The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1900-03-01
CHAPTER Xix.
DOWN TO HIS DEATH.


Trembling with excitement, Vet nerved
/ TO the courage Of desperation, Love-
day approached the lonely gate in
! the wall, and stood listening intense y
for any sound to warn her OF Accring-
toms proximity. There was nothing TO
be heard but the sough of the wintry
wind through the dry caves and the
! baying OF the taraway hound.
! But the lane on tie other side Of the
wall was thickly carpetcd with the grass
Of disuse, and he might easily be there
with dozen rulfans behind him, and no
football be heard.
Then the stable clock struck nine, and
an imperative hand knocked upon the
thick open door.
One Iast cOnvulSivc bound Of the heart,
and Loycday found herself IA C to face
with him she expected
Her innocent eyes scanned his face;
never before had she caught that look OF
Internal triumph. She Shrank back. md
his iron clasp closed about her wrist: he
drew her towards him with a burst OF
rcck cSS pass on.
.IS il not for the last time, my own
love-" hc whispered. besccch 'ngly; why
grudga me one little kindness? You
know huw deSpGrat' an toni ht."
She let her hand lie in his, she let his
ar II steal round her waist: she no longer
needed what he did; she felt his hand
touch hers no more than if she had
turned to stone: for Auheron Crecy was
beside them. gazing n speeches. ag Ia
ton. and at tn sam. Instant TWO Stran-
gers sprang from the shelter OF the wall
outside, and advanced On ACcringtcn
Accrin gtun surveyed the intrnders,
and uttered IL fierce exclamation OF as
tOEiShmcnt
What. YOU traachrrOUs? You have
betrayed ne, LOvcday." he cried. "Oh,
monStrouSi ] cou!d have stakcd my life
upon vour LOYALTY. All, well, l am no
longer bound to give you this prize-you
have forfeited it, lie SEatchej out an
envelope, and showed It, :arntinSly.
then crumpled it up iu his hand.
no, no, give it ne; have done moth
ing to forfeit IT," she stammcred. Il
have kept Jon. secret" She could say
nc more, for swift as q magical :-ans-
formation, She and Accr!ngton were out
side he gate, and TIE latter was turn ng
the key on Aubcron ard The two stran-
gers, who remained inside
A closed carriage, drawn by two mag
nificcnt horses, which she recognized as
Accrington 5, dashed forward from q
short distance. where they had evidently
awaited their owners pleasure; and
without stopping to check Loyeday'S
terrified screams, he tore open the coach
door, and proceeded to spring inside
He was flying, and he was taking the
prnripus rOn nfpSSiOn with him
That maddening thought drove away
every selfish feGr; the heroism in gay
little Loveday's blood fired up; she re-
mcmbercd only that Lord lnchcape's
hon.r was at stake. and that she must
had to depend upon.
"You shali not break your promiSe"
cried she, SwOopinc Upon hin, and wind
ing her soft arms ar unG his, 50 tSat he
.cou.d not enter carriage door With.
cut thrustin, her away by force, an
alternative which hG did not seem in
Cincd 10 take
"And why not, Loycday?" asked ne,
looking d wn in hCr lovely little face,
With its new expression O! res I've, and
Supprc$Sing 4 smile. why not, my
girl? You ha @ deceived me-. you sec. "
81 solemn De arc | nave not" she
answered, and by this time she had
scilcd his clcnc ed hand, and was try
ing win al her dainty might TO open
the iron fingers He dallird ono or two
m mcntS longer with her, so unspeak-
able aect was her close intact 10 his
hungcring love: bc! Aubcron's voice
broke the spell, and urged him forward.
EngroSSrd as Lovctay had been, she
had be II quite aware that some sort OF
struggle was tax ng place inside the wall,
though moth ng reached her but an occa'
Sional painting eXclG GnatiOn Of one OF the
rough men She ha seen in the lane: but
now Auberon called )ut loud and clear:
"Ifcre we are Edgar, most p casant'y
engaged. Come on, old fellow, we'll
catch him yet"
Acc ington's demon look canc hack,
"Ha, Arden. too" mutscred he, be-
tween his teeth, He suddenly passed
his arm around Lovcday's waist, and
swung her into the carriage, speaking Q