Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-12-31
CRUEL
-=AS-
THE GRAVE,
The Secret Of DunPaYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author OF 'FAithnuI Margaret" Etc. Etc


future was slowly OversDreading my
sky, had one sweet consolation; then.
as now, my little Ulva gave me the balm
Of her pure affection. and her fathers
heart and mine could still meet in our
love for her.
AT that time England was much vexed
by Eastern questions; rival tribes were
suing her for help to conquer each other;
many conflicting claims were made
which it was difficult to Judge between.
At length it was decided TO send a secret
agent. accredited by the government, to
the scene of trouble, to gather the real
rights of the several claimants before
England should enter into the negotia-
tions with either side. Lord 1nchcape
was the choice OF the cabinet; statecraft
and indOmitable courage were requisites
for the de icate mission, and in these my
lord was deemed highly gifted.
1t was sadly significant of the distance
which was daily widening between our
spirits, that my lord at first made his
arrangements for going on his embassy
by himself, and could hardly be got to
believe that his wife preferred to be by
his side.
=You mistake the nature OF the jour
ney,7 he demonstrated; Il do not travel
with pomp and ceremony as the envoy
Of powerful nation; there are reasons
why should go as quietly and quickly
Is pOSSlDlt- snail take NO dLLeluAnlSs
and l shall follow the ObScureSt routes "
$50 much the better" 1 cried; ave
shall be the more together, and I shall
be your only attendant more loving and
faithful than any you ever had befOrei"
~EngelOnde, 1 do not require this hard
duty of you
Oh. Raleigh, my husband, were you
blind?
II must go with you-do not do not
forbid mel" 1 prayed with bursting
heart. @Why will you deem my wife Y
love self-sacrifce? I have no life art
from yours. Do not forbid me to go
with you And my lord was silenced;
he permitted his child wife to creep
within the closing fortress of his heart
almost to take her old place there-Only
for that shadow Of doubt which ever
lowered between. Yet even that half
victory was Joy unspeakable for me; and
as 1 saw myself included in his every
plan, all heaven seemed opening before
me-a heaven Of hope where doubt
would fee away forever. I was happy
hsppyl
We confided our Viva to the loving
protection OF her mothers kindred, the
old Countess Of Rothaye, and babe fare
well to the shores of England. for me a
long farewell.
AM now l was my husbands constant
companion, no other came between US;
he leaned on me-he looked deep into
my heart and almost recognized the only
image there 10 be his own; he must have
come to trust me wholly very soon. Ali
I should have died thenl
We had reached that great Oriental
city where he had arranged to leave me,
the rest OF his journey was through a
hostile territory, and It would have been
folly for me to wish to hamper him with
my presence Four persons had gone
from our household ahead of us to pre-
pare a residence for me; my lord and 1
had jOurneyed incOgnito, avoiding in ev-
cry way the recognition of any one
who might indemnity our persons or rank,
for great interests depended upon the
secrecy of the mission.
We found pleasant residence in the
suburbs Of the city ready for US, and a
modest household installed. all was ap-
proDriate to the style of well-to- do com
moners, which was the disguise we had
adopted. The four persons 1 refer to
were: Mr. John Sircombe, who had been
my lords travelling tutor in his youth,
and his secretary since; he was now
placed at the head of my establishment
as director in my lords absence. The
second was Kenmore, a noble old High
lander and my lords body servant; then
came Mary, my maid, a simple, kind
creature who loved me we'll; and Ma
than, Mr.. SircOmbe's man, a shrewd fell
low, like his master.
From the first moment that I had met
Mr. Sircombe's cold. grudging eye when
my lord presented him to his bride at
Inchcape Fosse. 1 had never liked him;
felt rather than saw duplicity under
that smooth exterior, yet, as my lord
placed great confidence in him I was
ashamed OF ny dislike and never whis-
pered it; so that my dear lord thought
he pleased me well when he gave me his
secretary for = guardian in his absence,
and l accepted him in silence, hoping
that l might have no need of faithful
one.
We found letters from England await
ing US which announced an important
amendment in the programme Lord
1nchcape was to have q colleague to
share the dangers OF his mission. and
an officer who had local knowledge of the
territory in question, and who could
guide the envoy by the shortest and
safest route. This gentleman whose
name was not mentioned, was TO wait
upon my lord Immediately upon his ar
rival
We were in the garden, my lord and I,
when the colleague came; the splendor
OF the tropical verdure was unrolled
around US; we were alone, we two,
strolling hand in hand among the roses;
no sound was heard save our own low,
loving voices; love, sweet as the incense
OF these surrounding blossoms, was in
our hearts
1t was the last moment that love lived
between US; already the feet that were
TO trample it dead were at the gate.
carriage rolled into the court,
guard in blazing uniform rode about it
ALAS! my brother envoy is here, -
said my husha d, regretfully, I'VE must
start within the hour, sweet Engelonde,
we must partl5 on pressed your be
loved lips to mine, my husband, for the
last time-the last time. oh, Raleigh!
Through the scented alleys we heard
him come-I lifted up mine eyes-my
heart stood still-it was Col Accrington
my insulting lOver-my husbands enc
my What thought you OF your young
wife's sudden sta and pallor2 AlasI
for EnEelonde, that lowering doubt came
closer then
On he came, tall, naughty, with his
mob air, his impassive countenance;
nearer, nearer. his measured step trod
upon my heartfelt Of brassl
He looked up. beheld me, came to q
dead stop-the hue Of death passed upon
his bronzed check
you Of all the teeming worldl1 he
groaned-
felt the shock that thrilled through
my husband as elung, half sinking. to
his arm; he scanned each conscious face
with pi1less inQuisition. but not a word.
Yes, II Is /, Col AccrinAton. re-
H.forted, stung into defiance By pain;
and why not L? Am I the first wife
tho has found her happiness in wander
lng the world over by her husbands
side?n
-Perhaps not replied he. demon
i prompted; -nor are you the last Door
mortal who viii wander the world over