The Portland daily press., 1870-07-16
Selected story.
AN IRISE STORY.
iFne Romance of the " aidcUs.


the closing scene of romance not less III
probable than the creation of fiction
Just where the shores of ireland ana 'ocoI,
land most nearly approach each otuei' thu
the proverbialiy stormy waters OF the lrisn
sea rush impetuously through tne narfo"
channel, as though impatient 10 JON the
swelling waves of the North Atlantic, there
stand off the coast of Antrim Two huge sister
rocks known as "The sNlaidens." Situated
about three miles from the shore, and quar-
Ter of a mile asunder, they were in mid-track
of vessels bound for Londonderry and the
Clyde, and form dangerous impeachment in
the way OF the weather-heaten bark seeking
refuge in the safe harbor of Larne.
These rocks may be described as irregular,
blunted cones; the summit of each is rug
ged platform, raised thirty feet above high
water mark; the sides steep and inaccessible
as buided wall. Many goodly ship, with
every soul on board, has gone down to swift
and certain destruction-many fishing boat
has been drawn into the deadly current be-
tween the rocks and swamped or dashed to
pieces.
On each side of these desolate pinnacles a
lighthouse has been erected, with dwellings
for the family of the lighkeeper and his as
slstants, and year in and year out the twin
lights beam across those stormy waters, max
ing the once terrible "Maidens" friendly guild
ing stars and harbingers of safety.
All! what sacrifices does the welfare OF our
race demand OF many of its units. In ofder
to minister to our need, profit, pleasure, some
drive the engine of the midnight tram, facing
the biting blast and cutting seet-some labor
in the scOrchinG breath OF the turnace-some
toll in the mine, rarely beholding the fair face
OF day-and some spend in the lowly, wave
washed lIght-tower the long hours of the win
try night. The jewellers in these weird habi-
tations have surely need to be furnished with
more than ordinary mental resources, and to
be fortified by q thousand inner compensa-
tons.
Inc light-keepers of the "Maidens" in fair
weather hold daily communications with the
shore and with one another by means of the
large, strong built boat, with crew of thee
men, which conveys to them food, stores and
water for which last there is in each rock a
hewn reservoir, capable of holding sufficient
for three weeks. Sometimes in winter and
rough weather, the Waterfront cannot put out
for days together, and at such time the So
journ on the rock must be very epitome of
dreary isolation. 1t is at all seasons hazal6-
Gus to attempt the passage from the main land
In asmall open boat, ever liable to be capSZ-
ed by the sudden squalls of wind so frequent
in these narrow seas, while it is all but impos
BILE to pass in one between the two islets.-
Standing relatively to each other, southeast
and northwest, diagonay opposed to the
strong current of the channel, the waves,
striking upon one rock, recoil toward the 9TH
er, boiling, foaming and roaring in that mar
row strait, with uncomfortable and grand fury.
Thus, no boat is kept upon the rock, as it
could be OF SO little use, and would prove
tempting source Of danger AT the time
spoken of, the light-keeper of the North Maid
en- was man whom we will call Shell. His
family consisted OF son who had arrived at
mans estate, and a second wife, the mother of
three young children.
Michael Shell, acting as assistant to his ia
Their, was qualifying himself for similar post
Besides Cleaning and tending the lamps, their
duties comprised looking after several buoys
placed of the coast for the guidance of navi-
gators, and maintaining lin perfect order Tie
apparatus for rescuing the crew of any untor
tunate vessel which might be driven against
the unacceptable bosom of those cruel .Maid-
ems" Plenty of work, therefore filled their
hands and formed the best preventive against
the ennui so often complained of by their
more happily situated but less busy brethren.
Michae was looking forward to period vet
some months distant, when,h his time of proba-
ton having expired, he should get an appoint
ment, and take with him, perhaps TO a less is
olated abode, sweet Ellen Byrne, daughter of
the keeper on the South Maiden for so the
ancient story fulfls itself with sublime indiff-
erence to cline and circumstances.
