Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-11-19
CRUEL
AS
THE GRAVE,
The Secret Of DunPaYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author of''Fsithnal Margaret" Etc. Etc
cHAPTER m-1Continusd.,
BY ANNIE AsHMoRE.

the vision Of the beautiful girl, with her
inspired face, and her dauntless glance
that swept the ravening waves, disput-
ing with them for their prey.
Il could describe her for you-every
flowing curve" said he, his tones vibrat-
ing with feeling, while he raised himself
to his elbow in his enthusiasm. She is
dark and richly beautiful, like an
Assyrian; her hair ripples in blue-blaek
waves above her proud, innocent brow;
she Is as merciful as she is brave; the
people worship her for her tender good
ness, and she is just what sea princess
ought TO bel"
A slight stir and sound like a stIfed
breath attracted their eyes to tall fig
ure which stood just without the circle
OF candle-light
Lady Dunrayen started visibly, and
recoiled with a swift and notable change
OF countenance- All the soft wondering
interest was gone, she had turned proud
from head to foot, her eyes flashed with
wonderful fire; yet her voice was low
and even as she spoke.
approach. Mr.. Sircombe; you know
how welcome you always are Mr.. Sir
combe. Mr.. Edgar. Your patient is
comfortable, you see, sir"
How icy her glaneel how austerel In
all his astOnishment Edgar could not but
examine the man who had wrought the
transformation with sudden, eager sus-
picion. Remembering that this lady
was wronged, he was ready to suspect
any one whom she disliked as being the
wronger He saw a tall. gaunt man,
Tniddle-aged; his shoulders were bowed
and his chest followed; his temples were
sunk, his forehead bald, his eyes weary
and haggard, and his cOuntenance care
worn He locked like a wOrn-out stu
dent or like a man who has outlived
every satisfaction his life ever possessed
There was, however, a gloomy fire in
his eyes when they first encountered Ed
gar's which showed that he had even yet
some interest in life, and was quite cap
ah's OF animosities. His acknowledge
Lent OF Lady Dunraven's introduction
10 the stranger was particularly formal
Il am gratifed to learn that Mr.. Ed
gar is comfortable. Although not a doc
tor, l was fortunate enough to have &C
Quired some medical knowledge in my
university days; and such simple skill as
possess Is sometimes useful on this I'M
frequented island"
Edgar murmured his thanks for Mr.,
Sircombe's ministrations- He wondered
whether Mr.. Sircon-5 Be had been among
his men applying his simple skill to their
bruises, and II so, whether he had ex-
tracted from them the information which
he was so anxious to keep back, namely,
that he was Arden OF Inchcape and they
were Inchcape lads He thought not
Mr. Sircombe's morOse visage expressed
no indignant establishment when Lady
Dunraven named him Mr.. Edgar.
But II he was safe so far, ne could not
count upon his future safety unless he
made an effort to maintain it. He in
quired how his men were situated, and
gathered from Mr.. Sircombe's answer
that their hurts had been efficiently
dressed by the old @Spaewifen of Sleat-
na-Vrecken while he was engaged with
Edgar, and that by the time he was at
liberty TO walk down to see them at the
cluster of cottages by the shore, they
were re ported to be all dead asleep"
-And how Jared my fine old enemy,
KenmOre?" asked Edgar
kenmore had Jared the worst of any.
The old sea lion, inspired By his adored
Oolava's presence on the scene. had
dived after the stunned and sinking
young captain again and again: and
having brought him up, and supported
him until they were both drawn to land,
he had sunk down at Ulva's feet utterly
exhausted, and had not shown any signs
of life for many hours.
Indeed, Lady Dunraven's whole night
had been spent between the rooms of her
favOrite servant and her guest and the
attention which she gave to Sircombe's
report OF KenmOre's present state show
ed how deeply she would have mourned
his loss
@Has he spoken yet?" asked she. No,
he had been conscious. but too weak for
any effort. Mr.. Sircombe had left him
sleeping profoundly with a watcher in
the room; he believed all danger was
past
Edgar heard the story of his rescue
by the stern old Highlander and the
lovely girl-noble with thrilling emotion.
1t seemed like some fine old romance of
ancient chivalry; he made a picture Of
the wild scene in his mind and pOndered
over it There was something fascInat-
ing in the situation. and fair Viva grew
and grew in his imagination with ever
questions. but with half-shut ewes,
which saw nothing present, and faint
smile on his lips, lay dreaming.
Observing his silence, Lady Dun
raven made negligent sign of dismissal,
which Mr.. Sircombe Instantly obeyed,
with low, submissive bow; and then
she turned her brilliant eyes eagerly
upon the unconscious face of Edgar,
and pored over 1t with intense interest
The night sped; the fire flickered and
died, and fiickered again; low, ftful
wind complained around the walls: the
eternal roar Of the hollow ocean thun-
dered afar
Edgars open-eyed dream passed into
restless slumber; he woke again to q
clearer vision of his dream; wild
thoughts and impulses came TO weary
him; he began to perpleX himself about
his surroundings; and still through
every varying phase of his mood he saw
fair Oolava in her dark-bue attire
standing upon the cliff. with her pale
face and dark. flashing eyes. calling on
Kenmore to try againi Try sgainl for
the stranger must be saved. sud he
began to long for the touch of that
seething surf. and to pant for the chilli
ness OF the night wind; and then he
would forget his heat and thirst again.
and go back to fair OOlava-
AT last a low, murmuring voice at
tracted his attention A young girl
stood by Lady DRnraven-a slender,
snow-White creature, with delicately
modelled form and pale. poetic face
She never was a daughter of the bleak
Northland. this splendid, dark-eyed
beauty? Not for her the brief summer.
and the long, moaning winter of the
North, with the swollen seas and the
winds that mourn forever. Who could
behold her lustrous, darkiing loneliness
without dreaming Of the hot sweet
lavish summer eternal Of the Orient?
And Yet he knew we'll that her mother
had been OF a noble Scotch house, and
that her name had been a favorite one
in the records of Rothage.
Then from what long-agO foreigner
had Viva inherited her sumptuous
Southern beauty2
She spoke IN q dainty murmur, with
many cautious glance toward Edgar;
and the distant door ajar so that she
might fy upon mis- faintest movement
-But why are you here yet and alone,
Engelonde2n she said chidingly. with
her arms round the lady's neck; Il
Il n. ----------.-.