The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-02-26

and re. oicfng, which Knocked his dcSola
tioJ, and beheld his enemy.
A stranger was just gliding his sinu
Gus way among the chairs to the front
"a tall, 1.-the, dark man of thirty-fye
with suggestion Of foreign travel about
his dress and the un-Eng ish fashion OF
his beard.ess face an enormous coal
black mustache His picturesque per.
son and inscrutable continuance attract
ed many an examining glance; but he
met no eye, nor looked to right or left a
he wound pliantly forward; he seemed
ob,ivious of all save the pretty danseuso
on the stage.
Not until he had reached the very
front did he pause; there he leaned
against the corner panel by the mimic
stage, folded his arms, and gave himself
up to the pleasure of gazing at Loyeday
Dellamere.
Lord Inchcape was white as death as
he shrank back in the shadow Of cur
tain, and q gloomy fire g,owed in the
eyes which he fastened upon the man
who had robbed him of wife and reputa-
ton.
Loveday's dance went on.
From TIM to time she flung O timid
g'ance at Auberon, noting every change.
Two years had passed since she had seen
him; he had then been her intimate and
endeared companion, capable now oil
teasing her with all boysh pranks, and
now of subduing her by his dreamy,
visionary moods; but whatever he did,
h S goodness always remained, to rive'
her innocent love. She saw him now in
the g orious springtide of manhood,
gifted and fascinating; and as she stole
these shy chances and perceived how
calm and serious though kind his looI
was, woman's ambition for the first tint
fired her soul, and she resolved that ht
should feel her maiden power.
Then her whole aspect changed as II
she was inspired; she sfackened the airy
velocity of her steps to an undulatlns
motion, she slowly outstretched hel
white arms, her head sank back-sht
raised her softening eyes upward with
look of solemn fervor; she seemed to b'
wooing down some transcendent spiri
from the heavens.
She made ali impassioned picture
The effect was overwhelming.
Forgetting that she was an amateur
forgetting everything save her beauty
and inspiration, the spectators burs
into storm of applause; in a momen
the stage was sprinkled with a drift o
flowers, torn from the ladies bouquet
and the gentlemen's coats.
But Auberon? Her heart sank-ht
had ceased to smile at her, his beautiful
face expressed severity and surprise
clearly, he thought her bold to display
herself in that moment of supreme fas
cination save of those who loved her.
She suffered moment of suffocatins
shame, but recovered herself sufficiently
to finish the dance; but the sweet flusl
faded from her cheek. her eyes wer,
hidden beneath the golden lashes; mor'
languidly she revolved to the lengthen
ing adagio Of the music, rs If oppressed
meath the weight of that austere gaze
at last she sank to earth in fina
curtsy, rose softly and glided behint
her fairy companions and was lost t.
view.
The dark stranger, who had devouret
with his eyes her every motion, whei
she was no longer visible, drew
faint sigh and passed his hand over hi
face, as IL awakening from dream; AM
not till then did he appear to realize hi
surroundings, and cast q leisurely, care
less glance around.
The first eyes he met were Lord Inch
caLe's.
The deadly foes were face to face
Neither spoke; each scanned tn
others ashen countenance keenly
Inchcape's was fierce and bitterly scorn
full. the lightning of his eye made tn
other quail, and then rage and sickel
with impotent revolt at the open insul
of such look.
"Go!n said the Earl lone deep.tone
word, like knell.
In the rustling, gathering music OF tn
elfin march, to which the elves were no'
sweeping round the stage, the brief co
loauy was lost to all ears save those Q
Mrs. Crecy and Mrs. DelIamere who sa
nearest Ever since the strangers al
pearance they had remained motionles:
pale and trembling, and holding eac
other by the hand.
At sight of the raging, demoniac fac
of Lord Inchcape's foe, Laura. Della
mere's hand had dropped cold and Lar
guild from Mrs. Crecy's, and she san
back with o stiied moan and close
eyes For once they had loved, tines
two; twas first love!
SOL" said Lord lnchcape.
@My lord!" writhed the other
"Out, oaitiff!" He advanced wit
flaming eye upon him; the man recoilet
then tried to make stand, but coul
not face that scorching gaze, and COW
cred backward from before him, step b
step. writhing, and wincing, teet
crashing and knees knocking togethe
all down the aisle, to the side door, tt
earl marching upon him with an irr'
sistible front; and so out at the doc
both of them, and the door shut.
$50 much for Richard Accrington!
! exc aimed she; thrust out from til
presence of honorable men. Think yo
| he would have wriggled away like
driven serpent il guilt had not made
| coward of him? He is convicted vi
lain before all Stafford.
| She ceased her hot speech and locke
closer; Mrs. Dellamere had tainted
| her chair.
| CHAPTER ".
swHERE Is ENGELoNDE ISCHCAPE?n