Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-12-25
without the slightest attempt So excuse
and--stayed out.
CHAPTER XIX.
DOWN TO BIS DEATH.


+ e wall. and stood listening intense
for any sound to warn her.of Acering
TOMS preximity. There was nothing to
Re heard but the sotgh OF the wintry
wind through tile dry caves and the
bayinz Of the far away no Sna.
But the Jane on the other side CT The
wall was thickly carpeted with the grass
of dlsuse, and he might easily be there
with dozen rdIfans'bchind him, and no
football be heard,
Then the stable clock struck nine, and
an imperative hand knosked upon the
thick open door.
One last conyulJve Nsssnd OF the heart,
aud Boveday found herself ia to face
with him she expected
| Her innocent eyes scanned his face;
never before had she aught that look OF
internal triumph She shrank back, and
his iron clasp closed about her wrist; he
drew her towards him with burst OF
rcck ess pass on.
as it not for the last time, my own
Iove?" he whispered, beseech ngy; "why
grudge me one little kindness? You
know how despeTat, i am to nj ht.
She let her hand lie in his, she let his
ar steal round her waist; she no longer
needed what he did; she felt his hand
touch hers no more than il she had
turned 10 stone; for Auberon Crecy was
beside them, gazing in speech'css ag ta-
ton, and at tn, ame instant two stran-
rers sprang from the shelter OF the wall
outside, and advanced on Accringt9n.
Accrifi 1ton surveyed the intrnders,
AN uttered fierce exclamation OF as
constituent
"Whatl you treacherous? You have
BETRAYED me, Loyeday." he cried "Oh,
monstrous could have staked my life
upon yo.r loyalty. All, we !, am no
longer bound to give you this prize-y u
have forfeited it," He snat he'd out an
envelope, and show T., tGuntingly,
! then crumped it up in his hand.
j "No, no, give it me; have 90 moth
ing to forfeit it," she stamme.ei 81
haze kept your secret" She coul say
no more, for swift as a magical trans
formation, she and AccringtOn were out
side The gate, and the latter was turn ng
the key on Auberon and the two stran'
gers; who remained inside
A closed carriage, drawn by two mag
nifcent horses, which she recognized as
Accrington s, do she'd forward from a
! short distance. where they had evident y
awaited their owners peasure; and
without stopping to check Loyeday'S
terrified screams, he tore open tie each
door, and proceeded to spring inside.
He was flying, and he was taking the
precious confession with him.
That maddening thought drove away
every selfish fear; the heroism in gay
little Loveday's blood fred up; she re-
membered only that Lori Inchcape's g
honor was at stake, and that she must
not fail him, now that she vas al be
! had TO depend upon
"You shall not break your promise"
cried she, swooplng upon him, and wind
ing her soft arms arvund his, 50 that nc
could not enter + G carriage door with
ont thrustiny her away by force, an
alternative which he did not seem in
clined to take
"And why not, Loi eday?" asked he,
looking wn in her lovely little face.
With its new expression Of resJlve, and
suppressing a smile. "Why not my
girl? You haze deceived me, you see
"I solemn dec'are | have not" she
answered, and by this time she had
seized his clenctcd hand, and was try
ing with al her da nty mig to open
The iron fingers. He dallied one or two
moments longer with her, so unspeak-
able sAeet was her close contact to his
hlngering love; but Auberon's voice
broke the spell, and urged him forw ard.
Engrossed as Loveday had been, she
had be quite aware that some sort OF
struggle was taking place inside the wall
though nothing reached her but an occa
sional painting exclamation OF one OF the
rough men she had seen in the lane; but
now AuberOn called out loud and clear:
"Here we ere, Edgar most p peasantly
engaged Come on, old fellow; well
catch him yeti"
Acc ington's demon look care Jack.
ida, Arden. tool" muttered he, be.
tween bis teeth, lie suddenly rassed
his arm around Loveday's waist, and
swung her into the carriage, speaking a
word o.. two TO his coachman Ss he did
so next moment the carr age was
dashing down the lane like whirlwind
and Loveday was uttering shrek after
shrek, without being heard by SOU
save Acc ington, who clasped her in his
arms with giant strength, and let Lei
scream as she would, with her ia z
crushed against h b eat
Even then, while using his supe ioi
srength like a bastard, against wo
man, his yearning love rose uTpermost
and he pressed his palld face upon
her siken head, plead ng with her in
heart ending tones to forgive him
"Hush, hush my darling, do not
struggle sol Who will ever love YOU a:
love you? No, no, sweet, cannot lei
you leave me; have de troyed my life
to win you. Loveday, you annot fear me
so very much, dea e? how is it that she vii
not love me when I--oh, God, she is my
all Teas, my girl; let me catch them
on my heart! for each ono you shall
have a llfe's, devotion. Oh, LOvedaY
Loyeday."
He wept; scalding drops fell upon her
brow; they were wrung from the one
pure spot in that guilty heart
She lay still at last; she was exhausted
with struggling; she lay on his breas
half swooning. Her hat had long age
fallen to the floor OF the carriage; hel
yellow hair flowed wildly about hel
waist, bathing his arms and hands, fill
ing him with rapture.
She had run out to keep her tryst in
nocently, all unprepared for journey; {
graceful trife of white chenille swatheC
the bare shoulders of her dinner cos
tune, and her feet were shod will
nothing more than black velvet brode
quins.
But Accrington was prepared for al
| Il, Lo doc ofr