The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-02-26
faith OF Inchcare. will!' retorted the

faith OF Inchcare. wilt" retorted the
earl.
The click of the door beside him put
| a stop to the dialo3ue Accrington hnr-
rie | away, reeling at every step, and
vanished among the leafy alleys.
1t was Squire Crecy who had dared to
| follow his old friend; he was all abroad,
and understood nothing OF what had
transpired. Truth to tell, bluff Hal
Crecy was better at topping fence in a
! hunt than in following anything obscure
in the intercou of his fellow men, for
he was the most accomplished M. +. ii.
| Master of the Fore Hunt and the sim
plest-minded, loyal gentleman In all
! County Stafford
He found Inchcape standing like a
statue of Michael after ,aving driven
Satan away.
"Wh-where's the fellow gomez" cried
| Jolly Crecy, looking about with big round
eyes, "Wasn't that Dick Accrington who
went out with You?"
Inchcape looked at him in silence.
After all, what right had he to act upon
| his own private experience of Accring-
toms character? If he made accusation
against him, what proof could he bring?
None-he could only bazon forth the
| fact that a stigma was attached to his
| own character, and throw open the Bit
| ter secret which he had kept so long to
a sneering, credulOus world
Crecy thought he was in one OF his
| black moods, aud forgot all about Ac-
crington.
Gall that nonsense is too much for
! you, my lord; l dare say your tired OF
| it," Said he alphabetically: aye see,
the young folks they like fun and frolic;
comes natural to 'em; but little OF
that goes long way with us old fellows.
/ Come and have smoke in my snug
gery?" He slipped his hand through
| Inchcape's arm, and was leading him
| off; but Inchcape took the kind hand
between his own and wrung it with a
sudden revision of feeling.
"God bless yon, Ha'! you're good
| fellow as ever breathed:" said he $50
on in to your guests and enjoy yourself
with your good wife and noble son;
that's the most natural place for you.
But l can't stand 1t, Hal; 1 was fool
to come. My day was bright, too, while
it lasted, but it's gone-what have l to
do with music and dancing, mirth and
! beauty? Don't stop me, man, my hearts
sick. :"
He looked In the jovial, kind, griev ed
face of his friend for moment. the n
turned away hastily
snake due apologies to Mrs. Crecy for
me. " he added, over his shoulder, land
tell your boy to look among his gifts;
he'll find that sour old Inchcape hasn't
forgotten him P"
He strobe away, and the squire fetched
great sigh before he obeyed him, and
then went back to his guests.
The good company's attention was at
present somewhat diverted from Fairy
land; there was a good deal of startled
whispering, and odd G ances interchang-
! ing Nobody quite knew what had hap
pened; for the departure of Lord Inch
cape and the stranger, whom few de-
| clared to be Colonel Accrington, had
| been so abrupt, swift and silent, that
the repressed tragedy of it was only
guessed at by the few who had obtained
/ a partial view of their two stormy faces.
/ AS Squire Crecy came in without either
of his friends, but with rueful counter
ance, sturdy old fellow waylaid him tc
ask in a hoarse whisper:
"What's in the wind, Hal?"
"Eh?" cried simple Hal "Helloa!
say Archerfield, wasn't that"
any nephew, Dick Accrington?n
chimed in the old man, a rear admiral
whose summer residence was in the
nefghborhood; "just what was going
to ask you. Where is he gomez"
BLESSED IL l know" growled the ole
sea-dog, whose mansion at Blackjack
was wonderful cd barrack, crammed
with curios from many foreign cline
who was malignant bachelor, and who
was the constant associate OF all the
young bloods who came to his country
In the season.
Here a burst of applause from those
who were dutifully watching the doing.
on the stage, recalled the jolly pair to {
sense of propriety, and the lucid con
. ference was over. Squire Crecy lounget
along to his wife, and found her bending
anxiously over Mrs. Dellamere, conceal
ing her pale face from those around.
"Helloa! hey?" blurted jolly Hal a!
usual. opening his big, innocent eyes.
"Hush, dear!" whispered Mrs. Crecy
flinging him very wifely smile In thu
midst of her troubles; "take no notice o
US. just hide US a minute with you
blessed broad back. Laura was over
come with the-the--"
aPm warm myself" declared the
Squire, obligingly finishing her sentence
"Inchcape had enough of it--sent hi
duty, ye know, and all that = gon'
home"
"You saw him?" questioned Mrs
Crecy, with beating heart.
He nodded cheerfully.
"Where was the other gentleman"
"Saw nobody e Sc, and yet Pm quit
sure they went out together"
She signed him to his place as screen
, her anxiety was allayed. Accringto
must have shrank away from the face O
his injured enemy. The Squire obliging
, -ly dropped the puzzle, sat down, and
, turning his beaming eyes upon tn
: "younglings," began to nod his head an
tap his foot in time to the music.
, Mrs. Dellamere opened her Mngui
, eyes and smiled palely upon her friend
aOh, Laura, Laura!" murmured Alice
mournfu,ly. Mrs. Dcllamere bit littl
color into her lips, smiled more natura
ly, and sat up.
sHe is gone; they are both gone" sal
she, looking around the room. She los
color again and sank back with stiflc
I sigh. Mrs Crecy saw all with bleed
: ing heart
Laura loved Richard Accrington, 9
$ she could not suffer such anxiety on b