The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-02-22


wa recei ed into the tower by my Iady,
| and nLrsed back to h tn He was a
/ stranger, but 4 gentleman, and knew
| how to recommend hmsc { to my ladies.
| as. week he chanced to go out alone in
| the skill, and was drowned This has
. diced the ladies gr ally: they have
| been overwhelmed with grief"
"Hc was drowned" echoed Lord Incn-
cape, amazedly, + Of this portion OF the
| story Edgar had said nothing
Tnc secretary gave an account OF the
strangers so ourn at the island, and
with obvious confusion Lar ated his mel
ancholy end
1he Earl was puzzled, but presently
droy ped the ubjeCt aid took up the
business be had sent for Sircombc TO
! discuss
"Alr. Srcombe,' sa d he, abruptly.
looking him full in the face, @why have
you deceived me"
Sircombe turned pale as death. and
waited for m re. but the arl, oy o.
| CARS instructions. added not another
word.
81 am at q los" stammcred he.
ITO what can your lorIShip al IL .e?"
"Bewarc, sir! You shall te ! me ths
truth at last" sad Lord lnchcape,
Sternly.
rcombe sank b ok in his chair half
faint ng. II S only thou-h was that in
some upernatu, al way Lord lnchcape
had discovered the truth OF the young
stranger di appearance
for a moment ne wish that he had
in his pock"t pinch OF poison. that he
might swallow it before his Rim fell up
| on him.
tcrly spec hcss, he could only
glare at his patron and struggle Tor
breath.
Il 5 c you know too VOL to what al
ludc." cried Lord Inchcapc, in suddel.
fierce triumph. Your cry looks IL
demu you. and prove that foul W. ong
ha, been ,nc the innocent"
~ ercy, mercy" my ord gasped
Sircomte, tar too bewiIdered TO pick his
words. ut was done on the impal G of
4 moment OF madness. and bitterly re
pentrd-aye, with t,ars OF tortur.ns
anguish
"Strance repentance, that brought no
rcparat.on ricd ord lnchcape, scorn'
fully land that allowed yoi TO live at
ease in the very presence OF your un-
happy victim!"
=, h. God forgive me-" groancd the
wrctched man. convince that was
dis oyered by the / arl, and overW helm"d
" tn shame and fear "lf II: 'itn could
purchase his. would yield it up gladly"
While Lord In hcape was staring in
aston shmrnt at this incomprehensi lc
speech the door opposite Sircombe
swung open and Edgar Arden stood be.
fore him.
He started up, glarni, gave one
scream, and fell in 4 dead faint
Lord lnchcapc's eyes in .ured of Ed
gar the meaning OF all this
leave hin TO me. now, nv lord
whispered Edgar radisutly. "All is GO
ing on admirably. Express no surprise,
only speak when look at you"
A minute or two restored the sccrc.
| tary. he get up from the carpet with r.G-
cars help, and flung himself into his
char with Il groan, covering his iacc
with his hands.
lie mad never tainted in his life be-
fore: but he was not Il strong man phys
icaIy, and his recent distress of mind
had reduced what sire u he had be.
dcS, the dien apparit.ol of the man
he ha supposed dea in the eel OF the
:
come any one.
And now as he covered there b'forc
the two aent.cmen. he was thinking him.
self ru ned nan. even the acute relief
OF finding his vi tim alive aid himself
no murderer, was not enough to beguiic
him from his dread Of conSc .ucn cS
house there was q mistake aNout
my fate" said Edgar as soon as he
tho, ght SircUm was able TO fol ow his
mean ng Il was saved from cruel
| death, which won d have eft Lord Inch
care without his heir" Sircombe
started ami dropped his hands from h
sha>t'y ace. Yes, ! am Edgar Arden"
.mtinued Edgar "and a!thou h ell
tered Du raven Tower by acc dent.
! ignorant of Lady lnchcapc'S lrcSence
there | Sool recognized h and as
! su ed my privilege as a relative to care
| for her welfare. | ind Ccd her to con-
| hde or sorrow to O. learned the
whole h story: and i # Sleat.na-Nrc +
! en- pied cd 10 vindicate ncr as n true wife
! TO my Lord In l. ape. He his sum-
moned you 10 repair the foul wrong you
| la done | ally In hcape by withhold
! ins testimony whi,h would have proved
| her inno, en- @. And Mr. SircOm c, l
aIv 81 you tC do O." added Edgar Sig
niErant!. D., and forcing the secretary to
meet his eS
The whole situation was car to Sir
! combe now.
BY his agitation at first lie had so
| crimiuated hi .Sc that he must confess
! to some wrong which Inc had committed
! it was G idrnt tha Arden had not aS yet
posed he attempt III ;de on has life to
| LCrd nc cIcaie, and hat lie meant TO
/ cpmpc Il onfe $ Tn on Lady In h apes
| behalf as the p:i Of his smcE g ANY
! iou,ly REVIEWING what he had said in the