Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-26
A BROKEN HEART.

DullI upon "a btullC clGN dIIOIir IL SpllluiaAiho
splendid view of the richest scenery.
Broad stretches of forest whose giant
trees dwindle into mere atoms in the dis
tance Gently undulating hills, merging
into the bluest skies in the dim distance,
with here and there tiny glimpse OF sill
yer sea.
1t was the eve of that most disastrous
internal struggle, The War OF the
Roses" when the fair flag OF England
was stained with the blood Of her nOblest
sons. Lord John de Gray, the master of
AvOnlcigh, had already declared himself
a warm adherent of the house of York,
and when the tide of war mingled its
turbulent stream with the pure and
peaceful waters of domestic life the gray
haired earl was found fighting bravely
beside his only son.
A mellow day in autumn is drawing to
a close, the soft light of a harvest moon
( is contending for supremacy with the
/ shadows of the sinking sun. In n little
7 while the castle is bathed in the tender
moonlight, the clinging ivy leaves glisten
like silver and tremble from the faintest
perfumed breeze.
The earl's only daughter, Lady Miriam,
a fair haired maiden with a wOndrOusly
| beautiful face, is down in the quaint old
! gG-den, drawn thither by the singular
| bc..uty of the night; and, verify, moon
neyer shOne upon fairer form than hers,
/ and the flowers sent forth their sleeping
| incense TO greet this living Rose Of
| Avonleigh." "
As she stopped to pluck white rose
| from its thorny stem the delicate finger
was pierced and crimson drop stained
the roses purity, but no murmur escaped
her, and gathering up the folds of her
white robe she walked slowly back to the
castle
Young and beautiful, surrounded with
wealth and pleasures, this young girl
/ knew not what unhappiness meant; like
a bird whose gilded cage protects and
shelters her, life indeed was all sunshine
without a shadow.
Though rumOrs of war were in the air
and men spoke in serious tones of the
strife which seemed inevitable, no
thought of danger marred the calm happi-
ness OF her existence.
| Already she had given her heart TO
! young Wilfred Aylmer, as brave and
handsome youth as the sun ever shOne
upon, and whose strong, young arm shall
also be welded in the cause of the noble
| house of York
Through the wide, dimly lighted hall
way Lady Miriam walked slowly and al
most unconsciously, clasping the now half
crimsOned rose to her bosom, until she
reached her fathers study.
The old earl sat in profound thought
and did not heed the soft football until a
tender cheek was laid against his own.
what dark brown study my dear
father is in" murmured the sweet voice.
The earl's face was scanned and shad
owed with care as he lifted his head and
sudden paleness overspread his features
when he saw the white rose which she
laughinSly held up TO his gaze.
Il was thinking of you, my pearl" " he
replied, drawing the fair head down to
him and kissing the sweet, childish
mouth, but now that you are here, =" he
added, like CLEAN of sunlight among
my shadows, l am no longer sad" But
seeing a shade Of pain in her eyes he
added hastily
II was indeed thinking OF the time
when some one would rob me Of the fair
est flower in my garden of roses"
She chided him lovingly for thinking
too soon, and, with her accustomed prayer
and good night kiss, left him.
Up the wide staircase she goes, slowly
anu hpN Nht
picture gallery, where the old fashioned
but beautiful faces of other Lady Miriams
looked down upon her. Was it the weird
moonlight that made those dead faces
seem to bend from their stiff frames and
cause a CLEAN Of sadness TO light up the
dead eyes that seemed to follow her as
she passed beneath thems
She soon reached her fayorite room,
oh IN, hn Nxi,,r nnnE-
where she loved to look upon the moon
light scene without and inhale the faint
fragrance Of the garden beneath.
Lady Miriam's life had indeed been like
TO the unruffled bosom of clear, calm
lake. Her placid bosom had never been
disturbed by a sad thought. True, within
the past few months, her heart had awak
ened, budIke, to the new and sweet
knowledge of another love. That very
morning she had been plighted to Sir
Wilfred Aylmer, and their marriage
would be celebrated when the war cloud
had rolled past.
Long and sadly the earl mused that
night; his heart was full of foreboding OF
coming sorrow. What il in this war
which every day seems more imminent he
should fall? What if this, his one eve
lamb, should be Orphaned-desolate; He
tried 10 drive away his gloomy imagin-
ings by recalling the sweet face of her
who had just left him with words Of love
and hope, and prayed that this 'bitter
chalice" might pass away"
But, alas, a month later saw the rival
parties engaged in determined and deadly
strife-saw also the white haired earl
and his son fighting side by side with
young Wilfred Aylmer.
oh, selfish kings and ayricious princes,
| how little ye reckon the cost Of your
! crowns; how little ye care. News trav-
| eled slowly in those days, but medi8val
| maidens did not sigh and pine like US OF
/ modern times, but looked hopefully for
the triumphant return OF their yictors,
| their minds being nodded and tinted to
their warlike surroundings. Battles
boded only an access of honor and glory.
Rumors at length reached Avonleigh
that a great and decisive battle he'd been
fought, in which the house of York had
! triumphed. Preparations on magnifi-
cent scale had commenced at the castle
for the return of the victors. Joy bells
! rang from every steeple and belfry in the
village. All were jubilant in the belief
that their noble lord was coming home
with hcnors. All, but here was a mes
senger at last riding in hot haste. He
looked neither to the right nor the left as
he rode past the gay banners and resound'
ing cheers Of the happy villageraL Both
horse and man were sore, jaded and COW
cred with foam from long and continued
riding, but he never drew rein until he
reached the castle, whose gates were
thrown wide open, bar and bolt giving
Say to graceful arch and emblems of well
come.