The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-01-04
out Of his life, because two villains lled

away my honor.
The wild winds moan around ry lvleiy
tOwcr-the breakers roar a. its feea I
mourn AMI pray throughout the long.
rcsoundirg nights, L fever burning for.
ever il E.y veins
Oh, Tor deiNerancc. Oh, fer deliver:
ancc.
But roc I'll these two confess that
they have lied will my ord take re back
to his heart: ard who will wiring con-
fesSon from them? Who will be my
hampton. 10 set M free from the shame
that is killing me-?
Shall / cheat the maddening hours By
setting down my miserable story, to bs
read when am gone by Ey love, who
may judge me less harShly then? Surely
the truth will prevail, ii he hears it, aj
it we're from dead Engcl0nde'S grave.
At east let ne wander wailc among
the remcmbranCcs OF that gracious time
when we were together, loving an5 trust
ing c2ch Other, before The fata! shadow
OF doub: fell between Us.
Engelonde Chai.oner, the daughter Of
an American Senator. married at eIghG-
cen lord Inchcapc, who was forty. lie
was my first and is my only love; no
other passion has ever toucaed me. !,
wcns to rim with ali the treasures CT
freshest girhood uutasted but by him
self.
II was himself I loved-hiS noble
heart, his proud integrity; gloried in
lis fark and power because they were
Lar. &C hiriSclf. Even the disparity IN
or ages seemed 10 me fascinating, be-
cause iG SCI him en- throne az the foot
OF which coL:d worship him.
He transplagtcd me into brilliant
circle, lie calrSG aro.ld US troop OF!
fr;eLdS. am lnch"ape tosSe became the!
accnr OF continuous fcstiviGy, over which
lie .GTci &c see .I.c reign.
had two friends. who soon won MY
tendereSt love; my iaNorite was gentle
Alice, the wife OF honest Squire crccy;
the other was the beautiful Laura Del
lamere, a young widow. They both
lived in the ncightorhood. and came a.
most every day to me to assist me in, en-
tertaining the crowl Of guests that
filled the castle.
At last one came, q fatal guest His
accursed name is Richard Accrlngton.
He came to US preceded by 4 brilliant
reputation. In the Indian mutiny he
had distinguished himself gallantly:
there were many rec OF his hero.Sm
and ability: we welcomed the young so.-
der among US with enthusiasm
There w, re otter whispers too. It
was said that COl0ncl Accringtpn IA
ben AURA Ii st 10 cr-tha5 size had
sacrificed h rSclf and him, at her nc 'dy
fathers command, % marry tic wea thy
cOlmoncr, MI es Deiamere, and that he
was suing her again in her widowhoo
10 lay his !aure.S at her feet and win
her hand at last.
1t was my dear lords evil fate to bring
him to our home--to preSennt the brilliant
stranger to me. Let nlss ,OvcrpaSS tho
loathcd recollection. Enough to say
that he was base enough to make
blind Of Mrs. Dcl!amere behind which to
indulge Snilty passion for one who
dreamed not of the truth-for hap
less me.
One day accident disclosed what he
fain would have hidden. The illness OF
his father recalled him home; he sought
me in my privacy in naS:a to say adieu,
and nv unsuspicious co!dness wrung
sudden burning words from him. Mis-
taking his agitation for grief on Mrs.
De.lamcra's account, unwittingly l
goaded him into full declaration OF his
detested passion. I was stupefed, ex-
cess of emotion he'd me dumb.
.Your amazement is well acted, IL 1t
Is acted" mocked he. aIf 1t is sincere,
then I am as lost and disgraced man
as lives to curse himself this day."
faltered Laura's name; his atten-
tion to her had been open and unqual-
fed, to retract from them would most
cruelty injure her.
He retorted with the utmost derision--
quo ed the cd wrong she had done him
-vaunted the completeness OF his re-
yenge.
In suddenly aroused wrath and scorn
I drove him from me; as he hurried
from my presence in writhing humilla-
ton. nv lord met him-marked his agi-
tation as he passed with hurried bow,
and entering. saw his guests agitation
reflected on the face Of his wife. Should
/ have contided all to him? Alas! L
was but a girl was ashamed OF the
base love had cycit. ii tremblCd for
the consequences to my belo. ed huS-
band should he hear how he had been
insulted: I dared not confde the matter
to Lord Inchcape.
gave a halting explanation OF my
emotion. Colonel Accrngton was lt aV-
ing us, and by q careless word walch ne
had dropped it was evident thai ne haa
been but amusing himself ~ the ex-
pcnse Of my fir end. Mrs De!l&1ere.
had not concealed from him my anger,
and he was leaving us forever.
NV lord accepted the explanation at
once; his honorable mind harbored no
suspicion at the time; but he remem-
bered the episode afterward. did not