The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-01-04
The Secret OF DunraVen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author of"Faithful Margaret" Etc. ETC
CHATTER vII.-Contlnued.

conscious of the besecching expression
of her proud eyes, and Only feeling that
she might betray her thrilling hope and
fear unless she changed her position.
Still holding her hand, he rose with
her, and spoke on with imperious urgen-
cy. Speak; do you grant my request,
or must take my own?"
A stifed sob came from her very
heart; she could not comprehend, MIN.
"The-the namo?" she stamH
sWhat is it?"
sWhat! YOU do not guesS?" cri& he,
with fierce DISQUALIFICATION &ance
of satanic mirth crossed his paleAnx-
!ous face. She tore her hand from him
in a wild rcyulsion Of shame and wrath.
GLOW should guess the new object OF
your vagrant fancy?" demanded she,
disdainfully.
sNo, no; this is no fancy" exclaimed
Accrington. forgetting every lesser emo
tion in his fervor, "this is the best love
OF my life; l grew nob!er merely by
musine on her: she is my peace, my
happiness; without her can never be
complete-my gOiden-tressed Aurora"
@Her namo?" brcatcd Mrs. Dellamere
with b'oodess lips and dilated eyes, like
one fascinated by terror.
"Oh, true, You calm q formal an
rouncemont," said Accrington, recover
ing himself u love your daughter Love-
day, dear madam. and C. ave her for my
wife"
The tide of Mrs Dellamcra's feelings
reached its highe point OF horror.
4A!y daughter your W fe." she ex-
claimed bitter Y. with recoiling gcst-
ure. ~ hall never consent! Such
union woul be aUhorrent to every nat
ural instinct"
"Yoa rcfusc!" said Accrington with
flashing eyes. ais the past, which l
have outllycd, so sweet to you that it
renders such union unnatural?"
But he could not goa1 her into consent
thus; it was her chi.d's happiness she
was defending she could suffer hum!ii-
lGtng taunts Tor her sake.
! at is impossible or that and every
ground" sad she, her voice shaken
with passionate rcpugnance. You are
q treacherouS man; there have been
falsencsseS in your life that even l have
seen. You cannot have my daughter.
Also, her heart is engaged.
She shook off his graSping hand from
her cashmeres, and fastened away.
But not far; before she hal taken
half dozen steps he was by her, look
ing into her face with laughing devil
in each of his eyes.
There can be but one explanation OF
this resistance" said he. "You love me
yet"
She stood looking up at him, her eyes
flashing with fierce scorn: her hands
locked together to crush down the wild
forces within her which threatened to
leap out in some vengeful act
"You are O craven" she said, with
something grating in her sweet tones.
"If my heart could still cling TO man
like you shoald tear it from my breast.
You are false, ] shrink from you, l
despise yon; is that love?
She waited q moment, with glowing
eyes fastened upon him, for any reply
he might venture to make, but as he
made none, only grawed his lip in
speechlesS humiliation, Sc turned quick
ly, and passed from his view with her
own silent, sweeping grace.
He returned to the fountain and
threw himself once more upon the stone
seat With mutterei malediction.
He had not believed she could defy
him; he had not prepared himself for
the open exhibition Of her scorn.
Conscious Of lis powers OF manage
ment. he had thought to manipulate
Mrs Delamere through her wounded
pride until she would give him her con-
sent to win LCveGay to save herself from
the suspicion Of loving him yet
She had laughed him to scorn, and
he was vulnerable to tho shame Of be-
ing scorned. lie began to fear and
hate her.
Many thoughts passed through his
busy brain. lie recalled his various
loves and how sincere each had been in
its time How much this pr I'd. impe ia'
beauty, Laura, had been to him III her
day! how sweet and warm had been
that early lovai and how be had Suf-
fered when she cast him aside for a
richer mate.
All! she deserved to suffer in her turn;
he should not spare her.
Then wild memory OF Enge'onde
Inchcape flew like red-hot DO
through his soul, her ma eStic purity,
her Lnsullicd fidelity, and her bitter
: fate.
He clenched his hand and drove the
olighting thought away with heartfelt
imprecat on.
Then stole the IMAGE o! Loveday Del
lamere upon him, tender, softly; no
shadow of mortilicati or remorse
blurred that mem .ry; he muscd upon
her dawn-lika youth and innocence, her
sunny beauty, which rad atcd pure .oy,
and he crayea Tor her with passionate
intensity rs the wret he'd cra,e for hap
pine s.
Then he reviewed tie resistance just
offered TO Lis desire, and laughed sar-