Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1883-01-13
GLEN ALLEN.

the peaks of the Wicklow mountains, a
damp chillness pervaded the atmos-
phere; piles of sullen clouds lowered
from the frowning skies and narrowed
the already narrow horizon; a veil of
moisture robed the meadows and dnlled
the clatter, up the uneaven country
road. of the approach of a small band
of mounted dragons.
"Haltv'
"Twas stern, sonorous voice-a
voice that would make you lift your
eyes quickly and instinctively to scan
the owner. 1t proceeded from stern,
firm but handsome lips. 1t was en-
forced by keen glitter Of pair of dark
gray piercing eyes; by the majesty of a
free commanding form and by an air
of native power entirely unassumed.
The party drew up before one of
those pretty cottages that have 50 nat
urally sprung up in the beautiful wilds
of Wicklow. A rustic gate stood half
open and revealed small and taste
fully laid out garden with neatly kent
walks, inviting the pressure of the in
truder's foot A porch, half-buried in
woodbine, low windows draped in soft
folds of white lace, through which the
eye might trace faint impression of a
pleasant interior-these met the gaze
of Captain Howard as he pushed wide
the garden gate and strobe within.
The slow, irregular notes of harp, as
though the player, following vague
fancy. wandered aimlessly over the
chords, arrested for moment the ad-
vance of the dragon. With asudden
impulse he turned backward to his
'ncn, and merely saying, "Wait till my
retu'n," he moved vii h measured steps
to the porch and knocked.
Twas strange that in the few mo-
ments between his summons and the ap-
pearance of a whiteheaded domestic the
image of sweet face he had seen and
loved in another land should present
itself so forcibly to his Imagination
and stranger still that, as he lifted his
eyes from that glance into his own
hidden heart, he could almost swear
the face looked at him To, an instant
from the diamond windows near.
Slightly moved, he saluted the porter
by requesting to speak with the master
of the house, at the same time gently
insinuating he would bear him COM
pany as his business was too urgent to
admit of even the delay of waiting the
gentleman's permission.
"Deed, then, I'm afeard he'll be mad
enough with me for letting you come
in unlimited, l may say" said the old
man; "bpt come along-and niver well
come you,' he continued under his
teeth, you Saxon hound. See, sir,
here's gentleman soldier was in sulh
hurry to SEQ you he wouldn't wait
for me to bring in his name
Seated in an armchair, reading or
pretending to read, by cheerful fire,
the person addressed looked up, laid
down his book, deliberately wiped his
glasses, and resuming them. surveyed
his visitor.
Mine is an errand much to my dis
taste, sir" the dragon began" My in
trusion would be objectionable, but
that stern duty brings me here. and I
have Ia choice but to obey"
The occupant of the armchair made
an effort to sprak, bu, hough his lips
moved, no sound escaped ..om. He
was YER, elderly man. and very del
icate ooking, with nerv ,. S twitch-
ing, closing and unciosing of the hand
no'ding ths spectacles. He motioned
tn %.goon to a seat, and again looked
in his iu' interros satiyely.
Captai Howard was less and