Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-09-25
CHAPTER VI.
THE KNIGHT ERRANT APpEArI


creasing it tenfold.
Lady Ulva's proud spirit resented
hotlv the interference of even so es-
tcemod parsonage as Kenmore, and
his narting threat had the power or IN
vesting the handsome stranger WIN
new and romantic interest She hao
naturally thought Of him much whiie nc
lay in the great state bed In the guest
chamber, battling for the life that she
had saved from the waves, but now sho
looked upon his image With very dih1r
ent ewes. Poor blndcrlng Kenmore!
He had with his own hand unseaed Tho
fountain of the maiden's romance, ana
made Edgar the hero Of it
AS for Edgar, tho secrotarys inter
ference had thoroughly reused his OPP
position. The more he pondered over
the extraO, dinary statement he had
made concerning Ulya, the more iiorcely
he doubted it. A deep diStrust OF Sir
combes character and motives began 10
haunt him; he felt it almost as neceS'
sity laid upon him to stay and wa;ch tho
man long enough to learn something OF
his nature and aims. Evidently LORD
Inchcaue trusted him full =, or no would
never have placed him in such position
in his household; but then, Lord Inch
cape never came to DunraVcn, ana
knew no more than was reported 10 him
pr baby by Srcombo himself.
AS near connection OF the 1amiiy,
Edgar reasoned that he had rl5ht 10
remain with them if he chose, or could,
and though he did not quite C osc his
eyes to the fact that love had great
deal to do with his decision, lie wou d
not allow this to daunt him.
He Joined the ladies as he had boen
invited, and found Mr.. Sircombo In
stalled beside Ulva by distant window,
and Lady Dunravcn seated apart by
tile workable. But she was not
working: ! Ike some antique statue OF
sorrow she leaned forward with both
arms outstretched across the table, and
listlcss hands dropping from the edge,
her face all pale and rapt, her bright
bright eyes fixed upon the heaving waste
of waters which stretched between her
and the world. .sssas,
No mortal, spending sickness could
have spread such ha gard shadow over
that beautiful countenance; there was
tic very abandon of hopeless, agonizlng
misery in her attitude. Never before
had Edgar chanccd to see her thus,
when, su1posing herself quite unoo-,
served, she had forgotten all around
her. and given herself up to her despair.
Silently as shadow he was at her
side before one Of the three noticed MS
entrance; heart-wrung and sore dis
maycd as he was, it was an ungovcrna'
be impu Sc that made him grasp the
hand that hung so lifeleSs, and ho'd 1t
close between his two palms, while
he gazed at her with devotion III his
eyes.
She was not startlcd-her thoughts
had been too far of for that She
slowly came back to the present, and
looked at him with recognition-a
strange glance, that seemed to appeal tc
him like q murmur Of pain; not asking
him for help, but needing it as tho
drowning mute needs rescue.
Then. with a faint Quivering sign, she
re eased her hand and signed him to
Dlace on a couch, luxurlously cushioned
which had evidently been prepared fol
him
"Ah, you are not strong yet; be docllt
and recline here beside me" she salo
with sweetest solicituIo And then ShC
raised her voice and ca led Ulva, wht
turned round with little bright cry o
surprisn, and came swiftly down the Ions
room, smiling welcome.
She wore dark-bue transparcn
dress lucid as the mountain mists an(
threaded here and there with g0d he
slender waist was also grded with go q
and her b.ue-back hair, dressed FOR TIT
evening, was fastened by comp o
pretty gold hlagree. His whole near
went out to her as she camc smiling u
welcome him. Not only beauty had she
hnt such modesty ana truth, an gent.
womanhcod, that all that was noblest L
him bowed down before her.
This fair woman doomed to loVeles
solitude? -,
found il Inchcape-no
Wonder dark-lined, lowering face b(
longed to a traitor, that was easier t
believe.
aNow you shall soon be we'll" sal
I7lvo. giving him her hand while nc
lustrous eyes beamcd pure friendlineE
unon him. Tho worst is passed whe
Won can leave the SICK room; before I'll
week is out l prophesy that you will
exploring all the wonders Of this ol
fortress with Mr. Sircombe, who is a
t enthusiastic archGologst.
MIR. Sircombe, from his distant vantaG
+ ground, bowed here as Edgar glanced
. him; and queer smile, just the end
one. lickered about his mouth.
. "And are you also archa olog call
S asked Edgar covetously, as a vision
: that charming girl wandering by his sit
through gloomy dungeons and hal
2 .hoked corridors rose before his mind
eye.
+ She had seated herself close to Lac
d Dunraven. and was spreading out Il
t meshes of some exquisite bit of needle
}. work she had been busy over, on II
/ lady's knee. Edgar watched the fai
/. nimb' 'eness of her fingers, small al
r pointed as q Spaniards, but ivory whit
r with rosy nails; not ring marred the
}, delicacy, not bracelet spoiled the rc
feet arch of her wrists; her gau
y bodice Clung about her warm pear
o shoulders like the d.aphanouS yelling
a chiselcd water-nymph. He watcht
d her with the feeding gaze Of cnraptur
n admiration, hectic fire kndling in ca
d wan cheek.
1t was the beautiful hour Of fir loN
Il poor Edgar's hea was at her feet
81 am nothing so severely intellectual
h replied she lightly to his last QuestC
=. "though of course l ain interested in
20 that be ongs to my fathers race, anC
N believe ths ancient sea-tOWor has be
IT In our hands 800 years. | have he
,r in all the holes and corners that N