The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-05-28
without the slightest attempt at excuse,
and--stayed out.
CHAPTER XIX

day approached the lonely gate in
the wall. and stood listening intense
for any sound to warn her of Ac, ring.
tons proximity. There was nothing 10
lie heard but the sough OF the wintry
wind through the dry caves, and the
baying CT the far-away hound.
But the lane on the other side OF the
wall wdt thickly carpeted with the grass
of disuss, and he might easily be there
with yozen ruffians behind him, and no
footfallsbe heard.
ThenNhe stable clock struck nine, and
an imperative hand knocked upon the
thick open door.
One last convulsive bound of the heart.
and Loveday found herself ia to face
with him she expected.
Her innocent eyes scanned his face:
never before had she caught that look of
internal triumph. She shrank back. and
his iron clasp closed about her wrist; he
drew her towards him with burst OF
reckless passion.
ais it not for the last time, my own
love?" he whispered, beseech'ngly: why
grudge me one little kindness? You
know how desperats l am to nicht."
She let her hand lie in his, she let his
arm steal round her waist; she no longer
needed what he did; she felt his hand
touch hers no more than if she hal
turned to stone; for Auberon Crecy was
beside them, gazing in speeches. az Ia
ton, and at the same instant two stran-
gers sprang from the shelter of the wall
outside, and advanced on Accringt n
Accrington surveyed the intrnders,
and uttered a fierce exclamation Of as
constituent
"What, you treacherous? You have
betrayed me, Loveday." he cried "Oh,
monstrous. l could have staked my life
upon your loyalty. All, wei, am no
longer bound to give you this prize you
have forfeited it," He snat he'd out an
envelope, and showed il, tauntingly,
then crumpled it up in his hand.
"No, no, give it me: l have dore moth
ing to forfeit it," she stammeIe1. II
have kept your secret" She could say
no more, for swift as magical trans
formation, she and Accrington were out
side the gate, and the latter was turn ng
the key ON Auberon and the two stran
gers, who remained inside
A closed carriage, drawn by two mag
nifcent horses, which she recognized as
Accrington's dashed forward from a
short distance. where they had evidently
awaited their owners pleasure; and
without stopping to check LOreday's
terrified screams, he tore open tie ach
door, and proceeded to spring inside.
He was flying, and he was taking the
precious confession with him.
That maddening thought drove away
every selfish fear; the heroism in gay
little Loyeday's blood fired up; she re-
membered only that Lord lnchcape's
honor was at stake. and that she must
not fail him, now that she was all he
had to depend upon.
@You shall not break your promise,"
cried she, swooping upon him, and wind
ing her soft arms around his, - that he
could not enter t e carriage door with
ont thrusting her away by force, an
alternative which he did not seem in
clined to take
"And why not, Loyeday?" asked he,
looking down in her lovely little face.
with its new expression of res live, and
suppressing smile. "Why not, my
girl? You have deceived me, you see. :"
81 solemniy declare / have not" she
answered, and by this time she had
seized his clenched hand, and was try
ing with al her dainty might to open
the iron fingers He dallied one or ta o
moments longer with her, so unspeak-
able sweet was her close contact to his
hungering love; but Auberon's voice
broke the spell, and urged him forward.
Engrossed as Loveday had been, she
had BEEN quite aware that some sort OF
struggle was taking place inside the wall,
though nothing reached her but an occa
sional painting exclamation Of one of the
rough men she had seen In the lane; but
now Auberon called out loud and clear:
"Here we are. Edgar. most Pleasantly
engaged. Come on, old fellow; we'll
catch him yeti"
Acc. ington's demon look came back.
ala, Arden. tool" muttered he. be-
tween his teeth. He suddenly passed
his arm around Loveday's waist, and
swung her into the carriage, speaking a
word or two to his coachman as he did
so: next moment the carr age was
dashing down the lane like whirl wind,
and Loveday was uttering shrek after
shrek, without being heard by soul
save Acc ington, who clasped her in his
arms with giant strength. and let her
scream as she would, with her iace
crushed against h b east.
Even then, while using his supe ior
strength like bastard. against wo.
man, his yearning love rose urpermost,
and he pressed his paliid face upon
her silken head, plead ng with her in
heart ending tones. to forgive him
"Hush. hush, my darling. do not
struggle so. Who will ever love you as
/ love YOU? No, no. sweet, cannot let
you leave me; l have de troyed my life
to win you. Loveday, you cannot fear me
so very much, dear? how is 1t that she will
not love me when I-oh, God, she is my
all, Tea s, my girl; let me catch them
on my heart. for each one YOU shall
have life's, devotion Oh, LOveday,
Loveday."
He wept; scalding drops fell upon her
brow; they were wrung from the one
pure spot in that guilty heart
She lay still at last; she was exhausted
with struggling; she lay on his breast
half swooning. Her hat had long age
fallen to the floor of the carriage; hel
yellow hair flowed wildly about hei
waist. bathing his arms and hands, fill
ing him with rapture.
She had run out to keep her tryst in
nocently, all unprepared for journey: a
graceful tribe OF white chenille swathed
the bare shoulders of her dinner cos
tune, and her feet were shod with
thing more than black velvet brode
quins
But Accrington was prepared for al
this; when the desperate struggle was
over. and her weakness succumbed tc
his strength, then she should see now
he no.,ld lnua apd ,roviGr