Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-09-09
BARTlE CLIFFS.
AN OLD MANS CONFESSION
BY HELEN HARCOURT.

storv tbe story of nv great ain. and of tho bit
..r .orro,v !, bror,ht ;pto my bfa-mxv h,
v" soi'" '''"e' '
usefui IN warning Others from the rocR upoi
which madly wrecked my youth and innocence
Wa livsd near the sea. NV brother and I,-ir
,,,.-., ..,,,.,. L., -, ,ha bona =,
tno ioiuy nA"''o" ""'oi ""' ''''' WIN '''''' w
our family for generations.
sir Arthur Grey, our father. had died
-. A.. .u ,,.;o, u, ,,o ,,ou;,d >, ,,h;o,, m,
'o"'' 70" 'o"'a p','' W .nI p'oI W " -,
narrative reiers, leaving ms TWO SONS 70 the
guardianship OF their mother, ~ hop'e "othal
as ever Grew tue preati ot me. ,
scarce slk mohtis Passeu away, hoMeser, ere
hho zoo, ioiowea hil'i 70 .,e sia,e, anu W.T. ~
sorrowine cliidreh, were ieit alone IN tne "ofid
alone. 1 Fay, Tor we were tiie Iast ~ our hne,
and none remained 10 Wnoh we co"iu loon ioi
Hdvice or guidance un',l we snou,l hase a..aii
ed All age when We might cohhaehty rey upon
our own )udehiehp. ,
hipoII was nevoini yoa NY eeI.o'' '.'. Anu oon.
hequehtly inc mead OF our house. tne poesessoI
OF the iAihily ehtate, "lile !, as ,no s"uhsel
SOL, mnerieo oh'y lhe cpinpaialNeis nn'ai sun'
Whch hau oeeh ou. no.her .nnii,aeo uonei; /;
sucn an uneven ois.fiDu.iop Q, .ne nonois amu
~eA''n VI 'he ialnny, whit ~ .nsh' "pii uy
nave Deeh supporoo' nave tehaeu W eAol.e
Jealouslcs ana dsputes pet"ee'
hs. het snch was IsI from peinB lhe ctse'
pAssioh"teiy at.acueo W eaen o'hei iioi 1Aihe
INFANCY, our snectioh' AS the years ioilea OH
MOI shsde Oh jealousy tlae Alpoi' hhou'u pos
sess so much Ahole IMAM y ever enteieu NY
preast, not snauoW u uisVrun' VI NY ioSaisy
anu love eve, uls.urocu ms.
Quietiy anu calmly our lives shaeu Oh a'i.ii 70
attained 10 years oi nisturlty. Nople' tehuer hho
generous, Aipeit assiuuousy slIoVe ~ iinhe iie n
1851 tukt "as e4uai'y Maoloi Will HnAooi,oi al
the wealth snd luxury py whicn we were BUR
ROUNDED, ana the;serVahts we're tauent 70 respecl
mysiishtsst woru,e even AZ tnoy a,u @ his omh NeVel
We, anu uouoIieas tne saine Petiecl ha'"1ny
woula nave endured 70 cue ehu OF our hses' puo
Tor the coming INTO our heiBnporhoou oI one
VINO, thougn pure ahu ihnoce,i' as the N.Y. was
yet destined to bring sln ana sorrow into our
hitherto cioudiess SKIES. ;.
Yet no iel me not say tnat IL Was Ss VINO
darkehed our iVes IL WAS !, l, ana INC uemoh
witin me what hau she, gahtie, tehder heart-
eu' anu eoou' " ao WIN h'n Nol'hs aioiIo
trAhsSressoo. ~ Is pitter cohIess'oh W nlaAe'
pnt make ~ honestly.
IL was calm, clear morning Wheh Aipert ana
!, as was our wont, mounted our hofaes apd set
forth for gaiiop across tho country. Laughing
and talking, we held merrlly on our way, and
haa well hish salheu 'he summit oi tne steep
sounds as OF u horse coming down the road at
inll speed attracted our attention, ana turning,
we beheid sight that thrilied us WIN nofIor'
A black morse, Win peht heau, ana hanhihg
eyes, came numbering down towafds us, ieearC-
less of tho feeble resistance OF ms rider a iair
girl OF some eighteen or niheLeeh summers
She was stranger to us, and having an Intimate
acquaintance WIN the gentry iof miles around
We both leaped TO tine conclusion that she must
be the daughter OF MAJOR Clemens who had
Just come INTO Tue he!ghpoih9ou having ~ iae,,
rented handsome cpltise peiohSine 10 hlpert 3
estate.
