The Globe-republican., 1891-11-19
The Secret of DunraYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE.
Author Of Faithful Margaret" ETC., Etc
CHAPTER I.
SLEAT-EA-yRRCKE


ing surf: the heavens were eclipsed by
leaden clouds which trailed their ragged
skirts along the surface of the waters;
lightnings streamed from the rent skies
like fire through an open door; thunders
rolled-it was wild day, that!
Set in the midst of this elemental
frenzy, rock-bound islet stood, black
and steadfast; it's basaltic cliffs were
crowned by an ancient square embat-
tied tower. A flag streamed from its
turrets, the broad rose window of its
chapel glimmered amid the wild wrack of
the storm.
The breakers rOared around the foot
of the isle-leaped upon its rocky walls,
fiinging their snowy foam up even to
the castle parapet, and fell back in a
thousand sivery rills, to crouch and leap
again in endless, Intellectual fury.
When the hour of sunset came, q
wild glare shot from the angry west
across the seething waste, and along
that fiery pathway little ship came
fleeing before the storm under bare
poles.
She was a slight and dainty craft,
more fit for the silver reaches of the
Thames than for these fierce Hebridean
seas. Yet, like some high-couraged,
beautiful animal running for its life, she
still kept her ravening pursuers, the
waves, behind her, and staggered on un-
dauntad.
1t was Edgar Arden's yacht, the Mer-
gauser, which had been blown out of her
course, and was now running head on
for the iron bound isle as fast as the
wind and current could drive her.
Edgar Arden and his stout-hearted
men were utter strangers in these seas:
they had made long and gallant fight
for dear life, and hoped even yet to slip
by the looming rock and find safe sea-
room beyond
But as that fierce ray lit the scene,
showing distinctly for the first time the
form of the fOam-swathed rock, q voice
rose from among the little company on
the laboring bark, a voice like the knell
of doom:
~The Sleat ma -Vrecken! Beware the
Sleat-na- Vrecken!"
The men, clinging each to his pla ce
that he might not be swept away by the
crowding waves, turned with one &C.
cord to gaze at the utterer of the warn
ing
1t was the only man among them who
knew these waters, an old Highlander
whom they had picked up about TOna
for pilot
Rain tr SHINE, 10 eye had ever before
seen old Kenmore moved; his spirit was
hard as his country's granite, and not
easily daunted, but he was daunted now.
Elevated above them all and hanging on
to the bare mast. with his long white
locks drifting on the gale, he gaZed upon
the approaching isle in pale dismay.
"The SIeat-na Vrecken." echoed Ed
gar Arden quickly, "where have heard
that wild Morse name? Or is it only a
reminiscence of some old sea legend?
Strange. 1t rings familiar in my ear.
But what particular peril are We in from
that black rock? Ell, kenmore"
He was fine fellow, Arden; the beau
ideal of gallant, brave patrician: no
sleepy languOr or lily fingers with him.
he was all life and fire, yet with that
look in his flashing eyes which women
love men for
Tender and true," as douglas" of
the sweet ballad, was Arden of Inch
cape; and if he had not yet discovered
the lady who was destined to win his
loyal heart, it was through no cOldness
of temperament or predOminance of
self-cOnceiJ
Edgar Arden had not been very long
promoted to the acknowledged heirship
of a noble English house: he was the or
phan son of the nearest of kin to the Earl
of Inchcape; and when that nobleman
lost his beautiful young wife abroad five
years before, having no issue save
daughter by his first wife, he brought
his heirat law home to Inchcape Fosse,
and formally ratified his rights
Edgar was already a gentleman in
character and breeding. and he entered
that desolate house like blessing to the
embittered Inchcape, upon whom
crushing calamity had recently fallen.
He had always heard so much of Inch
cape's fine career, his philanthropic
projects, his political power, that when
he first came to the Fosse and found his
kinsman q broken, brooding man, with
noble aspirations all forgotten, and
powers unheeded, his ardent young
heart was touched, and he loved him
with no common love.
Lord 1nchcape gradually awoke to
the comforting sweetness of this unex-
pected affection. He marked the youth
and began to thank God that, since he
was denied n son of his own body, this
true man was to stand in that relation
10 uiu 1uuS IL was that EOS8T became
the beloved of Inchcape. master and
people. He was denied nothing that he
set his heart upon-his will was law.
He craved a yacht; the earl presented
him with q nonpareil In yachts-the
Meigauser. He wanted q crew; the
due complement OF men was cul.ed from
the flower OF Lord Inchcape's tenantry
And we'll they loved their gallant young
captain: they would have followed him
round the world at his bid; nobody was
so great or SO good in their eyes as
"Arden of Inchcape."
Edgar had been alone in the world
since his infancy. when he lost both his
parents. A guardian had then taken
cold care of him according to the letter
Of his instructions, sending him to .
first-class academy, and then to Eaton;
but small was the home happiness until
Lord Inchcape took him home to the
Fosse.
Edgar had enjoyed his usual luck in
his trip in the Mergauser until he took
Kenmore aboard like second Jonah.
He had never shown the least devotion
70 his young captain; he had been cold