The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-05
THE DAILY STAR
THE HOUSE ON THE CLIFF.

HfNtHGu, WHllG ehO wal
cliffs that lowered high into the air.
As far as the eye could reach dreary
waste of bending, swaying marsh-grass
formed the background.
Perched on the summit of the highest
Of the rocks stood Kasper Klein's house.
No one knew anything about him;
very few had ever seen him; and the
simple unsophi t'catel fisherman regarded
him As something uncanny.
Their belief was heightened by the fact
that, whenever on stormy nights they
we're called to the beach to act in the
capacity of wrrckers, they had heard a
strange wild music, that seemed to pro-
ceed from the distant eyrie on the cliff
Ten years before a number of very re-
ticent workmen had come to their little
village.
On the cliff they had erected large
house of dark stone.
In the early part of the winter, the
owner and man and woman servant
had arrived.
The only human being who ever came
to the village from the dwelling on the
cliff was the man servant.
He was shriveled, dried up, reserved
little speciman of humanity, whom the
villagers, in spite of their many endeav-
ors, couldn't pump anything out Of.
Thus strangely had passed the inter
vening years since Kasper's arrival, and
the New Years night which ushers in
the opening of our story.
1t was a wild night.
The storm-king reigned supreme.
But high above the din of the tempest
arose the music of a dirge, played by a
master hand.
1t was followed by wild, grand and fit
full burstings-forth Of harmony.
This continued until midnight.
Then it ceased, and a few minutes
afterward Kasper Klein opened the
thick antique door Of the house, and
wrapped in long cloak, stepped out
upen the cliff.
He walked to the edge of the cliff, and
looked at the raging sea below him.
"Ha! hi! hap' he laughed. "Boil and
seethe, old Neptune! Rage and storm,
grand sea! Your mighty writings seem
like my hearts agonies-stormy, resist
less never ceasing in their struggles"
He seemed to be in anything but an
amiabe mood for, as he stood there. ex-
pressions of scorn and hatred fitted alter
nately over his dark face.
Up from the distant village arose the
faint sound of the church bells, ringing
the knell of the old year, and then a
-.uo, &C ,,nl,on,o m tho Dau
Kasper heard it, and broke forth in
weird tones to weird music.
Every fine; sorry to interrupt you
but must" said a voice over his shoul
der.
Kasper turned around, and saw stand
fng behind him, a short, finel ly-formec
man. with black, wavy hair, and etfemi
nate features.
Something in this mans appearance
greatly agitated Kasper, for he seemed
riveted to the spot; his breath came short
and thick, and his pale face grew ghast
lier still.
"Recognize me, eh? Glad Of it. Wha
an uncomfortable hole you have buriec
yourself in, anyhow. You sing as finel.
as ever Just now you recalled quit
vividly the old days. It"
care you not contented with destro.
ing my happiness9 Must you follow m
over the earth like an evil spirit? Nc
I'll kill you first" cried Kasper.
And there was a flash of somethin
rlittering, and Kasper sprang at his Wis
itor, dagger in his hand, and murde
in his heart.
"Keep cool. Put up that bodkin o
something disagreeable might happen"
And the stranger covered Kasper witt
q small silver-mounted pistol.
1t was a strange sight-the two mel
standing on that cliff above the surginl
sea, and in front of Kasper's grand oil
mansion, deadly weapons in their hands
and their eyes glaring with hatred.
They stood so for minute, and the
Kasper. seeming to control himself, re
turned his dagger to its sheath.
"Well so be it." he said. "Say wbs
you wish, but let it be done quickly"
"All right. You remember Isla"
Kasper made a movement as thoug
to clutch his weapon, but checked hin
self.
"Go on" he merely said.
"Well, she's dead. Bitterly repentir
her hasty action, she told me how 81
loved you; and let me tell you, Kaspe
although SANDER played fast and loo
with her name and mine, yet she was
epotless as an angel"
"Despite my passion, was never moi
than her sympathizing friend.
you won her from me, but | neve
ceased to love her, and my affection WI
too strong, too pure for anything evil.
"She told me to find you out, and giV
to you your child.
"I have been several years in doing s
and now the little one awaits your COL
ing in the house."
any child? / have no child. DArge
son, your paltry French lies are finn
as gossamer. To;: ruined my life by yo1
insidious wiles, leading off my wife al
spelling my reputation on the stage, al
now you would palm off this child