The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-03-08
.rancing to me.
Rnt my lords brow c,0udcd.

But my lords brow c'oudrd.
NO, sweet wife. Co oncl AccringtOL
has not spoken: he has died like daS-
tard, with his quit unc0nfcS-cd,
said he.
He is dcad?' faltcrcd my lady, paling,
fearful IT, "and your v:nGica:ion is hope
less. Oh, my lord"
She wept, pressing his hanI 10 com
rort him: but >uddrny started from his
side As now thought struck her.
But has he not vindicatcd me- Else
| why are you here"
lie drew her back 10 her place with
loving imSstcncc
NV own noble hearted wife" he said,
Gin every thought and word You uncon-
sciously prove your Loyalty TO me My
Wind cation is your first thought not
YOUR own. And this i the jewel threw
away. ON. who will give me back those
lost five years, Listen sweet Eng Gelondc.
with your head on my heart, its rightfHt
pace. of which my jealous madness
robbed YOU so long. 60 oncI Accrln2tOn
has died without Il word. and | never
sha | br cXOnc atcd-ucvcr shall resume
public life: vet low that yuu are lc-
stored 10 me. cleared from the last
shadow OF doubt. ! look forward to
sweet and nOb,r life. which shall have
its elevated duties to. and ! shall ac-
cept in all humility this one cross as !
lust rhastiScmcnt for my sin tOward
you Tears, Engc or e, for me? Oh.
believe me, the sweetness OF our re-
united existence will far outlast the one
bitter drop in our cup"
@Yet your doubts Of me will return. Il
YOU have only come to me from gener-:
Gus impulse" said Lady Inchcape trem!
ulously
81 have cone to you because those
doubts are forever laid" he returned.
u thank God who Dut it into your guie-
less heart Il write that story OF oIIr
mower Of truth il helped me TO believe
All! my heart Spokr to yours there!'
rried she raising herself to look at him
with timid tenderness.
"And have you really accepted my
Simple word-wh ch is no proof"
Il have not been Sc generous, Lingo
londr," answered the Earl sadly. My
stubborn pride fought against my yearn-
ing love: We men are hard and stern,
sweet soul, not like YOU gentle beings,
whose love makes you so self-forgetiui.
In reading your narrative. / saw lhat IL
was in my power To prove one po nj;
when that was proven. | accepted all the
rest ioyfully. and entirely"
"And that point"
.WaS one which could be proven by
John Sircombr-and which waS?'
She considered moment. then the
turned with a burst Of JOY, and threw
her arms about her husband neck.
"And you believed ne through that
one trifiing piece of evidence" she cried
exrltingly: "because these few words or
mine were corroborated you could cept
the whole, all. your heart could not
! have b en- very cold or hard towards me,
or YOU would never have come back 70
me on such insufficient testimony, which
the world would only laugh at. Now,
indeed. | am happy, for | know how
great your trust is! | thank God. oh,
! how gratefully. for the gift he has given
| ME to-day is without one flaw, my huS-
band not only loves but trusts me-"
For n moment she gazcd with stream
ing eyes towards heaven, then turning.
gently laid her arms around her nus
bands neck. her face upon his shoulder:
Another sweet silence, then she looked
up with wondering face.
lyon say you have read my story: how
can that be? In my happy bewuder-
ment looked at everything through a
mist: did not realize what you had said
But how did you receive that manuscript
which ! thought loSt?'
Il received it from the faithful hand
TO which YOU conlided it, said lnchcape
gently: you chose your champion WE'LL
my Engelonde."
She uttered charmed, wondering cry,
half terrified though She was
"Did Captain Edgar escape after all,
then? is he alive? but how can it be? oh,
! am awake. hope"
Yes. he Is alive; he escaped by mir
ace; and the first use he made OF his
safety was to fulfill his promise to you '
TO BE CONTINUED.