Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-10-02
URG, KANSAS. SATURDAY. OCTOBER 2, 1856.

imagining by recalling the sweet face OF
her who had Just left him with words OF
love and hope and prayed that this ''bit-
ter cEallce' might pass away.
But, alasi 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 VII
fred Aylmer.
Oh selfish kings and avariciOus princes,
how little ye reck the cost Of your
Icrownsi how little ye care. News travel
ed slowly in those days, but medieval
maidens did not sigh and pine like we of
modern times, but looked hopefully for
the triumphant return OF their victors,
their minds being nodded and tinted by
their war-hke surroundings. Battles
bOded only an excess of honor and glory.
Rumors ct length reached Avonleigh
that q great and decisive battle had been
fought in which the house Of York had
triumphed. Preparations on a magnifi-
cent scale had commenced at the castle
for the return Of the -yictors. Joy bells
rung from every steepIe and beItry in the
village. All were jubilant In the belief
that their noble lord was coming home
/ covered with hOnOrs. An, but here was
a messenger at last riding in hot haste.
He looked neither to the right nor to the
left as he rode past the gay banners and
resounding cheers Of the villagers. Both
! horse and man were sore, faded and Gov
cred with foam, from long and continued
riding, but he never drew rein until he
reached the castle, whose gates are
thrown wide open, bar and bolt giving
way to graceful arches and emblems Of
welcome.
In the outer courtyard he filings the
reins to a servant, who stares at him in
silent wonder. Another astonished lac
qney is requested to lead him to the
presence Of lady Miriam
Through gOrgeOusly decorated halls,
where the air is heavy with the odOr Of
flowers, huge vases Of white roses greet
the eye at every step. dropping, as if in
welcome, their rich petals at his feet.
Truly the fairest and httsst welcome to
the victor.
GeOHry Vane was a brave gentleman
and a gallant soldier, who had often con
frOnted death IN many shapes man to
whom fear was a word without meaning
yet to-day his heart sank weakly and
his limbs trembIed as the rustic Of a wo-
mans dress fell upon his ears. In another
moment he is bending low before Miriam
Grey, who Is his cousin. and whom he
has never seen until to-day.
There Is a glad and gracious welcome
in her face and her voice as she holds out
her hands to him. Ali how can he tell
her the story that may quench the light
IN those bright eyes forever, or mayhap
chill to death the white hand now lying
In his OWnl
Oh, victorious white rose, whose beauty
is sullied by the Hfe-blOod Of father,
lover, and brother, well may you droop
your heads in the great halls below, and
shed Your pale leaves in pity for her
whose peerless head is well-nigh level
with the dust. aye, this day Of glorious
victory brings grief unutterable to the
now desolate Lady Miriam.
~
The red October winds are signing
among the gables and turrets of the
castle, whispering the WOeful tale to the
leahess trees and dead flowers. The
crimson and gold leaves are being buried
beneath the snow which is piling high
among them, and all nature puts on her
saddest garb as the magnificent maUso- /
leum at AyOnleigh closes its pOnderous
doors upon the dead victors.
Like a white shadow the helpless
Lady Miriam PAGES ever through the
lonely halls and galleries, where the
dead roses are still untouched. No hand
has been allowed to move the withered
emblens of welcome since that fatal day.
Frozen and cold as the beauteOus /
eidelweiss she has buried herself from
the world. Patiently and hopeIessly
has GeOfry Vane tried to warm the
dead heart to life. Long and tenderly
he has hoped that the stricken heart-ten- |
drills might revive and bloom again In
the sunshine of his love.
~
The spring time has come again with
its soft blue skies. The tender flower |
buds are unfolding to the sun-gOd, /
whose breath nurses them from the !
brown bosom Of the earth. The summer |
has come with all its gladness, but yet |
no bloom comes to the cheek Of the wild /
owed girl-no brightness to the sad |
eyes.
Again the October noon is bathing the /
castle Of AvOnleigh In its yellow light, /
hinging grOtesque shadows upon the /
stately mausoleum, and the dying flow /
ers are sending their last Perfumed sigh |
ere the rude touch of winter comes upon |
them. Up In her boudoir the golden .
head is bowed In prayer; she hears not a /
fOOtsteP until GeOHry Vane utters her 4
name reverently. She Lifts her head, /
looking at him with eyes which seem to .
emit the very light Of heaven itself His /
heart bounds with a great Joy. AT last /
she Is aWaking to his patient love. The |
cold hands are not Withdrawn from his /
now. For the first time the weary head |
is resting against his heart. AT last his |
unWearied love has found an echo in the .
sweet bosom and mOistened the parched /
heart. The lips which his warm kisses /
fall upon for the first time are cold, but .
oh! the love and life and promise that he /
sees in the inefable smile with which she /
tries to reward him It was truly
moments CLEAN of sun,
bWeetening the very edge of doom;
The past, the present-all that fate
Gan bring of dark desperate
Around such hours,
But makes them cast
lursnser radiance while they last.
Speeches with his great happiness /
he holds her closely In his arms. For /
one brief moment the beautiful lips are /
appraised to his, and In that one long kiss |
the wounded white rose breathes her /
last loving sigh, and GeOhry Vane holds /
the dead Lady Miriam in his close en- /
brace.
Stories Of 1Iormondom.
Boston Commercial Bulletin
In about three weeks the wife returned /
and found the hired girl, who had been
left IN -barrr. Of Ere -I,y,--g. sv.-E-TT-1 ~