The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-05-14

that he had been up all night. The table
was covered with papers; burned-out
| fire smoldered in the crate.
81 have read her story" said my lord,
@and pray God for proof Of its truth.
| To win back the love of such q heart
| is she not sweet soul? And II, she did
| for single moment falter in her 10y
atty"
"Tben you do not believe her?" K
claimed Edgar, in grieved surprise; syou
think she deceived you?"
mo, mol" cried Inchcape, emphatic
ally: "but she has deceived herself. She
is now al my own; and she never was
unfaithful in look or word-she has for
gotten her heart. There must have
been some hope held out for Accring ton,
unconsciously al, en-, perhaps, but he I'M
derstood 1t, and sold his honor through
that hope. Sweet souli / have been
harsh to her as fire to q butterfly; |
should have remembered the disparity in
our ages, and not expected q perfect
love"
"Alas, my lord you never wronged
her more than you wrong her now, said
Edgar, with heartfelt fervor; syet how
can prove it? If you will not be ieve
her, whom will you believe? Not even
Sircombe's testimony, from which !
hoped so much, will convince you.
THAT is different matter" said my
lord, eagerly. 81 could believe the tes-
timony of a d'sinterested person, when
1t is an impossibility for this stubborn
heart of mine to believe altogether the
emotional outpourings Of an exquisite
spirit like my Engelonde's, after the
cruel sufferings which she has patiently
endured for my sake. She believes what
she has writ n, because it describes the
state Of her heart now; but-oh, that
could believed"
The last words burst from him like a
wall; he turned from his young kinsman
and gazed with unseeing eyes from a
window.
d9ar's youthful anger died as he OBJ
Served the naughty noble. The storm of
misfortune which had passed over him
had wrought such revolution in his
nature as only the afflicted know.
The spring OF his mind was broken; no
longer could he hope or love or trust at
will. The cruel whisper of sad ex
perence was ever at his ear reminding
him that he had been betrayed
Edgar saw that. although Lady Inch
cape's story had moved him to the
depths of his heart, she had not yet
gained the victory; proof was needed.
He counted the hours to Sircombo's ar
rival
He remained for some time with the
Earl, and his whole talk was of Sleat
ma Vrecken. Lord Inchcape listened
like one SPELL bound. saying little, but
never suffering the subject to be
changed.
Ulya was spoken OF, but as a child,
for her father had not seen her for two
years, and manlike, pictured her as he
had last seer her, without taking note
of time Edgar guarded the sweet
secret of his own love loyalty; for he
was too highminded to utter. his hopes
to Lord Inchcape at time when he was
laying him under such deep obligations.
"Wait," he thought, proudly; "when
lie is happily reunited to his beautiful
young wife, he may give me Viva of his
own free will, but this is not the time to
crave such favor"
That afternoon Edgar rode oyer to
Co'onsl Accrington's new purchase,
Castle Skeldraik. He was astonished at
the evidences of unbounded wealth
which met him at every turn; he recog-
nized the strength of h opponent moro
fully, and his hopes Of compromise
sank
A candidate with so much money at
command, could afford to laugh at his
forbearance-truly, it seemed as ii he
could get on without 1t
But he pushed forward with grim
resolution to stand to his guns.
ENDURING for the Colonel, he was in
formed by the gent eman'y foot an
that his master was in his library en-
gagged with his agent
"But he will see you, Mr.. Arden"
prophesied Hardy reverentially. "Just
step in here one moment while l send
in" And he led the singular visitor into
superbly designed and arranged re-
ception room. and backed out, bursting
with curiosity as to the secret of this
visit of the rival candidate.
In very few minutes Colonel Accring-
ton himself appeared, calm, courteous
and inscrutable, and greeted Mr.. Arden
without Offering his hand (Which he per-
haps feared might be reiected).
Edgar Arden and Richard Accrington
had met several times in the course of
their lives, but in such fashion that they
had never CHANGED to make each others
personal acquaintance; they knew al
about each other, and posses ed many
mutual friends.
The present meeting was, therefore
easy and dignified; and the Colonel made
his political opponent very welcome to
his own hou e, referring with graceful
raillery to the professional rivalry be.
tween them
"You find me up to the eyes in e'ec-
pioneering bus mess, and quite re olsed to
rout the enemy" said he, laughing; cor
Ii that be impossible, as dare say it is,
to give him hard fight for his victory"
Il am quite sure should find Col Ac-
crington a foeman worthy of my steel, II
/ intended to dispute the field with
him." replied Edgar; and his tone and
steady gaze convinced Accrington that
something very per- onal indeed was
coming. He resented the young mans
cold manner, and writbed consciously
under his condemning gaze. What! was
every young jackanapes who chose tc
sit in Judgment upon him, and treat him
to mystifcations in this highland mighty
sty.e?
aYou don't intend to give in without a
tussle sure?" drawled he, putting on his
delicately insolent manner.
ooh, don t do that Arden; should
have no pleas ure in the affa r If you al.
low me to walk over the course In dreary
solitude. But perhaps have misunder-
stood you: Inchcape hasn ia led you,
has he? supposed OF course that you
had his support, and. confess, rather
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