The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-21
THE SIREN or N0RLAKE
.sss - ABBEY. ...a~ .,a,e.

thou talking? 1t were better for thee
to gossip less with old Dame Magarie,
for her foolish babble has well nigh
turned thy head" &t ! a
The speakerowasssa regal beautiful
woman, folds of crimson velvet, em-
broidered with pearls, fell round her
royalty, strings of precious stones
t"aided her raven hair, and on the bare
20 throat that carried her graceful
head so proudly shone diamonds, bril-
for queens dower-just
suchsascontrest as would mark n fair
field,dsisy, by the side of an imperial
Dion rose was the girl who stood be.
fore her; her Blue eyes filled with tears,
and her soft, childish mouth qpivering.
"Nay, dear lady," she cried, lit is no
foolish babbl.t; for in passing down the
north wing but yesternight, methought
1 heard low talking. Had I known
the passage below was haunted, should
have gone mad from very terror
81. "a low talking, silly wench--all are
dumb in this abbey, that human voice
should scare thee-as lief some soul
lion holding tryst with one of our brave
men of-war-and thou to come troub-
ling mo with thy tears. Fie upon thee,
Alice Fie"
"Nay, nay, sweet lady, there's not o
servant in this house would enter that
passage after e'en. For they say the
wicked nun walks nightly adown that
"a nun! forsooth," and Lady Usula
laughed merrily. 'They have found
thee ghost in truth when thoy take
holy woman from her rest"
The girl crept close to her mistress.
''She was not holy, my lady, but
most sinful. Years agone, when this
same castle was an abbey in very truth,
there lived q wicked abbess, who loved
ayouth right woll, so we'll, that she
granted him many d. secret int""vicw,
till, at last, fearing he might boast her
favor, she, one night, pushed him down
the steps that lead to the dungeon
keep, and left him there to die" .
''This is a-dark tale indeed, child,
and it's to be hoped my lady abbess
chamber, for thy sake, at least"
For holy Marys sake, fair mis-
tress. do not so jest; they say
that ghosts can hear, and may be
aavengee,: words spoken in their dis
"Leave me, foolish girl 60, mend the
lace on my wristbands that our naughty
hawk tore yesternoon, and forget this
same foolish ghost story"
Left alone, my lady seated herself in
the deep bodied mullioned window,
and gazod long and sadly on the gay
parterre below; the sunbeams sparkling
III mad revel, waking tho diamonds to
prism bushes, could bring no Joy into
her deep, dark eyes, So would she sit,
day after day, sorrowful and alone.
No trouble had thrown that shadow
across her smooth brow; no sudden
grief had blighted her yoiing life cit
was shame that battled with her pride,
and daily murdered happiness. Only
three short months bride; and this
was the shame that [te her peace away
she had come to her lord an unsoueht
bride; she had gone to him as payment
for debt, and that debt q dark story
of dishonor.
The duke of Malvern was gambler
to the backbone, and evil tongues were
not wanting that gave n darker name
even to his excessive love of games of
chance; but the scandal never gained
ground. The fair Usula Mallet had
been the bribe that silenced the only
tongue that could have proclaimed her
fathers crime. She know when Young
Lord Craven sought her hand in mar
riage that he came straight from o.
etormy interview with the duke, whom
he had detected in the very act of try
ing to toss cloggod dice.
"Thou hast my fathers honor in thy
poWer,"L she said, drawing her tall form
up in all its regal dignity.
my darling" tho lover pleaded
never shall anght Of. this sad matter
pass my lips. I do 4eploro me Chat T
spoke so hastily; but, Usula Mia. thy
fathers honor is safe with me-
fHNhon + will 1>o tlxr
answered, withdrawing herself hastily
from his rapturous embrace; all tho
fierce pride that was her bane, harden
ing her heart against her lovers tender.
pleading eyes; for she had mans
spirit, and would rather have given tho
slanderer quittance with few inches
OF good steel between them, than have
bought his silence with her love.
The marriage was hurried in most
unseemly fashion, for Hugh of Malvern
could not sleep soundly till UsuIa de-
parted bride from his roof; and then
he breathed freely, knowing we'll that
Craven, having quarter4l his arms
would guard his secret with his life if
needs be. 'a'3 o.. " .'..t. -.
But tho fair Usula was q woman,
and woman they say is ever to be won
80 It came to pass that the love she
nad denled her Wooer went out to her
husband in oil the unsullied strength
OF first and only passion; but she had
80 taught her lover coldness that bo
never guessed the secret those dark ewes
hid go i'll, thinking that the flash that 1t
thelr Well-like depth was aversion rather
than affection; and when she shrank
hsq from his ;,sn9 csrsaass Sc he faneied It was
hatfed instead O che shy diffdenoe that
Poor Usula, eating her heart awav
suffered sorely; and when her husband
spent his time in manly sport and left
her lonely; thinking she was best pleased
80, my lady wept long and sore, tears
that she would have "led rather than
he .ahopld witpess; and this was why
the, sunlight could find no joy in her
dark eyes.
There is 0 stir in the courtyard be-
low d sound of music, and the tramp of
many feet. and Usula knows that her