The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-05-28

UOund TO you Oy an eLornal love.
81 am satisfied with Auberon's, and
have no desire to exchange it for yours"
said the young girl, proudly.
"Ah, no. sweet soul; you little know
your own needs" exclaimed the Colon el
in the low fervent tones he had so often
subjugated proud spirits with before
ut is no crude, boyish liking which will
satisfy nature like yours; no dreaming
mystic can long retain your warm young
living love!
"Give yourself to me; l am strong and
patient, and to win is life-to lose. death
to me. can teach you how to love me,
and / know how to make my tender
She checked his impassioned speech
by gesture of hot repulsion.
"You sneer at Auberon Crecy's youth
and genius" said she, impetuously,
while her eyes flashed wrath and scorn
upon the offender; "but how will your
past life compare with his? Is it as
crystal pure? Have you as little need of
oneealments? Thanks, no, / prefer to
marry man whose life has been as open
and honorable as my own to marrying
Richard Accrington with his memories. 4"
Accrington was CHASTITY; the stroke
had gone home to the one WI nerab @
spot in his indurated heart. The woman
he madly loved knew all-knew and de-
spised him! but what could she know?
perhaps nothing but vague report.
"Who has dared to sully your innocent
mind with ISLANDERS OF my paste" de-
manded hewith a show OF righteO is
wrath. "Who could have had the had
heart to do it,"
"Can you disprove these slanders?"
said Loveday scornfully.
He believed that she had learned moth
ing definite, and said mournfully:
"A'as. Miss Dellamere. what man s
past life Is fit for a maiden's scanning?
We look to womanhood to redeem us
from our errors, and true love gives us
the future in which to make due repara-
tion?"
81 will have no lover whose record is
too shameful for me 10 read" cried
Loveday fierily; then she fastened her
indignant gaze upon him and added
"Why do you speak of reparatiOn? have
you ever repaired the wrong you did
Lord Inchcape? and you ask me to love
a man like that"
Accrington started back with NUT
tered curse, utterly overwhelmed
She did know all-she had learned his
most shameful secret
He was liar In her sight basest crime
in the calendar; he had lied away man s
honor, and then built his prosperity upon
his victims downfall.
Oh, If Loveday knew the blacklist Of
all his secrets he might well despair of
winning her, even by force-she would
die before she would marry liar
And so he has lost her, this fairest,
dearest love of his life, the one thing on
the earth he coveted most.
And the boy will marry her, they will
adore each other. Are they not well
matched in purity?
No. death, destruction rather.
What. is he to see her wreSted from
his strong hands, In spite Of al the fierce
passion which Is urging him UP to
desperation? is he to be robbed of the
being who is more precious to him than
the political prize he was straining for
more precious even than revenge on
Lord Inchcape?
All, If she were his they would fly far
from scorning England to iovelier lands,
where he would drink sweeter happiness
than he had yet tasted.
II! maddening word. what will induce
her
At this point in his half delirious
thoughts, Accrington started from his
rigid attitude with new hope in his eyes;
there was one chance for him yet.
She had taken the opportunity Of his
stupefaction to hurry away, only too
happy to escape him before worse befell;
but thoughts glance swift as light
through the brain, and Accrington's
reverie had not been long enough to
cover a retreat Of more than score of
steps. He caught her and barred the
way before she was out of the sheltered
walk; she saw a wonderful change on
his face: such grief and humility arrest
ed her in spite of herself
"If | should repair this wrong you
reproach me with, what then?" he
asked.
Loveday felt her heart stand still.
Oh, II he only would do that. The
vision of Lord Inchcape, worn with a
mysterious grief, desolate in his grand
eur and solitary in his prime, passed be-
fore her. Did this man hold the key Of
that locked life? And was it possible
that he m ght be induced to restore the
happiness which had been lost so !ong?
"Oh, Colonel Accr.ngton, If you will
do that, how / shall thank and honor
you!" she sa d, with deep emotion.
"But what il it cost ne name and fame
and drove me forever from my native
land?"
"The greater the sacrifice, the more
worthy the reparat;on. Oh, sir. can you
hesitate one moment?"
"Miss Dellamere, you can win the
sacrifice from me, ana you alone"
She recoiled in wild dismay.
"No-oh, in pity. no." she moaned.
ado not thrust the responsibility upon
me. What have | to do with it?"
Sweetest love, you already have my
heart; take my life, too, and mold 1t as
you W H. Is it home and honor or exile
and the worlds reprobation?"
ado right, Colonel Accr ngtOn, though
the heavens should fall"
sand you will award me this little
hand which strips me of the best prizes
OF busy life?"
"Ah, cruel! You surely could never
exact the sacrifice. Shame!" she sud
denly cried in her anguish. "Can your
reparat.on only be bought? Oh. shame,
that soldier should stoop to such a
craven thought" And she moved away,
weeping bitterly, her hopes completely
crushed.
Accrngton could only gnaw his lip in
sickening abasement. How could he
have hoped that he could build ella m
on that act of common honesty? She
only desp,sed him the more for the
olious suggestion.