But tho moment was nor one Tor speculation
concerning the iair flucr name or statloh her
me was IN danger nay, nut LOT oar presence,
she must inialllbiy nave Deeh JOSH, Tor AS the
black steed bounded toward us, we saw that he
WAS making straight LOT tbe verge OF tne ciH,
ana that no effort OF his riaer coula either re-
strain his pace Or turn INN as de. -,
WEI must block the roal, Aihert, er!ea,m -,
" rein across to the riBht, VIII take the let
. quick as thousht, We turned our ai'thaiS across
the narrow roKu, anu tlen, III prealhless ahAie,
ty. awaited the shock. Ihat the runaway woula
halt Oh seeing the obstacles IN his path, We
scarcely dared hope no, the merry steea was TOO
irenzled TO be thus checkeu IN ms course ; nc
would attompt TO leap over us, either Albert OF
myself, ,-and the one loft at liberty must take
advantage OF the moment OF MS rearing, 10
seize the bride rem, ana arrest MS heaaiopg
Hight.
On, on, thundered the BLACK morse, MS rineI
pale, but calIn,-oh now my heart thriilea
with admiration as marked the easy grace with
which she set OIL her steed, and the hrm grasF
of tile reins, even in that moment OF terEDle
danger, when life or death were trembling IN tht
balance. On, on, rushed the naddened animal
his glossy breast hecked with Foam on, on
with una6ated speed, and 1 crouched low in the
saddle III he swept down tho left side Of the
road.
But suddenly he swerved aud turning 10 INT
right. reared for the leap with quick. sud
posite side Of his well trained steed, but ere tht
black horse could spring, my hand was on hi'
bride rein, and slipping from my tfusty roam
] threw my whole weight upon it. pang o.
terrible doubt shot through my heart AZ | dit
30; what if the reid should give way beneath th'
strain? But it did not trembling the runawa!
stood dropping his head rs though ashamed o.
his mad race. He was conquered, and nov
that the danger was over lis riders stengtl
suddenly failed her.
escape, was Just in time to receive her droop
ing form in his arms, and reverenty to lay lie
down upon the turf at the roadside. SILL ant
pale she rested there, even rs one dead, am
while we chafed her cold hands, we ha,
ample time to note the rare beauty OF her deli
cately chiselled face. Gentleness, truth, can
dor, were written in every feature never be
fore had looked on 10 lovely being, and
wild impulse seized me. to gather her up in m
arms, and dare the whole world to take he
from me.
At length ahe opened her eyes ahd liked thet
inauiringly upon Albert's face; then rs full con
scIolisness returned deep blush dyed cheek
and brow, and she struggled to her feet, althoug
but for Alberts supporting arm, she must nav
fallen to the ground.
81 thank you, gentlemen" sho said, in a lo'
musical voice. but for you should nave bee
dashed over tile chhs. You have saved my III
at the risk of your own, and I shall never forge
the debt we've, my father and lowe yo'
Poor Selim," she added. stroking the neck OF ht
painting steed, ga gun fired from field near
startled him, and lie grew Wild with fright; he
quite right now, and 30 am l. Will you kind
aid me, TO mount again n
In speechless confusion (what had come ovt
me wondered), bowed aud complied with LII
request
81 hope you will not think mo presuining
said Albert, "if ask permission for my BROTH
and myself to escort you home. We cannot q
low YOU 10 trust yourself alone with horse
recently nnmauageble. Permit me first, hoy
ever to introduce my brother. Dir. Richard Cir
-nud-I believe address Miss Clemens YET
Then LmyseIf may claim the homer of bell
your landlord"
"Ab! sir Albert Grey lave heard my fat
or speak OF your generosity III regard to the CO
tsge he has rented of You, land now you ha
lad us nader A still greater obligation"
"Not 80 |" exclaimed Albert, warmly, "i it
nv brother whom you must thank. had not
ing to do in arrestlng yonr runaway steed; y
owe YOUR life entirely to his bravery. simI
placed my horso across the path, he stopp
yours at the risk of his life"
her hand. with u few sweetly spoken words
gratitude. which amply repaid me for all t
danger had run.
Al the door OF her fathers dwelling we dr.
rein and rlaGly acceded to the lat.er's inyitatl
10 enter
That was our frat visit the beginning of
ain and sorrow that were to come. Weekly, d