Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1886-10-02

strife saw also the white haired earl and
his son fighting side by side with VIII
fred Aylmer.
Oh selfish kings and avaricious princes,
how little We reck the cost OF your
crowns; how little ye care. News travel
ed slowly in those days, bat 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 like surroundings. Battles
boded only an excess of honor and glory
Rnmors ct length reached Avonleigh
that great and decisive battle had been
fought, in which the house Of York had
triumphed Preparations on magni6-
cent scale had commenced at the castle
for the return of the victors. Joy bells
rung from every steeple and belfry in the
village. All were jubilant in the belief
that their noble lord was coming home
covered with honors. All, but here was
a messenger at last riding in hot haste.
He looked neither to the right nor to the
LETT as he rode past the gay banners and
resounding cheers of the villagers. Both
horse and man were sore, jaded and COW
cred with foam, from long and continued
riding, bat 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 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 tttest welcome to
the victor.
Geofry Vane was 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 trembled as the rustic of a wo-
mans dress fell upon his ears. In another
moment he is bending low before Miriam
Grey, who is bis cousin. and whom he
has never seen until to-day.
There is glad and gracious welcome
in her face and her voice as she holds out
her hands to him. All! 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 own!
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
leafess 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 Avonleigh 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
bas been allowed to move the withered
emblems of welcome since that fatal day.
Frozen and cold as the beauteous
eidelweiss she has buried herself from
the world. Patiently and hopelessly
has Geoffry Vane tried to warm the
dead heart to life. Long and tenderly
be 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
It's 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
mas come with all its gladness, but yet
no bloom comes to the cheek of the wild.
owed girl-no brightness to the sad
ayes.
Again the October noon is bathing the
castle OF Avonleigh in it's yellow Light,
iinging grotesque shadows upon the
stately mausoleum, and the dying flow
srs are sending their last perfumed sigh
re the rude touch of winter comes upon
hem. Up in her boudoir the golden
lead is bowed in prayer; she hears not
ootstep until Geofry Vane utters her
lame reverently. She Lifts her head,
ooking at him with eyes which seem to
INIT the very light of heaven itself. His
leart bounds with great joy. At last
he is swaking to his patient love. The
old hands are not Withdrawn from his
low. For the first time the weary head
> resting against his heart. At last his
lnwearied love has found an echo in the
weet bosom and moistened the parched
leart. The lips which his warm kisses
all upon for the first time are cold, but {
h! the love and Life and promise that he
ees in the ineffable smile with which she I