, 1886-12-19

grand old Norman castle oil ANOnlelgii.
Built upon IA gentle elevation 1t commands
n splendid view of the richest scenery.
Broad stretches Of forest whose giant
trees dwindle into mere atoms in the dis
lance. Gently undulnting hills, merging
into the bluest skies in the dim distance,
with here and there II 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 adhcrcnt of the house Of York,
and when the tide of war mingled it's
turbulent stream with the pure and
peaceful waters of domestic life the gray
haired enrl was found fighting bravely
beside his only sol
a mellow day in autumn is drawing to
n close, the soft light of II harvest moon
is contending for supremacy with the
shadows Of the sinking sun. In n little
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,
Il fair haired maiden with n wondrously
beautiful face, is down in the quaint old
garden, drawn thithcr by the singular
beauty of the night and. verify, moon
never shone upon fairer form than hers,
and the flowers sent forth their sleeping
incense to greet this living Rose of
Avonlcigh."
A. she stopped to pluck n white rose
from its thorny stem the delicate finger
was pierced aud II crimson drop stained
the roses purity, but no murmure 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
Il bird whose gilded cage protects and
shelters her. life indeed WAS all sunshine
without n shadow.
Though ruinors of war were in the mir
and men spoke in serious tones of the
strife which seemed inevitable, no
thought OF danger married the calm happi-
ness Of her existence.
Already she had given her heart to
young Wilfred Aylmer, as brave and
hunG.prlc II youth as tho sun ever shone
upon, and whose strong, young arm shall
also he welded in the cause OF the noble
house Of York.
Through the wide, dimly lighted hall
WHY Lady Miriam walked slowly and al
most unconsciously, clasping the now half
Crnnspncl 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 IL
t,ulct cheek was laid against his own
What "a dark brown study my dear
father is in, murmured the sweet voice.
lie earl's face was canned and shad
ul.yl with care us he lifted his head and
a. .a1.r.Aa LII. ST. -.
whcn hc saw the white rose which she
lau. dinghy held up to his gaze.
~ wns thinking of YOU, my pearl, - he
replied, drawing the fair head down to
him and kissing the sweet, childish
mouth, but now that you nre here, 80 he
indeed. like II CLEAN of sunlight among
my shadows, | am no longer sad But
seein- n Shade Of pain in her eyes he
added hastily
II was indeed thinking of the time
when some one woul rob me Of the fair
est How cr in my garden of roses"
she ,iided him lovingly for thinking
Too soon, and. with her accustomed prayer
and good might kiss, left him.
tIp the wide staircase she goes, slowly
and thoughtfully, now through the great
picture gallery, where the old fashioned
but beautiful faces of other Lady Mirianls
looked down upon her. VAST the weird
moonlight that made those dead faces
seem to bend from their stin frames and
causc u gleam Of sadness to light up the
dead eyes that sccmcd to follow her us
She passed bcneath themy
Siis soon reached her favorite room,
high III the west wing, n coy nook,
where she loved To look upon the moon
light scene without and inhalc the faint
franr1nce Of the garden beneath.
Lady Miriam's life had indeed been like
10 the ungificd bosom of IA clear. calm
lake. Her placid bosom mad never been
disturbed by asad thought. True, within
the past few months, her heart had awak-
cned, hudlikc, to the new and sweet
SNOW ledge of another love. That very
morning she had been plighted to Sir
Wtlfred ASlmer, and their marriage
would he celebrated when the war cloud
Ind rolled past.
Long and sadly the earl unused that
night, his heart was fun of forcboding Of
coming sorrow. What If in this war
which every day seems more imminent he
should fally What if this, his one eve
lamb, should hc OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES lie
tried 10 drive n,.ay his gloomy imagin-
ings by recalling the sweet fnce OF her
who had just left him with words OF love
and hope, and prayed that this 'bitter
chalicc' might pass away
But, alas "a month later saw the rival
parties engaged in determined and deadly
strife-saw also the white haired carl
and his son lighting side by side with
young Wilfred Aylmer.
oh, selfish kings and avricious princes,
how little ye reckon the cost of your
crowns; how little We care. News tray
eled slowly in those days, but medieval
maidens did not sigh and pine like us of
modern times, but looked hopefully for
the triumphant return OF their %victors,
their minds being nodded and tinted to
their warlikc surroundings. Battles
BODIED only nm access Of huAnr and glory.
liumors at length REACHED Avonleigh
that a great and decisive battle Ind been
fought. in which the House Of York had
triumphed. Preparations on n magniG-
cent scale had commenced nj the castle
for the return Of the Victors. Joy bells
rang from every steeple and bclfry in the
VILLAGE. All were jubilaut in tho belief
hat their noble lord was coming home
with honors. All. but here was "a mes
senger ut last riding In hot haste. lie
looked neither 10 the right nor the left ns
lie rode past The gay banners and resound-