The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-03-12

tuouS resolve why enOul0 ne not ngnt
1t out, and perhaps win her, and save
her from the mysterious life OF unnatural
seclusion which seemed to await her,
through no guilt Of hers? s;s: :sFs - -s==>-
And again honor spoke, and he re-
called the love and duty which he owed
his kinsman, and the entire faith which
he had always felt in his nobility.
He could never have acted unjustly
nor cruelty toward his child.
Edgar bowed beneath these conflicting
gusts Of passion; his soul was in deep
waters. >-s@'i'- r.. .--e>ssvsa,
During his illness Lady Dunravep had
been much with him; he could not dis
associate her constant, lowering pres
ence from the long, burning. restless
nights of de!irium; nor her eager, spirit
like face from his death-like slumbers,
when at first sleep came back to him.
As he grew stronger, she still sat with
him hour by hour; q pale, burning eyed
presence, that seldom spoke, but fol-
lowed her own breeding thoughts by
the hour; yet always ready with her
sweet kind smile, If he sought her eye;
or with her small, deft, nervous hands
when he wanted help. Others served
his material wants; Mr.. Sircombe, my
lords bookish secretary, amiably sacri-
feed many hours by his pillow, reading
to or conversing with him; but he felt
as If unhappy Engelonde had been SO
very close to him In spirit through all
the mystic labyrinth of fever, that no
could never regard her with tho impcr-
sonal interest he might have given an
| other woman.
His unacknowledgod acquaintance
with her secret had also lent such pc
| culiar, tender sweetness to his manner,
that Lady Dunravcn unconscious sly
| yielded herself to its destinations, and
gradually turned her starved affections
| toward him, with that loveliest OF senti
| ments, the love a woman gives her
| young brother. Tho romance OF her
heart had all been lavished upon her
husband-she could never take 1t back;
| but she had yet some deep emotions
left, and Edgar Arden had set them
| flowing
She had always found strange Pleas
| ure in contemp.at ng his features, from
that first night when he lay unconscious
before her; she still INDUCED In these
| long meditativc studies; he would wake
in the dead of night, when nothing
| seemed to live around them save the
| roaring sea, to find her brilliantly spir-
| itual face bending toward him out oil
the darkness, with such yearning look
| that, knowing her secret sorrow, his
whole soul would respond to the mute
| cry for sympathy, and he would feel a
wild impu Sc to offer her the service OF
| true knight If mortal could bring her de-
| liverance from her grief.
Edgar had not conquered himself so
Co 90 loo vi
| and Viva Immediately, when an invita-
| the ladies in her parlor II he was feeling
| capable of the exertion.
Mr.. Sircombe was good enough to
visit him while he was still coming over
| tho welcome note, with sparkling eyes
I and bounding heart He came upon
him, gray aud haggard, with some prick
ing discomfort fresh upon him, a shade
upon the lovers exultation.
"Ah, that is right; you have forsaken
your invalid hab:ts!" said he, affecting
genial interest He shook hands with
Edgar, touched his pulse moment. and
shook his head with a rallying smile.
"But you must not overdo it, Mr.. Edgar.
No new exerton to day. / am not quite
satisfied with that pulse. You are toe
easily excited, and excitement is special
| ly to be avoided, if you mean To escape
| from your captivity this week"
IL feel capitally," said Edgar, unsus-
| piciously; Il mean to make my first de-
but in the ladies' parlors Lady Dun
raven has asked me to try it TODAY"
Sircombe's hardening face showed thai
he had already learned this item, and felt
no citation at the prospect.
He hesitated little. then looked sig
nificently at Edgar, and said:
| II would advise you not to try 1t to-
day."
| aIndcei!" exclaimed Edgar, dryly.
aNor ever!" proceeded the director In
q toneless voice.
Sorry to disobige you," retorted Ed
gar, his blood rising at the mans COO
| assumption of authority, "but / fee
that will accept Lady Dunraven's kline
| invitation. Oh, don't suffer from anxiety
on nv account am far stronger thar
you imagine, he added, ironically.
Mr.. Sircombc walked about little
knitting his brow and gnawing his lip.
He made an abrupt pause in front o.
Edgar, astonishing him by the intense
animosity he betrayed In his face.
Il warn you," said he, quietly; "as one
who has for many years been intimate
with the interests of this house, war;
you not to take advantage Of the acct
dent which has thrust you In our midst
Retire, as you came, stranger; In M
other way can you SO worthily repay
the kindness which has been shown YOU
here.
Edgar's own conscience echoed these
words; but Mr.. Sircombe's involuntar!
glare of hatred multiplied them In hi
mouth. What personal stake had he II
the matter, that he should indulge II
personal emotions.
| "Fardon, but l am quite content t.
submit to Lady Dunraven's will In thu
NATTER" said Edgar, calmly; al should
be sorry. indeed, to cross you in any
thing that concerned yourself"
aSir, sir, would have you understand
that this matter concerns me near,y,
cried Sircombe in great heat; "my lori
placed me in this house as his own rep
resentative- II am sole director here"
"Do you then wish to inform me tina
Lord Dunraven would object to my pay
ing my grateful devoirs to the ladies o
this house, to whom owe my life?
cried Edgar.
Again Sircombe walked about tn,
room, lowering and bordering, at los
how to annihilate this persistent antag
onist.
Again he halted before Edgar, givini
him q bitter look.
at i'll becomes either you or me to dis
cuss the concerns of this family" sa
4 a. - q