Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-10-02
ABRuILEN HEART.

A BhOhEN HEART
Down IN the heart Of Kent-that most
beautiful IF English countries stands
the grand old Norman castle Of Avon
! leigh. Blilt upon a gentle elevation, 1t
! commands a splendid view of the richest
| scenery. Broad stretches Of forest, whose
giant trees dWindle into mere atoms in
the distance. Gently undulating hills,
/ merging ito tie bluest skies IN the dim
/ distance, with here and there a tiny
! glimpse OF siver sea.
| 1t was theyear Of that most disastrous in
ternaI struggle, The War Of the Roses, -
when the tair flag Of England was stain
/ ed with the blood of her noblest sons.
Lord John de Grey, the master Of Avon
leigh, had already declared himself a
warm adherent Of the house Of York, and
/ when the tide Of war mingled its turbu-
| lent 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 a sinking sun. In a lit
| tie while the castle is bathed in the ten
der moonlight, the clinging ivy leaves
glisten like silver and tr5mbls from the
fsintest peFfumed breeze.
The earl's only daughter, Lady Miriam
a fair-haired maiden, with a wOndrOus
pretty face, is down In the quaint old
garden, drawn thither by the singular
beauty Of the night; and, verify, moon
never shown 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 a white rose
from its thOrny stem the delicate finger
was pierced and a crimson drop stained
the roses purity, but no murmur escap-
ed her, and gathering up the folds Of her
white robe she walked slowly back to the
sastle.
Young and beautiful, surrounded with
wealth and pleasure, this young girl knew
not what unhappiness meant; like a bird
whose giIded cage shelters and protects
her, life indeed was all sunshine without
NadOW.
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 hap
ass Of her existence.
ready she had given her heart to
young Wilfred Aylmer, as brave and
handsome a 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
almost uncOnsciOusly, clasping the now
Hutchinson 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
the tender cheek was laid against his
own.
"WhRt a dark-brOWn study my dear
father is in, {" murmured the sweet voice.
The earrs face was scanned and shad-
owed with care as he lifted his head, and
a sudden paleness OYerspEead his feat
ures when he saw the white rose which
she laughingly held up to his gaze.
81 was thinking Of you, my pearl, % he
replied drawing the fair head down TO
him, and kissing the sweet, childish
mouth, shut now that you are here, ne
added, '.like a CLEAN Of sunlight among
my shadows, I am no longer sad" But
seeing a shade OF psia in her eyes he
added hastily.
81 was indeed thinking Of the time
when someone would rob me Of the fair
est flower In my garden Of roses
She ch-ded him lovingly for thinking
too soon, with her accustomed pray
er and goodnight kiss left him.
Up the wide staircase she goes, slowly
and thoughttully, now through the great
picture gallery, where the OId-fashioned
but beautiful faces Of other Lady Miri-
ans 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 the
dead eyes that seemed to follow her as
she passed beneath them?
She soon reached her favorite room.
high In the west wing, a coy nook,
where she loved to look upon the moon
Light scene without and inhale the faint
fragrance Of the garden beneath.
Lady MiEiam's life had indeed been
ike the unrufhsd bosom Of a clear, calm
lake. Her placid bosom had never been
disturbed by a sad thought. True,
within the past few months her heart had
awakened, bud-ike, to the new and sweet
knowledge Of another love. That very
morning she had been plighted to Sir
Wlltred Aylmer, and their marriage
would be sOlomnizsd when this war
cloud had rolled past.
Long and sadly the earl unused that
night; his heart was full Of fOreboding
Of coming sOEOW. What If ia this war
which every day seemed more imminen
he should faHf What e this, hfs one
eve lamb, sholld l,s laf5 q. -z.s.l--ias8-