The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-04-30
sure he will not refuse to give me all the
assistance ! may ask Of him."
Acerington bowed, murmuring his de-

sure he will not refuse to give me all the
assistance may ask Of him.
Acerington bowed, murmuring his de-
votion.
aLend me your horse, then, and allow
me to hasten home at once and send
him back with a servant, who will at.
tend to my poor Ahmed" said Loveday,
with her innocent eyes on Aocrington's
impenetrable face, upon which an ex-
preston OF the utmost regret instantly
appeared.
"How can disappoint you, Miss Del
lamere!" exclaimed he; "yet l dare not
risk your life upon this fierce brute, who
has never carried lady in his life. And
alone! No, no, that plan will not do
Ahmed may be able to take you home,
with little care: come, let me remoun9
you; we must at least get out OF this
desolate place."
Loveday mounted her own animal
without another word; but Accrlngton
observed, with chagrin, that she would
barely allow him to touch her, springing
from his hand to her saddle with the
merest touch on his shoulder to poise
herself, and giving him q formal how OF
acknowledgement.
They resumed the way, Accr ngton
walking by her mares head, and his
own fine animal following with docility
which scarcely conceded with the char
acter which his master had given him.
In rapidly mounting Impotence, Love-
day watched the slow advance, while the
sky darkened drearily, and the minutes
fed; yet she dared not urge the pace,
for now, indeed, she detected the lame
ness of her mare, which gradually in
creased with every step she took, until
at last, when the spire of the long
looked for village appeared in sight, she
started and WINGED In agony whenever
the woun ed hoof touched the ground
II see that we must find relief for my
poor Ahmed" said LOveday, tremu-
lousy, for her favorite's suffering tried
her sorely. and she we coined the chance
now which had seemed so intolerab,e
before; the tears stood in her eyes, and
she scarcely realized her own disagree
able position, and was in no mood to
detect the articles of her companion.
They approached still nearer to the
village, and Accrington remounted his
own horse for appearance sake; reused
by the diversion Loveday, for the first
time, gazed round her in search Of
familiar objects in the scene.
She had expected to see rough little
hamlet built under the shelter of cliff;
what she did see was u pretty village
clustering about the banks of wide
flowing river.
She grew pale with astonishment-
with rising anger.
Colonel Accrington, this is not Black
70 k, it is Silverstream!" she cried.
@Why. we are twenty miles from home!"
Accrington uttered an exclamation of
deep remorse; the expression OF his we'll
tutored features terrified her.
ave ruined her!" he m uttered, but not
so low but that she heard the words and
quailed. aOh, Miss Dellamere!" he cried,
fiinging himself again from his horse to
seize her hands, reins and all, and
press them convulsively, show can you
ever forgive me for this fatal mistake?
/ must have been Observation-Disclosures
to forget my path; who thought that /
knew every rod of land between Stafford
and Lynn! / was bewitched,@ he ex-
claimed, with sudden change to mourn
full tenderness, while he fixed his strange
compelling eyes on hers; II was for once
happy-all that priced OF earth was at
my side. forgot that we two had fell
low-creatures! My poor child, would
have died to spare you moments annoy
ance-I have been the first to draw the
worlds suspicious eyes upon you'll"
colonel Accrington, what do you
mean?" she demanded, haughtily, wrest-
ing her hands from his grasp with sud-
den fierce iepu sion.
II dare not-dare not insult you with
q clearer explanat on" said he; "oh,
that l had resisted the too welcome spell
which your presence cast over me. which
made hours to fly as minutes, and thrust
every thought of conse luences out OF my
mind! But now, now-what can l say
10 this watching, sneering world? Who
does not know that Richard Accrington
loved Miss Gellamere-"
colonel AccrIngton!" interrupted
Loveday with flashing eyes, and she
would have left him had he not sprung
to catch her bride with burst of grief
and depreciation.
@Dear Miss Dellamere, entreat you
to be calm and to listen to me, for your
own sake" he urged Il dare not let
you 20 in your defenseless innocence
straight into the snare which slandeI
will spread for your overthrow. We
must take counsel; you must be saved at
any cost !"
"You insult me: will not hear your
| disgraceful insinuations. Let me go al
once" cried she, with indignation and
incredulity, though sickening appre-
hension lurked beneath, in spite Of hel
| defiance.
aHeaven knows that / would rather
offer you my life-b!ood than an insult,
returned Accrington. at is a terrible
necessity which must perform. or else
| you will have cause 10 curse my cow
ardice your whole life long. Permit me-
! then. to speak. Am / not devoted Il
you, heart and soul? Through my in
adyertence / have placed You in a crue
position. SANDER will say that oul
fight was premeditated; no one viii
credit the simple truth. You will b
made q mark for every jeering i'm
| pertinence-
aSiIence." exclaimed Loveday in burn
ing humiliation; show dare you appl!
such words to me? II have been some
what unfortunate in my adventures to
day, who shall presume to accuse me o
imprudence?"
sAIas, poor Innocent" groaned Ac
crington in q tone of poignant grief
show shall screen her? What repara
ton shall offer her for the wrong
have done her? You little know hov
evil are the thoughts OF those who seen
our friends, Miss Dellame-e, resumes
he. tenderly; "a simple improperly Xix
this of to day has often doomed the in
nocent to the suspicion and scorn