The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1870-08-03
The Great Earl OF Desmond,

1t is well known that tho great
Earl Of Desmond, though history
, prctcnds to dispose Of him dilfc-
rcntIy, lives to this hour enchanted
in his castle, with all his house
hold, at tho bottom Of Lough Guir,
in Munster.
There was not, in his day, in all
the world, so accomplished u magi-
cian as he. His faircst castle
stood upon an island in the lako,
and to this ho brought his young
and beautiful bride, whom he loved
but too well for she prevailed up-
on his folly TO risk all to crafty
hcr impcrious caprice. They had
not been long in this beautiful
castle when shc ono day, prosecuted
herself in tho chamber in which
her husband studied his forbidden
art, and there implored him to OK
hlbit before her somo Of tho won.
dcrs Of his evil scionco. lie ro-
sisted long but her ontrcatics,
tears, and whecdlings, wcre at
length too much for him, and he
consented. But before beginning
those astonishing transformations
. with which he was about TO amaze
her, he explained to her tho uwrnl
conditions and dangers Of tho cx-
pertinent.
Alone in this vast apartment,
tho walls of which wcrc lapDcd
far below, by the lalc whose dark
waters lay waiting to swallow
them, shc must witness u certain
series Of irightful phenomena,
which, onco commenced, hc could
neither ahridyo nor mitigate; and
it, throughout their ghaslly sue
ccssion, shc spoke ono word, or
uttered ono exclamation, tho cas-
tie, and all that it contained would
in one instant sulside to tho bot.
tom OF the lako, thoro to RENAL"
under the scrvitudo Of u strong
spell, t.: ages.
Tho dauntlccs curiosity Of tho
lady having prevailed, and the
oakcn door Of tho study boing
locked and barred, tho fatal cx-
Porimcnts commenced. Muttcring
spoil, as ho stood before her,
feathers sproutcd thiclsly over him,
his Taco became contracted and
hooked, a caduvorous smell flied the
air, and, with heavy, winnowlny
wings, gigantic vulLuro roso in
his stoad, and swept round and
round, tho room as If on tho point
of pouncing upon hor.
Tho lady commanded herself
through this trial, and instantly
another began.
The bird alightcd near tho door,
and in less than 4 minute changed,
sho saw not how, into a horribly
detormcd aud dwarfish hag, who,
with yellow skin hanging about
her face, and enormous eyes, swung
herself on crutchcs toward the
lady, her mouth toaming with fury,
and her grimaces and contortions
becoming moro and moro hldcous
cvory moment, Till she rollod with
81 yell on the floor, in Il horrible
convulsion, at the lady's feet, and
then changed into hugo scrpont,
which calno sweeping and arching
toward her, with crosL Greet and
qulvcring tongue. Suddonly, as it
seemed on tho point Of darting at
her, sho saw hcr husband in it's
stead, standing pale before her,
and, with his finger on his lip, en-
forcing tho continued necessity Of
silence. lIo then placed himself
at his length on the floor, and be-
gam to stretch himself out and
ont, longer and Iongor, until his
head nearly reached to one end of
tho vast room and his fcct to tho
other.
This horror ovcrcamo her. The
iIl'st"rrcd lady uttered n wild
scream, whcreupon tho castle and
all that WAS within it, sank in a
moment to the bottom oftho lake.
But onco in every scvcn years,
by night, tho Earl Of Desmond and
his rctinuc emerge, and cross the
lake in a shadowy cavalcade
His white horse is shod with silver.
On that one night the Earl may ride
til day break, and it bohoovcs him
to make good uso Of his timo ; for,
until tho shoes Of his stecd be
worn through, tho spoil that holds
him and his boncAth tho lake, will
retain its powcr..-~Appfcton'S Jour-
nal.