The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-02-26
CRU FL
=AS-
The CRAVE,
The Secret Of DunraYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author Of Faithful Margaret" Etc. Etc


CHAPTER III.-(Continued.)
As this, the hero Of the hour. appear
ed before friends, soft rustling stirred
the throng. Fair faces lit up with
pleased surprise, and Mrs Crecy's soft
eye settled upon him with eloquent
satisfaction.
{ Lord Inchape shaded his joyless coun-
tenance with one hand. He too might
have had q sonl
The play went on, to the tripping pro-
erosion OF the music which ushered in
the lnttering fairies
, They seemed to pour out of the shin
Ing palace uron the moon bathed lawn,
and with rhythmic motions and wreath
ing arms to weave themselves into q
labyrinthine dance, in and out, and
round and about again, with the captive
as center and inspiring theme. The
captive pleaded most eloquentiy, In dumb
show for freedom, but they only whirled
around the faster, and Knocked him with
delicate peals of elm laughter.
, These sylphicles were the daughters OF
neighboring gentry, there present. and
looking on with critical complacency.
For weeks past they had haunted
DORMANT to rehearse their roles, under
the tutelage of q certain Si9nora,
premiere danseuse Of Royal Opera, who
had condescended to run down from
London for the purpose; later they had
united their genius and energy to ar
range the floral scenes; for the fairy
extravaganza had been composed by
Auberon Crecy, and they worshiped him
from afar with all their guileless hearts.
: 1t was only yesterday that he had ar
rived at Dormant, after a two years
absence, so that his elves perfection in
their parts was as much surprise to
him as 1t was to the spectators. AS for
Loveday Dellamere, whom the cd
Duchess so generously presented to him
rs his future wife, he had not caught
one glimpse OF her yet, although she was
the queen of his fairies, for whose sake
he had written the vaudeville. In vain
he had inquired for his old time play
mate; she was not to be seen about
DORMANT after his arrival, and his I'M
avoidable engagement prevented him
from following her to the Pavilion, her
mothers residence.
Z But Auberon knew who was coming
when he heard long drawn violin note
like an elin horn, and all the dancing
fairies sank down to their knees, look
Ing upward at single fay, more airy
and elfin than any Of them, who came
floating out of giant Gala cup and
down to earth; it was Loveday-but
Loveday after some breath of enchant-
ment had blown over her and trans
formed her into beautiful woman, with
woman's mystic power.
She was golden blonde, her flowing
tresses seemed to be saturated with yell
low sunshine; her eyes were purely
sapphire, with fire in their depths; her
countenance was perfect oval, with
cheeks so pure a rose that the brilliance
of her eyes was increased tenfold, while
her delicately aquiline nose gave dignity
to her habitual expression of arch mock
cry. Her form was ravishing petite;
she was a lonesome, attractive creature,
created for love and happiness.
Having descended to earth, she paused
a moment In an inimitable attitude, with
hor bright head on one side, and a
sparkling roguery in her eyes, while she
scrutinized the intruding earthling who
had fallen into her power. The elfin
host still humbly Knelt in glittering
semi-circle, tho flowers OF fairy and
Rlowed In rainbow Gordon around
them; but all the silvery light seemed to
gather about the Queen, as she lowered
alone before the captive.
Auberon gazed at his o'd-time play
mate with eyes that gradually deepened
until they were almost black.
Astonishment at her superb develop
ment was his first sensation, then, as
his artfst-eyes marked all and drank II
In, a smile grew in their clear depths SC
wonderfully sweet and exnlt.ng, that the
rirl turned her head away with a mo-
ment's delicious timidity, flutte-ed and
fascinated. Involuntarily thu routh
stretched out his hand to touch hers,
forgetting his ro.e-which sign OF her
power instantly restored her SELF posses,
sion; and she eluded him with peal oil
the smallest, silveriest elm laughter
that mortal ear ever caught, and with a
wave OF her wand that sent her attend
ants drifting well out OF the way. she
spread her arms as il they were wings
and bounded into her pas de zephyr.
The trumpets blew wild measure
that made the heart beat faster, while
che floated round and round the limits o.
the mead; now you caught the nash o.
her eyes, now her tresses spun an aure
ole about her head, and her white arm:
seemed to sustain her airy figure mid
space. Most intricate was the dance
the time RAPID and precise, and the ster:
absolutely tw.nkling; so light those
winged flights, she seemed to float on tn.
moonbeams OF fairy-land, marking, will
delicate precision, each refluent pulse o
the music, and each flying bound SHOOT
ont q shower OF silvery chimings iron
the fringes of tiny bells that edged hel
tunic.
This pretty sight was watched II
breathless delight by the company, bu
with deeper emotion by one or tw'
among them.
Lord Inchcape gazed upon this ga!
sprite in all her exultant beauty and JOY
ance. and his own sor. ow and LONELINESS
pressed heavily upon him. Where wa
his beautiful Uiva, young an1 innocen
as this sweet girl? And he thou yht 0
S,eat-na- Vrecken. with its swol en- sea
around it, and the blasts that sweep
them into wrath; Ct the old tower walls
forgotten in ia England, within VIII 'cl
he bad i'm risoned unhappy Engelonde
with no consolation savs his child
love and bear her company,
And he thought OF the man who ha
come into h s life TO spoil it; who ha'
stolen the errant fancy of his wife; VIII
had fastened a stigma upon his publ
chara ter; who had poisoned five Ion
years Of the best Of his life; and agai