The Newtown bee., 1880-07-21
Castle 1 MOrr.


 The banquet spread, the gallant guest
 Was bowed to place around the board; The bow 's returned with lofty crest,
 And manner grave, aud civil word. And tairest dame ol high degree,
 With melting love upon their lips, And shoulders bare and bosoms free,
 Advanced with smiles and coyish slips. And Dorah sweet, the nuptial bride,
 With curving neck and regal head, In all the wealth of beauty's pride,
 By lowing valor forth was lead. The banquet OCT, the song went round
 The knights sang praise of woman's love; The ladies, by nice favor bound,
 Sang Scotia's lords high over love. Now why doth Melmont's face grow pale,
 On this his eve of marriage vows? What low, sweet voice floats on the gale?
 What sudden pain contracts his brows? A soldier proud was Melmont brave,
 Whose valiant deeds on India's plains Sent foes in legions to their grave,
 And gave peace to bread domains. When battle raised it's rueful head,
 With waving plume and saber bright, On champipg steed bold Melmont led,
 With Princess Salla at his right. When " Charge the foe !' he gave comman
 And quick and thick the missiles flew, Fair Salla waved her dauntless hand,
 And from her zone her weapon drew. She fought two battles locked in one;
 While courage swept her to the foe, To spur and cheer her troopers on,
 Her love engaged her lovers woe. Pale, sunk with fear, she saw the bolts
 That rang in air round Melmont's head, And all Der prowess met revolts
 In sudden darts of love and dread. Nor lageard shown in Melmonts love;
 Behind the window of his thought, And fierce resolve his name to prove,
 Affections web loves weaver VITO ught. Oh, heavy day! Oh, luckless charge
 That bore fair Salla to the van, Where, fighting on the battles marge,
 She captive feil to Hindostan! What doom awaits this lover true,
 Who fled her rajah's royal halls, And from Scottish chieitain drew
 That love whose thralldom disenthralls Deep passion now was mixed with pain In Melmonps ardent, raging breast; But well the soldier could restrain
 All outward sign oi rude unrest. The Brahman plot and Hindoo skill
 Returned the Princess to her sire, Whose kindly breast OCT captious will Could never of affection tire. As fancy's lamp pursues the light
 That floats around in f1ction's mind, Through gleamings slight oi hope in night Sad Melmontseeks his love to find. He storms the shaman priests retreat, He storms the rajah's drowning wall; He's everywhere, with flying feet,
 And bulwarks echo at his call. Within, without, beyond the bounds Of priests and raiah's stern control Swift vanished hopes and hollow sounds Are all that reach sad Melmont's soul. Now ten long years their tides have rolled Since India's air his brow had tanned Since Salla sweet and Melmont bold Their love and lie had pledged and planned. nd now that voice again is beard,
 Despite of friends, despite of foes That won the heart of Scotland's 8 laird Along Himmaleh's broad plateaus. She sings the song he loved to hear Below the stars, when winds were still; W ACh A1OAI bL0 utdEb GuSE0 bWSllSQ a tear, Which rose and fell at music's tritl A gem illumes his searching eye The ring he gave her with kiss, When love, like waves, rolled mountain high, And all the world was vales Of bliss. Now darker shades rise on the wall And whispered words, in lighter tone, Conjecture forms, and keenly fall
 On fears that all dislike to own. All sa lily from the banquet rose
 The noble host of Castle Morr; And his proud heart seemed full of woes, Which none diyined tho reason for Now hurried looks meet anxious eyes, And Salla's calm and gentle mien The scrutiny oi all defies
 Of who she is or what has been Her olive hands and olive face,
 Her liquid eyes of Orient hue, Her gliding step and languid grace,
 Where'er she moved could all subdue. She quits the hall with gentle ways, And follows fast in Melmont's wake; While Jealousy the bride betrays,
 And speeches. hurries to the lake. The kinsmen of the noble bride,
 At Melmont's conduct sore enraged, 6. And hot in converse stand engaged. Their words are few, indignant, strong; From what they heard and what they saw Oi Dorah's griet and Melmont's wrong, Suspicion leeds on lines they draw. Enough! enough! Revenge is near! Through lawn and bower and vista fair The pride-stung nobles search aud steer. But find not Melmont anywhere. There IS a room in Castle Morr,
 A secret chamber, quaint and grand, Which few e'er know the service for. Save he whose word was in command. To shield her from undue reproof,
 By tongues unruly, sharp and free, There Salla's placed, from all aloof,
 And cautious Melmont turns the key. Now from the window where she sits The Princess muses on the night; While shadow after shadow fits
 By fern and fir, within her sight, For Melmont's life those shadows seek. And for his life he boldly stands, In calm defense prepared to speak,
 And failly meet all tair demands But passion rules the omened hour,
 And fury strikes him to the ground; W hlch Salla sees from wonder tower
 And breaks her heart-strings at bound. Now pity tongue the tale will tell
 How gentle hands, unknown 10 fame, Had set plant where Melmont fell
 And called it by that hero's name. F CT since that hour, at midnight tide,
 A curtain of the b1ackest lace On widowed Morr is drawn aside,
 And there is seen pallid face. 1t looks minute down the lake,
 Iglances round m secret pain, As if it feared soma foe awake, And then the curtains drawn again.