The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-04-23

-LOveQay can care IOT nlmf Is tneFe no
saving instinct, then, for pure women"
at must be mistake" faltered Mrs
Crecy with qnivering lips; save her.,
Auberon, oh, my boy, save her! you
caa."
He started, and flashed keen glance
at her; the suggestion seemed to come
upon him like On ectric shock. Soon q
faint, very sweet smile crept about the
corners of his mouth. and his eyes
shone.
Al wonder If I really camps said he,
dreamily; al would like to know"
A long bugle call sounded the sum-
mons for the start.
Mother and son kissed each other
tenderly. and he bounded down stairs
and out among the animated company.
What fine sight 1t was.
Beautiful equestriennes and their cav
alters, mounted on fiery horses, thun-
dered along the avenue, followed by the
dogs and their keepers; it was early yet;
splendid hunting weather, for q faint
south W nd blew ind the sky was cloudy,
and as they streamed over the clean
shaven champaign lawn OUTSIDE the
DORMANT gates, satisfaction was visible
on every face.
The Pavilion reached. here came Love-
day on her jet-black barb, which was
passaging all down the drive with wicked
grace, without, in the least disconcerting
the accomplished little horsewoman on
her back; and Mrs. Dellamere in her
pony phaeton. with her companion by
her side, as usual Mrs pel,amere al
ways drove to the meet when Lovcday
nd har Of OF ha nrrir q
left hand. AS she rolled through her
own gate this morning, she flashed a
searching glance around the company,
and Auberon guessed that she was look
ing for Accrington. As the youth. ap
preached her, her eye frightened; she
shocks hands with him warmly, and
drew him closer, saying, in low voice:
II see tie Squire heads the hunt to-day;
will you. then accept the care of Love-
day and bring her safe back to me?"
Auberon promised, with sparkling
eyes, and adroitly getting his horse be-
side Loveday's pretty Ahmed" they
lode away together.
There were many carriages in the
train; even the aged Duchess of Carts
brooke was there, in spite Of the bar
barity of the hour, for the pious purpose
of setting shat scoundrel, Accrington.
to his days work-namely, storming
the heart of Lady Merton Rae.
The whole assembly came to halt on
a gentle eminence, with the carriages on
the road which wound round its base;
and here they waited in the silence of
death while the hounds were thrown
into cover. The hunters sat like eques-
trian statues, only their eyes glancing
with life, and listened Breathe sly for
the first ringing ayiew-halloo" from the
huntsman's horn which would announce
athe find"
Auberon looked from right to left at
the two ladies nearest him; he scanned
the dark, glowing beauty Of Merton
Rae, subdued by loves consciousness to
melting tenderness; and he fingered over
lite Loyeday with her radiant, spirited
head, and witching mirth.
And again a strange shock thrilled
through him, and his heart beat fast as
he recalled his mothers words:
sSave her; you can"
Not sign of Accrington yet.
"Will you keep by me, Loveday?" MUIR
INJURED Auberon, in the lowest of tones.
There was no time for a reply in
words; she had turned toward him with
q start and a keen look, when the ex-
pected signal sounded, the ringing hal
loo, burst of baying from the dogs, and
the wild "Tally-hol" as the fox broke
cover and away, with the whole field
streaming after.
Loveday flung Auberon brilliant,
hooking smile, set her little teeth, and
sped like an arrow with the best of them,
scarcely needing the presence OF Auberon
close beside her. in the delicious, mad
excitement of the chase.
To her deep chagrin, Merton Rae
soon discovered that her hunter could
not keep up to the pace, and that she
must gradually fall behind. She was by
far too sweet-tempered to fume or chafe.
and as one by one the riders slid past
her, she pulled out of the course, mounted
a little hill, and watched through her
field glass what direction the fox was
taking. Suddenly her face frightened,
and she swept onward in a new direc-
ton; the fox bad doubled on his pur-
suers, and was twisting in and out
among the bushes, and by taking cross
cut ste could fall in with her friends
again.
AS she emerged from copse she saw
Richard Accrington on height not far
from her, coOlly watching the hunt
through his glass as she had done before
him. She pursued her way without at
tracing his attention; that brief inter-
view she had held with him had de
stroyed forever all chance OF uncon-
strained intercourse between them, and
the broad hints of her hostess, the
duchess, that she intended to make a
match of them, effectually kept them
a, art except when under her autocratic
eye. when they played at cordiality in
self-defense.
But that quick eye of Accrington's
had noted the solitary rider long ago.
and she had not gone far when he came
lightly swinging over the cradle-hills te
her side, with word of gentle concil-
iation in his greeting.
She cou d not help admiring his fine
appearance in the brilliant uniform Of
the hunt, as he managed his fiery hunter
with consummate skill, controlling it,
impatient efforts to break away ant
Join in the mad race over hedge ane
ditch, with turn of the firm right hant
on the reins, all the while seemingly
quite engrossed with the lady beside
him. Having drawn from her the reason
OF her tagging behind, and condoled
with her on her disappointment b.
promised to stay by her until she hat
found more desirable company.
aOr until You find your golden tress9t
! Afiadne,s retorted she, laughing ant
hlushinr superb'y. for she entirely be