Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-11-06


said he. at last. 81 shall do my best Tor |
little Lo, eday, mot er. How is 1t tha@ |
Ioveday can care for him? Is there no
saving instinct, then, for pure women"
at must be mistake, faltered MIS-
Crecv. with Guiyering lips save hcf'
Auberon. oh, my boy save her! you
can"
He started, and flashed keen glance
at her. afhe suggestion seemed to come
upon him like an @ ectric shock. soon
faint very sweet smile crept about the
corners Of his mouth, AMI his eyes
shone.
al wonder Il l really can?" said he,
dreamily; "I would like to know"
A long bugle call sounded the sum
mons for the start
Mother and son kissed each other
tonderly. and he bounde down stairs
and out among the animated company
What fine sight 1t was
Reautitul ecuestrIennes and their cav
alters, mounted on fiery horses thIh
dered along the avenue followed oy lne
do s and their keepers; it was early yet;
splendid hunting weather, Tor lal"'
sonth w nd blew & nd the sky was cloudy
and as they streamed over the clean
shaven champaign lawn outs CO the
Dormant gates, satisfaction was visible
on every face.
The Pavilion reached, here came Love
dov on her Iet-black barb, VIII CHI wa
rassaging all down the dri with wicked
grace. without, in the least dlscoAcertlng
the accomplished little horsewoman on
hor hack; and Mrs. Dcllamere in her
nonv phaeton, with her companion by
bnr side. as usual Mrs. Eel amere al
WAYS drove 10 the meet when LoVCday
hunted. AMI saw her off at the squire
left hand AS she rolled through her
own gate this morning, she fashed
searching glance around the company,
and AuberOn guessed that she was look
in0 for Accrington. AS the youth ap-
nr0a ched her, her eye Frightened; she
shocks hands with him warmly, ana
drew him closer, saying, in low voice:
81 see tie Squire heads the hunt to-day;
will Won, then accept the are OF Love
day and bring her safe back to meP"
Auberon promised with sparkling
ewes, and adroitIy getting his horse be-
side Loveday's pretty "Ahmed," they
lode away together.
There were many carriages IN tne
train; even the aged Duchess OF Cars
brooke wa there, in spite OF the bar
ba~itv of the hour for the pious purpose
Of setting shat sccundrel, AccringtOn,
to his days work-namely, stormln9
the heart of Lady Merr.ou Rae.
The whole sembly came to halt on
o. gentle eminence, with the carriages on
the road which wound round its base
and here they waited in the lence OF
death while the hounds wero thrown
into cover. The hunters sat ike eques
tran statues, only their eyes giancln9
with life. and listened breathe sly foi
ltbe first ringing "Niew-hallOo" from the
huntsmans horn VIII ch would announce
"the find
Auberon looked from right to left a.
the two ladies nearest him; ne scahne'
the dark, glowing beauty OF Merriof
Rae, subdued by loves consciousness -
melting tenderness; and he fingered oVel
lit Loveday with her radiant, sp rlte'
: head, and witching mirth. -,
And again q strange shock tnriile'
, through him, and his heart Deat lasI d
he recalled his mothers Words:
"Saye her: You can.
Not a sign of Accrington yet
r "Will you keep by me, Loveday?" mur
INJURED Aut erol, in the lowest OF tones
There was no time for a reply y
words: she had turned toward him VIII
4 a start and keen look, when the eX
o pected signal sounded, the ringing ma
+ loo. burst of baying from the dogs an
A the wild "Tally ho!" as the 1ox DroE
!. cover and away, with the Whole nei
streaming after.
:. Ioveday flung Auberon brilliant
+ mocking smile, set her little teeth, an
y sned like an arrow with the best OF then
q scarcely needing the presence OF Aubero
+ close beside her, in the delicious, ma
ex itement of the chae.
To her deep chagrin, Mcrrion IA
Il soon discovered that her hunter coul
- not keep up to the pace, and that sh
u must gradually fall behind. She was b
7, far too sweet-tempercd TO fume or haT(
u and as one by one the riders slid pas
u her. she pulled out OF the course, mounte
/ q little hill, and watched through he
field glass what direction the fox wi
20 taking Suddenly her face brlghtene'
8 and she swept onward in new dire'
p tion. the fox bad doubled on his pu
" suers and was twisting in and OF
among the bushes, and by taking GRO
y cut sic could fall in with her trien(
y, again.
49, AS she emerged from copse she sa
~ Richard Accrington on height not Ii
NJ from her, cOolly watching the hui
Il. through his glass as she had done De1o
"a him. Size pursued her way without O
~ tracing his attention. that brief inte
view she had held with him had d
or stroycd forever all chance Il uneo
- strained intercourse between them, al
~ the broad hints Of her hostess, Il
dnchess. that she intended to make
e1 match Of them, efcctually kept the
&c a art except when under her autocra'
he eve, when they p'ayed at cordiailty
Or self-defense.
=, But that quick eye of Accringtor
a, had noted the solitary rider long ae
ii, and she had not gone far when ne cal
il lightly swinging over the cradle NILS
# her side, with wor of gentle conc
ir iation in his greeting.
She cou not help admlr.ng MS Z
annearance in tho brilliant uniform
The hunt. as he m nagcd his fiery hunt
nd with consummate skill, controlling
o5 imnot;ont efforts to break away
oe ;oin in the mad race over hedge
"a Iitcb with a turn of the firm right ha
1T nH nm the reins. all the while seeming
=" cutie engro ;sed with the lady oesi
,ot him. Having drawn from her the reaS
oS of her tagging behind, and condor
Io with her on her disappointment,
,oo, nromised to stay by her until she
tio iound moro desirable company.