The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-04-09
CHAPTER NJ.

HWHY CALL 1T MURDER'
He had led the way round an abut-
ment of the cliff, perhaps e score OF feet
from the path; they came to halt IN a
hollow, close under the cliff, in a curious
niche, protected from inquisitiye eyes
by a great granite boulder perched on
slight elevation opposite the cicit In inc
cliff wall.
mass of wild hoaeysuckle and ivy
mantled far up the rugged crag; Crane
| ing upward one saw that thy stood al.
rectIv beneath the southern bastion OF
| the tower.
aNow. sir, demand an explanation OF
vo1r words,n said Sircombe, at white
| heat.
aMr. Sircombe. owe You no explana.
| ton of either motive or meaning; but, OF
NV own free will, / will tell you that l
am one who knows the fact OF your
treachery to Lady Inchcape in her hour
of need; and that hold the power In
NV hands to have you driven from under
| wonder roof in merited disgrace
The director grew ashen pale, and re-
coiled in dismay.
.Then it is as feared, " he muttered.
botween his teeth. sShe has made you
i her confidant, and you believe her, OF
course. But you may not find that LORD
Inchcape is equally credulous.
ooh. / intend to cause you to con-
vince him. retortcd Edgar, gu city;
avou shall repeat the conversation which
Won overheard that night between the
, lady and Co'onel Accrington; and when
! Lord Inchcape compares your testimony
with his wife's the truth shall prevail.
aAnd what power do you imagine you
possess over me, to force me into TINS
/ act of self-destruction?" demanded SIR
, combe, his hollow eyes f1aring
Il make no threats, replied Edgar
j scornful.y. II shall give you cnanc'
to act like an honest man.
4 For long pause, neither spoke. iht
: hush of death brooded around them; nj
. leaf stirred nor bird sang; the heaven
hung low and gray.
John Sircombe was looking this cal
I amity which had befallen him in tn
b face. and the longer he looked the NOR
!, appalled, he was.
J. Lady Inchcape had rebelled at last
d and had chosen champion who SCENE
d resolute to succeed in Fighting he
wrongs And her yindication meant Sil
n combe's ruin, for he had not only will
d held the testimony which would hay
d saved her but he had skillfully keI
Il alive the smoldering fires OF lnchcape
u suspicion and jealousy ever since-hat
q in fact done his best to keep them e.
t, tranged. J,
"a At first he had done this through I'll
20 love of power and an important plac
ID hut since Ulva came to grow up undo
ID his eyes into a flower of all masterir
+. loveliness-ah, since then 1t had grow
at death to be discovered and cast out
rt disgrace!
g, And now this man had come, youn
in care-free, pitiless in his insolent powe
ed of fasc nation, and he loved her!
o. .You give me the chance to act II
be an honest man. repeated Sircomt
bitterly. sWhat, then, If / should pr
or nose to buy your honesty with miner"
re aAh, you mean
"a. ayes, 1 moan Lady Viva. II prom1
,is to mako reparation to Lady lncncaI
win YOU promise to leave Lady ulva Il
IN. | ever?n
e. 81 shall mako no such comprom
Iii with you," said Edgar, slowly. \ 10
w. the lady, and / believe shall yet
id. cciye Lord Inchcape's permission TO "
he her,
do 4Ah. YOU say this to my facet" CT
hio Sircorc be. fiercely, and he made &c
ne. nre SO full of maddened fury that Eds
took an involuntary step backward fr
sbc tire distorted visagc that bent tows
lid him.
.ew AS he did so the tangled vines par
YES beneath his weight, dark apert
the yawned behind him, and the next
can i. mcnt he fell headiong backward, elut
and ing wildly at the vines, which broke
np- brittle handouts and then closed Q
fas- the aperture as before.
Sircombe had uttered yell OF wa