The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-03-05

thought, some day young Auberon vii
be twenty-one, or will celebrate hi
wedding day. and / provided mysel
: with this souvenir. My chance to pre-
J sent 1t came much sooner than / OK
pected though"
Auberon, disturbed by his mothers re
: pressed agitation, expressed his thank
more gracefully than effusively; bp
Loveday, charmed at all this apprecia
} ton OF Auberon and its melanchol,
romance, beamed radiantly.
Suddenly Mrs Crecy put an end t.
this scene by saying:
Colonel Accrington, / request your
attention Tor few minutes; will you
accompany me?"
He started, and looked amazedly al
her. Was the lamb going to turn upon
the lion? But he acquiesed blandly and
offered his arm, which with faint bow
she declined. In silence they walked
side by side through one salon after an
other until she had conducted him to
the long picture gallery, which was not
Illuminated, and was therefore unoccu-
pied. The pallid moonshine poured in
through the long side window, and lay
across the polished floor in bars of black
shadows.
One portrait at tho extreme end was
| completely framed with white roses; a
silver lamp burned on a pedestal in
front Of it This was Auberon's por-
trait; 1t had been decorated for the oc-
casion by Loveday and her companion
| nymphs
Mrs. Crecy led the way to this spot.
and when they both stood within the
the small circle of light she turned and
faced her companion. Then he saw that
the lamb had turned upon the lion. She
was pale as her own white robe, and her
gentle eyes glowed with the great wrath
of her noble spirit.
"Slr, make no preamble" said she
sternly; "your conscience tells you what
| have to ask you. Where is Engelonde
Inchcape?"
Her accusing eyes pierced his very
soul; her thrilling voice froze the blood
In his veins. Overwhelmed, he gazed at
her and could not speak.
AYou came here five years ago and
found Lord Inchcape and his young wife
as happy in each other as perfect love
could make them-when you left you
fed as baffied wretch whose mad love
had been scornfully repulsed But you
met them abroad not many months after
ward-and Lord Inchcape returned
without his wife-a ruined man. Rich |
ard Accrington, 1 ask you-where is
Engelonde Inchcape?"
Her anger and grief tore at his heart |
strings; the food Of tragic memories
she had unloosed beat down all pride |
and brazen defiance; he buried his face
in his hands with groan of agony
Enge'onde Inchcapel How fair, how
how happy she had been
when first he saw her! A new love for
him? What blasphemy to hope it! No
-no-no! Loveday Dellamere belonged
TO the honorable and good-not to guilty
Richard Accrington!
"Ah! you have nothing to answer"
Alice Crecy went on. Nothing but
shame and tears. And yet you dare to
come back here, as If she had never been
as II you had quite forgotten her, and
were ready for fresh love!" Oh, what
anguish lurked beneath those breaking
zones! "For moment thought when /
Jaw you to-night-'He has come back to
indicate her to her husband, remorse
las driven him to make late reparationr
But no, you have only come to view the
lesolation of that once happy home: and
o OUTAGE the two harmless women who
Inspect you, with the base effrontry of
He raised his face, all dazed and pale.
as it possible that You thought all
hese years she was with me?" asked he
.owly.
Mrs Crecy uttered cry Of repulsion
with you!" she echoed with indie
criDable scorn. "Neyer! l never doubt &
d her. l knew her heart. Oh she :
7as 'flawless soul if ever such was on ,
his earth But l believed that her
innocence had not saved, her from her
usband's jealous misconception; that
GU had traded ON his Jealousy until he /
elieved her guilty, and repudiated her: L
he then fed In shame and despair from a
9th husband and prosecutor; and that \
GU caused him to believe her with YOU /;
yer since. Is not this true?"
madam, as God lives, the last time I Z
yer beheld Lady Inchcape, 1 left her I
her husbands side," said Accrington. [
Mrs. Crecy scanned his face in wild e
lcredulity. e
ais this possib.e?" she gasped. ~How +
In believe you2 No, no, l cannot. 9
he never came back to England. Oh, =
r, beseech you. confess it, is she not q
hiding somewhere to which you could X
We US the clue?" k
He turned from her bitterly. O
IL know-nothing of her." muttered he s.
18th white lips, shut believe that she n
dead" -