Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-02-22
N0RA'S PERIL.
CHAPTER /.

ON the margin of a beautiful bay on the west
ern coast OF Ireland stands castellated build
ing, the central portion of which dates from
the invasion of strongbow, the remainder hay
ing been added in the course of successive
centuries. Viewed from the sea the structure
presents an imposing appearance, and conveys
10 the mind Of the spectator ideas Of the feudal
power and grandeur that no doubt, formerly
attached TO the ancient stronghold.
The prospect looking seward from the cas-
tie is one of the finest in Ireland; on the south
east and west the curved shore of the bay ex-
tends nearly thirty miles, terminating in abold
headland, over which the tops of distant
mountains appear dimly visible; on the north
coast the vast Atlantic waves heave their swell
ing bosoms towards the sky, the hull CT some
distant vessel now appearing on their submits,
and, as II were, sinking into the vast trough OF
the sea, then rising again slowly, and becoming
for a moment visible upon the topmost surface
of the wave. At sunset the view westward
across the eYpanse or waters present one Of the
most lovely scenes OF nature; the sun throwing
a lurid ray across the bay, aud lighting up the
western slopes of the distant mountains, while
the eastern activities are thrown into deep
gloom, disappears for a short interval behind
the intervening headlaud and then apparently
sets In the sea at its base, its glorious orb seem
ing TO vanish gradually into an abyss, while the
whole horizon is Illuminated with the golden
tinge of its declining beams.
At the rear Of the building arise several rocky
eminences covered with natural growth of
holly, hazel and arbutus, and separated by deep
grassy glades Of the greenest verdurc; through
one OF these runs brock of clear water which,
after falling over numerous small cascades,
discharges Itself into the sea a little northward
of the castle; through another glen, for nearly
five miles, runs the winding road by which 1t Is
approached from the public highway.
The original fortalicp, for such from its
great strength and extent il certainly must
have been in the earliest centuries of its exist
ence was erected on the extensive territories
of the Desmonds, then the most powerful of
tho Irish chieftains, and was wrested from their
grasp by the English invader, who granted it,,
with large adjacent territory, TO the family of
DE Burgho in whose possession IL remained nj
the date of this narrative.
Deserted and in desolation as this ancient
scat of the De Burghos appeared 10 be, there
yet fingered about its precincts traces Of civil
lied habitatiop. Shrubs not of indigenous or.
igin, although uncultured and neglected, at
tested the fact that at no distant period some
person of horticultural taste inhabited the cas-
tie; while winding walks, garden flowers
now grown wild, and disputng
possession of the soil with
luxurant weeds of every class, and cIriously
contriyed grottos, adorned with shells and
stones of quaint formation, give proof of femi-
nlLt anu u eluu1 vi pICLuI-
esque not common in days when landscape
gardening was in its earliest infancy.
My professional duties as an engineer and
geologist had sometimes obliged me to visit
this remote district, and as it was distant more
than forty miles fl ON the nearest town, al
ways came provided with weeks supply of
necessaries, and occupied an apartment which
! had, with the good will of the elderly coSto-
dienne. fitted up wi h the simplest furniture re-
quired for its occasional occupation. Six
months had now elapsed since my last visit,
and l had then left her alone in her solitary
abode. The owner, Colonel De Burgho, she in
formed me, had not visited the castle for more
than twenty years, and had gone abroad, leav-
ing her in charge A small monthly stipend
was RENTED to her through the parish priest,
but she never expected, she said, TO see her
master again. My society relieved the monoto-
ny of her existence, and she always expected
to shear tell'' of him on the recurrence of my
visits.
had formed the acquaintance OF the agent
OF the estate In Dnblin, but could never ascer-
tain more from him than that the Colonel had
lived abroad Tor many years, and had not init
mated any intention of returning; / was,
therefore, unable to crafty "Mary McGlone's''
longing for news of her absent master.
Faithful Mary McGlone, how many long
evenings have she and / sat upon the grass
sward beneath the UNCOVERED wall of the ter
race in front of the castle, listening while
she recounted the ancient glories of the sold
De Burghos," as she fondly called them, and
lamented their decadence and the prolonged
absence Of the last of his race for the Colonel
had no sons, his wife having died young, leav-
ing him the parent of two daughters, who
Mary had never seen.
II was my custom, the massive door OF the
entrance hall having rusted on its hinges, IN
discharge my conveyance at the end of the ter.
race, and carry my luggage to the door Of Mary
McGlone's apartment, which opened upon It,
hat my rtx-f,, AZ
tie one evening in the month Of June, 1856, tC
hear the sound OF a harpsicord accompanied
by the deep tones of beautiful contralto;
stopped, listened with rapt attention. The fail
songstress suddenly ceased, but continued tC
draw from the harpsicord, the soft throbbinc
chords which, on that charming instrument
seem like distant music borne across the wa
tiers, as III the thoughts of the performer wer,
far away I'm dreamland, communing with tn,
spirit OF melody, for that from such invsibl,
source must emapate the enchanting improvsa
lions with which some accomplished musicians
delight their audiences, | cannot have doubt
Suddenly the music ceased; / stood some mo
ments hesitating whether / should proceed o.
retrace my footsteps. 1t was evident tina
the long-wished-for owner had returned to tn,
home OF his ancestors, and motives of delicac,
forbade me to intrude as an unbldden and
perhaps, unwecome guest; but had dismiss
ed my conveyance, night was approaching, an,
there was no other shelter 10 be obtaine,
without walking several miles. | at lengtl
decided upon seeing my old friend Mary Nc
Clone, and being guided by her advice;
therefore proceeded TO her hospitable domicile
where ! found her, as usual busted with he
domestic duties. She, to my great relief, ex
pressed herself overjoyed 10 see iae, and sa
that j would now be no longer her but th
Colonels guest, and that he had desired her
should arrive in his absence, to make me wei
come, and invite me to remain as long as suit
ed my convenience.
although" said she, ''the Colonel has bee
30 many years in foreign parts, his heart
Irish still. Neither he nor his forefathers eve
shut the door against stranger; and, indeed
have told him so much about your visits her
that he does not look upon you al such, an
longs, as he says, TO renew his acquaintanc
with you; and, oh sir but the young ladies ar
born beauties; the eldest Is dark, like her fail
er, and the youngest is fair, as her mother was