The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-02-01
CRUEL.
~ S.
The CRAVE
Vhe Secret Of DunPaYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author of"Faithf1l Margaret" Etc. Etc
CHAPTER XiII.-Continucd.

I.oycday started and turned a panied
look upon tho pair truly it seemed like
it! Her heart Swclled bitterly: IL was
hard 10 find herself in Auberon'S way
to zee that al this ycct. loving intimacy
was but a lovers ruSe TO bring Miss Rae
10 terms!
She followed AccrinGton'> guidance
without doubt: she fclt is If she could
never meet Aub@ron again.
ACcrinCton knew every foot OF the To-
cality: five years ago he had spent many
day with his sporting companions
beating those gladeS for game
lie did not at once disturb tie painful
revcric OF his companion, but ;oIk ad-
vantage OF her prcoccupation to lead
her so many turns and twists that when
at length she looked round, she felt com
pleteiy at fault. Accrington confidently
assured her that they were on the route
for homo, and drew hCr into converse
ton with such tact that she gradually
yielded herself ~ his influence. and
listened, responded. and became int"r-
eStcd, while time few, and the miles
stretched behind them
Never had Richard AccringtCu exert
cd himself so earnestly: he was talking
against tine. and each half hour they
fingered toTcthcr-e2ch mile they left
behind thcm-waS another link TO the
chain he was forging for the capture OF
Miss Dcllamcre.
He wooed her thoughts far from her
self and her present surroundings, to
follow him from land to land where he
had been; when mavcls might begin to
90
anew with a pathetic version Of
his own history, specially adapted
TO attract her tender and innocent
sympathies; she lent herself to his
charm willingly, for her own thoughts
were very bitter, and escape from them
was welcome.
They reached the margin OF wide
moor: not another human being was
visible on all the broad expanse, OILY
the bleak October sky lowered over it,
and low wind moaned across the
heather.
Loveday looked around her with 4
shivcr.
II don't in the cast know where we
Gre" said she, blankiy; "are you quite
sure that you do?"
Trust me, Miss DelIamcre, you are
quite safe" said AccrinSton. with
frank smile which almost reaSSurcu her:
no, cont look al your watch. cntreat
YOU; let nc take all care OF you for this
once: give me the delight of seeing that
YOU have perfect faith in me-"
You treat tho matter more seriously
than it deserves" replied LOveiay,
somewhat startled; but she had no no.
tive strong enough 10 bid her cross his
mood, and slipped back her watch with
out ClanCing at it However. as they
crossed tho moor, the only beings visible
upon it. and her wandering eyes encOun-
tered not one fami lar landmark, she be-
gan TO own secret uneasineSS, and TO
ch!de herself for having left her friends
so far behind Us to be committed 10
such prolonged tetc-a.tcte with the
Co OIcl.
Accrington, observing the turn of her
thoughts, gradually lowed the convcr-
sati0n 10 flag, and appeared 10 share her
gravity. often turning in his saddle to
watch he action OF her mare for min
ute at . time; and, indcei, She began TO
notice herself that both the ANNA s
seemed spent, and dropped their heads
wea lily.
At last Accrington said, with yiSibiy
assumed iightneSS:
"Will you al Ow ne to have look at
your mares hind shoe? To me she
seems to Vince At every stcp'
A chi misgIing swept over Loveday,
a sudden shocked rca ization OF her
thoughtless Euprudcnce. Without a
word she drew rein and dropped lightly
10 he ground without waiting for assist
auCe.
- begin TO fear that it is later, and
that we arc farther from home than VIC
imagiEc," 50 d She am OusIy, and again
drew cat her watch. One ance, and
cry Of dismav burst from her-it was
hours past ihe time when the hunters
were cyyected u rcaSSemb @ at Dori-
nant. Rewi dcred. algercd, and dis
,rustfui, sho moved apart fr IN her COM
panicn, without needing his cXclama-
tiJns OF surprise; She felt as il his prox-
unity Stied her
An ordinary admircr might have
suffered q pang OF sorrow or mortllca-
ZION at such 4 movement on his adys
mart whenever her hour Of need ca o
mon her, Eut the Colonel only ganced
after her with a pecu iar Smi c, and bent
over AhmCds hoof viii he performed
slight operation with a deNtcrI1y worthy
of q Or, stdigtator lie laid down the
boof with look Of ominous gloom.
-Com,, Miss Dcllamere, courage" he
cried. W tn ected chcerfulrcS>, there
is nothing far wrong with Ahmed yet,
but wo must deal CERT with her \
mere cut, which her shoe initiates; If we
can reach blacksmith in time. he can
shift the sh and preserve the wound
from pam u pres urc. We cam bo
far from tho village Of Blackjack, where
we sha find help"
Lovcday crimsoning cheek and COM
nressrd IinS Sh wed her deep annoyance