Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-11-12
CRUEL
THE GRAVE,
The Secret Of DunPaYen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
author OF Faithful Margaret" Etc. Etc
CHAPTER I.
sLEAT-SA-vREoKES.

lightnings streamed from the rent skies |
like hre through an open door; thunders
rolled-it was q wild day, thatl
Set in the midst OF this elemental
frenzy, q rock-bound islet stood, black
and steadfast; its 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,
finging their snowy foam up even to
the castle parapet, and fell back in q
thousand silvery 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 a 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-
daunted.
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 a 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, a voice
rose from among the little company on
the laboring bark, voice like the knell
of doom:
1.-THE Sleat-na-Vreckeni Beware the
SleAt-na- Vreokenl"
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 iona
for pilot
Rain CT shine, no eye had ever before
seen old Kenmore moved; his spirit was
hard as his country's granite, and not
easily daunted, but ne was daunted now.
Elevated above them all and hanging on
10 the bare mast. with his long white
locks drifting on the gale, he gazed upon
the approaching isle in pale dismay.
THE Sieat-na- Vreckenl" echoed Ed
gar Arden quickly, ~Where have heard
that Wild Morse name? Or is it only a
Renaissance Of some old sea legend?
Strangel 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 q 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 II he had not yet discovered
the lady who was destined TO win his
loyal heart, It was through no GOODNESS
of temperament or predominance of
self-conceiL
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 q
daughter by his first wife, he brought
his heIr-at-law home to Inchcape Fosse.
and formally ratified his rights.
Edgar was already q gentleman in
character and breeding. and he entered
that desolate house like blessing to the
embittered Inchcape, upon whom a
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 a broken, broOding man, with
noble aspirations all forgotten, and
powers UNDECIDED, his ardent young
heart was touched, and he loved him
with no common love.
Lord Inchcape gradually awoke tC
the comforting sweetness of this unex.
IL arlra h.
and began to thank God that, since he
was denied a son OF his own body, this
true man was to stand in that relation
TO him. Thus 1t was that Edgar became
the beloved OF Inchcape, master anC
people He was denied nothing that ht
set his heart upOn-his will was law.
He craved yacht; the earl presented
him with n nOnpareil in yachts-thI
MeIgauser. He wanted q crew; the
due complement of men was culled from
the flower OF Lord Inchcape's tenantry
And we'll they loved their gallant young
captain; they would have followed hin
round the world at his bid; nobody wa
so great or so good in their eyes a
~Arden of Inchcape."
Edgar had been alone in the worl'
since his infancy, when he lost both hi
parents. guardian had then takel
cold care Of him according TO the lette
OF his instructions, sending him to
uIsEClAsS dCdUcA11s anu tucu 70 LdIOl
but small was the home happiness unit
Lord Inehcape took him home to tn
Fosse.
Edgar had enjoyed his usual luck il
his trip in the Mergauser until he tool
Kenmore aboard like a second Jonah.
He had never shown the least devotiol
to his young captain; he had been coll
and formal In what brief intercourse h
had deigned to hold with him, and
stern and silent man among his mates Of
board the Mergauser.
He was a man Of giant stature
straight and massive as a tower, wit
snow white locks and pale-blue, piercin
northern eyes. An expression of hauteu
redeemed his rough-hewn features iron
-vulgarity, and he had well-earned tn
respect OF master and mates by his nautl
cal skill and the scrupulous fulfllmen
of his duties.
AS Edgar Arden demanded the natur
OF the peril which threatened them, III
old man answered sternly:
-Many 4 brave ship has laid her bone
at the foot OF yon black rock There's
current that runs like a mill race to tn
rock-it has got grip OF our keel b
now. and we're but a leaf in the storm.
The boding words struck heavily o.
the hearts Of the men; eye sought ey
blankIys they were weary and fain
from the toll Of the day.
But Arden's CHEEKY voice rang on
again
while there's life there's hope, erie
he. -My stout men know no feaI
and we're All brave swimmers see a
Inhabited fort on the rock. and IL on
ship must 90 to pieces the people wi
doubtless Be on the lookout for the pee