belong to no one else, yeti"
said Loyeday, in dden owe whe ming
shame. and shrinking as far from
Auberon as his encrcling arms would
permit.
"That is true. and it's shameful for 8
to be wrang ing over you Instead OF
saving your life," said Auberon, penl-
tently. "Come, Colonel, trnce 10 prl-
vate animosities; let us get out OF this !"
Accrington's look was dark enough 10
Justify the suspicion that he would
almost prefer to perish where he was,
providing his two compan ons in danger
perished with him, rather than escape
to see his love carried of from his arms
by his rival But he gnawed his lip In
silence and possessed his rag ng SOUL
The two men raised loud shout once
more; and probably because they were
somewhat revived by their brief re t.
uneasy though it was, their cry was
stronger. and reached, at last the pre-
occupied ears of the miller and his men.
A figure or two came dimly into view
on the bank, there was sudden halloo-
ing and running; the sluice was dropped;
and in a moment the foami2g whirlpool
was as a mirror, with the normal cur
rent dimpling along its midst
Then the ri als put Loveday into q
skIff, and the oars being lost, Auberon
swan his horse ahead, while he held tho
painter, and Accrington swan by the
stern, guiding her course. The current
swept them still further down tbs river,
but they landed in safety on the mill
bank, among an astonished crowd oi
men and boys
Brief were the explanations made
while the half-frozen lady was beng
carried to the miller's house on Auberon's
horse, supported on either side by
rival. Accrington was the explainer
being in the diplomatic line he felt quite
at home as an iuprovlsator
The three had started out with the
Stafford Hunt, he said the lady's horse
got lamed and they tried boat to the
railway station, and got capsized by &C
} cident. He deigned no fine links to per
: feet the probability Of the tae; and the
honest rustics, though much puzzled Il
account for some of the facts, thought
1t was all right, only they had not heart
clearly.
It was nightfal when they entered
the Wide, bright kitchen Of Miller Grow
er's substantial stone cottage; Auberor
leading In the tottering figure of Mis-
Dellamere on his arm, while Accringtol
= hoyered around her with q distinct,
, nossessive air, though, in truth, h'
dared not touch her.
"Hot blankets and a hot bath, as quicE
as you can, my good mother" bustle'
he to the mistress Of the cottage, WIZ
] came forward with kindly ejacu alton:
] of concern: and he it was who ordere'
. round, expressed unbornded anxiety
4 and showed the greatest distress abou
D the pale exhausted lady: while Auberol
q only pressed c.ose to her, and held he
!. tremb ing hand und r cover OF he
, wraps; and wrung the water out OF he
long, long hair-at which RI
turned white with envy!
"It's easy to be seen which is love
S and which is the brother" observe
y Mrs. Grover, nodding sagaciously, as sh
q. and her red checked daughter Bett
I stripped the bed in the "best chamber
for the young lady.
d sThe oldest one is half out Of his min
b about her, while the brother takes
q easy enough"
: II don't know, mother" obsecte
}, Betty. with a conscious look. 9TH
, youngest one stands closest to her, an
y !! looks at her the whole time as II D
;. could fairly eat her And douotles'
y Betty being younger, had more recer
: experience Of love affairs than hao he
= mother ~,
. When Loveday was just going to th
= bedroom the good people had prepar
= for her, she brought both gentlemen I
her with glance
81 am quite safe here for tonight,
;. said she, looking down, "and know no
y much mamma will be suffering on m
+ account; will you both go home and te
1 her the who story? Both; | mean It,
d Accrington ground his to tn in bitt'
l. chagrin. Woll he knew why she won
N send them both away from her-sf
trusted in Auberon. and set him as
guard over himself, lest he should con
d back to her before she could return
o her home.
IL But he choked down his emotion, al
70 promised all she wished Auberon, to
L. cheerfully prophesied that they wou
e he at the Pavilion before dawn; tn
aAhmed" should be searched for and r
ID stored to her stable, and everything ell
y: that was comforting.
er Then the rivals bade her good nigh
t. not daring to take hand since 81