The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-09-22
For Tie Aykansaw 7yapeier.l
TALES OF The WEIRD AND TRAGIC.
ELRAN
syKurus R. WILSON AND FRANK r. pRAkE.

The following unique production will
10 doubt prove Of interest to many Of our
readers. The poems were written by Mr..
Drake, while the prose is from the pen
Of Mr.. Wilson.-ED
The just lite Of noble man is like
diamond in a setting Of purest gold, and
such was that Of Elran, whom knew,
and that only to love. He lived until
the harvest time Of life was far behind
him he lived until the weight Of years
had bent his tall fern and the SHOWS Of
many winters had silvered his stately
head but until the last his life was gen.
erous and useful, full of the kindest feel
ings towards his fellows and pervaded
ever with quiet cheerfulness, purer and
more exalted than wild JOY and hope.
Even in dying he still lived, for to those
among whom his days had been passed,
act only his friends and those near Of kin,
bn, also 10 the poor and the unknown he
gave OF MS wealth so freely and yer so
wisely that all said III was good that
such as he had lived to gain riches"
To Ee came much of that which he
aad won in years Of unending toll, but
sie contents Of one little package, four
bits Of verse prize above all else. For
~ me, who had known Elran as we'll as
one Caa know another. they are full of
meaning and tell the story Of life They
he before me now, only pieces of paper,
Shrivelled and yellowed with age, on
which the ink long since faded, perhaps
TO others not worth a passing thought :;
and yet for me they possess a value that
places them among my hearts fadeless
measures For me, my reader. they
breathe lesson full of unutterablc sad
ness yet so nobly beautiful and good,
hai with the hope that they will some
day stea. into your heart as they have
tome home to mine and chant the same
deathless song, now give them to you.
To some it would have seemed but a
Summer idyl, the Willing away of listless
hours. soon past and forgotten but to
Hiram II was experience that stamped it.
self deeply upon his life. When very
young man he was called upon to lose
ser who had given him his being. The
shock was a terrible one. Turn where
Ae would the pallid face which had been
buried from his sight was ever before
aim and so among strangers who knew
aim not he sought peace. Then it was
hat he met Lillian Laile. Whether she
vas beautiful know not. for love often
follows strange and winding pathways.
kut Elran's nature, still bruised and
beaten. longed passionately for something
around which i, could twine its invisible
iendrils. And thus through that subtlest
Of all alchemies. the workings of which
sone may know. to him even the name
Of Lillian Laile carried with il hidden
charm he found IN her presence a wild
mtoxlcation that brought not only for
getfnlness Of the past but tondest frui-
Mons his whole being went out to her
and youth though he was. he flung at her
set the one grea, gift. given by man or
Toman but once and then for all eternity
She, not Older in years. but. as she
nncied. far older in experience, looking
Spon VIVA, he offered as the dieting at
ntameat ola W replied - him only with
s@dness and Jest, until. when his proud
spin, could brook her words no longer.
he left her in anger and sorrow. On
slid. stormy night. when thoughts OF
shat had been and what might be were
n,ging through his mind. when right
and wrong we're struggling for the mas
sry. and the tempest without beat in
aerce unison with the strife within. he
penned her these lines. They are truly
storm thought
Dark Is the sky.
The livid lightning's glaze.
The gaze blows hs,..
Deep Is the thunder's blaze
The mountains koar
TIE giant forests gray,
With sullen roar
Confess the temPest's sway
To swell the bias,
The demons OF the AIR
Arc gathering fast
The Wild beas, seeks his lair
Hush d IS the stream.
III affrighted herds have fed
In awe supreme
All nature hoss her head.
All hope is flown
Upon the towering rock
stand alone
To brave the tempesi's shock
Like rcnds distraught
Down sweeps the raging gale
.. dlrefui lot
y, cruel Lillian Laiie.
The storm is rife
Ant spuraing all control
But worse the strife
That RACKS my tortured soul
The hurricane
4 ,housaal: iei.. would ft1
lo luii my pain
Coqaet,.sh Lillian Lssle
And must grope
H. darkness ih4s Ter aye
o, bid ne hope.
.: deign &c saw me nav
suit Ait ;hoa stand
Ard sraie 10 see me w2s,
Beneath thy hand
Q, heat,,ess tl.l.4z Lai.e
He had no, long TO wal, an answer for
soon came. Though woman's cruel
playfulness was eviden, in every line, i,
showed sincerity Of conviction and feel
ing. and ye, to Elran, oh. how cruel anu
sEjust i, seemed:
In anguished strains
narrowed soul revealing
Thy muse complains
or Lill.an's lack of feeling
But though thou weep.
fhouit smile again tomorrow
lis not deep
It's not 4 lasting so-row