The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-06-04

both ladies gazed with wondering eyes
at Kenmore, as he burst into their pres
ence, then stopped stock still, lingering
his blue bonnet, which he had snatched
from his head, and "glowering" las he
himself would have said) at his lady
strangely.
swell, Kenmore." said Lady Inchcape,
"you wished to find us, did you not?
What is it? Why! how bewildered you
look! Kenmore-what is the matter?"
She rose quickly, drawing Viva with
her; with arms twined round elch other
the two beautiful women stood wonder
ing: but Kenmore seemed to find it hard
to speak.
How changed the stern old face was!
how the keen eyes blazedi how pallid the
brown cheek! And why should he gaze
at Lady Inchcape with that wild look?
speak, Kenmore!" cried my lady, in
sudden panic, "there is more SORROW
some one else that we love-oh, Ken
more, my husband is not-dead?" she
shrieked, swoopng forward to him.
ana, ma, Leddy Inchcape; God Forbid"
at last he found voice to say, very
broken voice, and accompanied by a
very eXulting smile; "its no i'll news,
me Teddy; it's the bonniest news-it's-
och! / Gamma wait to brak it sma'; he's
here himself" and the words came out
with roar of irrepressible joy, and the
old Highlander threw up his bonnet in
the air and laughed aloud.
Strange. the same wild rapture trans
figured the wan faces Of mother and
daughter, the same question burst from
them simultaneously:
@He is here. Who?"
"An' wha but cor ain Lord Inchcape,
come to his ain true leddy?" cried Ken
more; and with the words my lord s
majestic figure strobe into the middle of
the group, hands outstretched to Lady
Inchcape, proud face pa'e and beseech-
| ing, and somber eyes fiery with passion
ate love-
any true wife," he began, but she did
not wait to hear his pleadngs! her eyes
met his in one wild, questioning look,
and she was in his arms with such a
strange, heart-piercing cry!
All, poor wife!
They were alone and seated hand In
hand, still in Ulva's dell; for both the
witnesses of their meeting had vanished
at once, Kenmore wiping his eyes on his
bonnet, and Viva strangely torn by con-
flicting grief and gladness.
Forgive her. for she had believed for
one unutterably blessed moment that
Edgar was alive and had come back to
her!
She soon laid this pang along with the
sorrow in her heart; and then she could
rejoice with her beloved step mother
with all deeply generous soul.
This, then, had been the sorrow which
fnht hnr 10 mi n To- n ~
between her and her husband.
All! how could he have doubted her.
Lord Inchcape and his restored wife
each others long unseen faces.
"Ah, how you have suffered" MUIR
INJURED Lady Engelonde, in her sweetest
tones, and she smoothed, with her small,
thin, burning hand, the deep lines craven
upon the forehead which she had last
seen as smooth as her own.
"But you-but you, my Engelonde, oh
Heaven! have l come too late?" exclaim
ed Lord Inchcape in gathering dismay
"are you dy ing, my wife? dying just
when l have awakened from my fatal
delusion-just when we might be happy
again?"
He gathered the shadowy form of his
breast; he scanned with infinite pity and
anguish each trace of the grief which
was consuming her; he lifted her trans
parent hand, with the fever rose burning
10 the palm, to examine it closely; and
then he strained her to his hungry heart
with passionate cry of rebellion.
81 will not give her up now! l cannot"
said he: and then his kisses fell like rain
upon her mute, smiling face, upon the
dark eyes which hungered no more, upon
the worn cheeks, which grew rosy under
them; and he pleaded with her, eagerly,
hotlY, as If she, poor, loving mortal, held
the key of life in her hand!
"You will not leave me, Engelonde?
Say it, dear; you could not, now that we
have got each other back again?"
She drew long sigh, and nestled in
his arms like one weary to death who
had reached the desired haven at last.
leave you, my husband?" she said,
wistfully, "oh. | could not, could not.
Surely l may live now: No, no, no, not
death now, oh, let me live to drink
little more Of this sweet happiness! For
| am happy, my lord; your restored love
is divine elixor which pOurs new life
into my veins; why, how could l be i'll
when my heart is bursting with joy?"
and she wept some of earth's sweetest
tears
After long rapt silence she spoke
again.
"My lord, tell me the good news. Our
enemy has spoken at last, then? You
are vindicated9 You will once more
take your place ID the world? Tell me
all, Raleigh, no romance was ever so en-
trancing to me.
But my lords brow c,ouded.
mo, sweet wife, Colonel Accrington
has not spoken; he has died like das-
tard, with his guilt unconfessed,
said he.
"He is dead?" faltered my lady, paling
fearfu'ly, "and your vindication is hope
less! Oh, my lord!"
She wept, pressing his hand to COM
fort him: but suddenly started from his
side as new thought struck her.
But has he not indicated me? Else
why are you here?"
He drew her back to her place with
loving insistence
"My own noble hearted wife," he said,
sin every thought and word you uncon-
sciously prove your loyalty to me My
Wind ;caton is your first thought, not
your own. And this Is the jewel threw
away! On, who will give me back those
lost five years! Listen, sweet Engelonde.
with your head on my heart its rightful
place, of which my Jealous madness