The hopes and desires of the young folks
were known and approved by the parents of
both, and the bright spot in the unvarying
round of Mchael's duties was that hour while
the Waterfront discharged its load at the
southern rock, Of the blissful but unfrequent
occasions when the voyage ashore was per-
formed by them together. These sunny DAYS.
however, were of brief duration.
The test OF true love, which is said to be ap-
piled in some form or other, to every genuine
courtship was speedily to be applied to theirs
in sharp and decisive manner. The elder
Shell was man of angry and jealous temper.
Hearing that certain small privileges, for
which he had sued in vain, were granted to
Byrne, his junior in his service, by the supe-
rior officers, Shell vowed eternal vengeance
against the entire family, on the South Maid
en-, forbldding in terms of insult and outrage
all further communication between them and
his own household.
Bright and fair dawned the morning after
this command had been issued yet, when the
boat reached the foot of the rock heWn stair,
no ascending step of Michael was heard by
her who stood coyy hidden behind an angle
of the wall at their accustomed meetng-place.
A second and third day, yet no Michael-not
even written line to explain his absence;
and Ellen, whose pride forbade her making
any Inquiry Of the boatmen, on the subject
uppermost in her heart pursued her house
hold tasks, now wondering and silently weep
ing, now brushing away her tears, and tossing
her brown locks with spasm of indignation.
At last, the captain of the water-boat, a
rough man but kindly, sought Ellen in the
house, for she came to the landing-place no
longer, and saying with a meaning tone :
"Cheery now, lass" handed her the letter
enned by Mike during his watch in the tow
q, to tell her the story of their present separ-
alton, and closing lovers passionate lamen-
tations with an exhortation to trust in him
and be faithful. Many missive between the
pair was conveyed by the sympahizing cap
tain during the long months of the weary
winter that succeeded. With this lapse OF
time came no signs OF relenting on the part of
Shell, and by taking every means in his power
to annoy and mjnre his neighbor, he at last
aroused in him an equally impacable hatred.
Bryne bade his two daughters never again to
mention the name of Shiel in his presence.
Poor Ellen dropped at first; but helped by
the loving sympathy OF her younger sister,
grew, after while, composed, and apparently
contented. Her father began to think that
Mike Shell had no great hold on her heart,
and was confirmed in his opinion by observ-
ing that Captain Morris came always now, TO
the angle by the landing-place, and was re-
ceived by Ellen with a ready smile. The cap
tain was widoWer, had a pleasant cottage at
Larne, was part owner OF a small coasting YES
sci, and being a hale, hearty man, of little
more than forty, was esteemed by Byrne no
ineligible husband for his elder daughter,
though she had numbered scarce nineteen
summers.
Wine thus it Jared with one of the plighted
lovers the other pursued his daily avocations
in a silent, resolved, ciock-iike manner, that
that might have been suggestive to more
acute intelligence thar his fathers of the ex-
istence Of an under-current of thought more
engrossing than the labor which occupied his
hands.
Now Michael Shiel, motherless child of
stern father, had early learned to take coun-
sell with himself, and determined, even during
the first ebullition OF the light keepers wrath,
while apparently acquiescing in his fiat, to
take secret measures for defying it.
By leaving his post he would retard his
gaining position, of which, in due time, he
was tolerably certain. He had just entered
the last year of his assstantship, ana a friend,
who had influence at headquarters, promised
Michael to press for bis appointment, at bis
expiration, TO light-station in distant part
Of Ireland.
In the meantime he determined to build a
BOAT, wherein, hazarding the dangers of the
Wlid sea ne might pay stolen visits to his be.
loved. But how could this design be accom-.
pished without discovery, within the crcum-
scrbed limits of his island home? Whence
should the needful materials be obtained
How should he find time for such prolonged
labor? Love, like faith, laughs at impossible
ties, and oftentimes converts the most i'm
practicable designs into achieved iacts.
On the opposite side of the rock to the
landing-stair, and consequently free from OBJ
servation from the water, Michael had long
ct q