The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-04-02

more Knocked, announcing the cortee
! to be In waiting; my lord turned Ion.
strange gaze upon his suspected wifi
who stretched out her arms for one Las
embrace in speechless agitation-bu
stretched them forth In vain.
"When return-if you are worthy,
muttered he.
"oh, Godl you cannot leave me thus!
} whispered.
But he could; he did leave me, with
cut glance of loves reientinq.
He was gone; my love, my life! Con
with the light SILVER of harness, and tn
clash Of arms, with the thunder OF cav
airy and the gay bugle call; gone wit
doubt OF his Engelonde in his breast, an
hated rival by his side, whose deares
desire 1t must be to see his death.
l fell forward on my face as on
stricken to earth.
Two voices speaking by the doc
aroused me; believing me still uncon
scious, Mr. Sircombe, the director of m,
household, was questioning my mait
concerning the letter which had passe.
between Colonel Accrington and Lad,
Inchcape. By the insidious form of hi
inquiries, / perceived with indignation
that Mr.. Sircombe was quite ready tt
suspect the worst of his benefactor':
wife. / stirred, he retired; and the cir
all unconscious of the terrible evil she
had done me, waited upon me affection.
| ately.
Kenmore had accompanied his master.
Afterwards / discovered that it was
Mr.. SircOmb's own man Nathan who
had been bribed by Colonel Accrinston
to carry clandestine letter to me- Tat
Mr.. Sircombe had contrived that through
the simplicity Of my maid 1t should be
delivered to me In the presence of nv
lord, and that Mr.. Sircombe's object in
questioning the maid was to infuse
doubts OF her mistress fidelity into her
mind, that I might be judged and con-
demned by my household.
Mr.. Sireombe had never welcomed a
mistress to his patrons house, his had
been the post Of confidential adviser to
Lord Inchcape too long for him to give
1t up gracefully.
Night fell, the first which had seen my
lord sundered from me.
In that lonely suburb perfect silence
reigned; / fingered on the balcony out
side my chamber windows hour by hour,
needless OF the passage of the night,
abandoning myself to my sorrow.
While ! watched and prayed there
came to me from afar the light beat of
horses hoofs-I almost thought 1t fancy,
for who could be coming to me out of
the heart Of the hot, sweet tropic night,
whose golden moon shone on all loved
many long league away?
But It was no fancy-on 1t came, l
heard the SILVER of harness, the clash of
armor; o horseman was galloping
toward me; through the dense foliage /
caught the blue glimmer of steel as he
rode up to the gate. A dark pre-
sentiment rooted me to the spot. /
thought that the foes had fought that
my lord was wounded or slain, and
that Kenmore had returned to tell the
tale.
Clinging to the marble balustrade
awaited the coming of the messenger
He dismounted at the gate. and strobe
through the clustering shadows Of the
gardens; shook out my handkerchief in
mad impotence, and he swerved and
came toward me. But 1t was not the
rugged form Of cd Kenmore that burst
from the shadowy alleys into the lam
bent moonshine. 1t was my wicked
over, 1t was his face, worn and desper.
ate, which looked up ut me.
SHash!" he murmured again, "and do |
not taunt me-be mere merciful Why |
lid you not answer nay letter? Had you |
lone SO would not have been goaded !
20 this madness. No, madam, have not |
deserted my post; have but left the |
amp where my Lord Inchcape sleeps in
peacc-I hope to return before l am
missed. Lady Inchcape, cannot leave
may be foreyer-without your
forgiveness. For that sued you in my
etter, for that / have ventured back |
lere tonight. All, be kind for once.
md give me one gentle world"
In soft, fmploring tones he spoke, and
he haRgard WEAKNESS of his appraised
ace might have touched me but for the
memory Of the suffering he had brought
lpon my lord.
There can be no kindness between
ou and me; you have dared to write
ne a clandestine letter. Well, listen to
ne; l have not read it. You have come
n the depth Of night to pay me q com.
romising visit-you shall gain nothing
y that but disgraceful exposure /
hall call my household to protect me
rom the insulting presence of mid
light intruder
aOne such call and you are ruined!"
aid he, fercely Beware; you can
urn my love to bate, and goad me on to
eek revenge.
II defy you-do your worst!' cried,
1rnfng away.
Do you indeed deliver up my Lord
nchcape to my vengesnce?" exclaimed
Q laughing; 3thanks, fair coquette, for
arte blanche"
But while 1 heard the menace in
dread, his words were checked
? the sound of galloping hoofs. @My
I'd has walked, he went on with sud-
en- deadly calmness, ahas missed his
'lleague-has permitted jealous suspi-
on to enter his breast-has deserted
S post In his turn to enact the roe of
-ivate petective. He is come-he finds
8 mourning wife amusing herself with
le balcony scene la Romeo and Juliet
now for sensation that will make the
orld wonder!"
Surely my reason must have forsaken
Q that l stood there in that damning
essence, to be discovered by Jealous 9
I'd. Why did / not fly, call up Mr.. T