The Globe-republican., 1891-11-19


board the Mergauser.
He was q man Of giant stature.
straight and massive as q tower, with
snow-white locks and psIe-blue, piercing
northern eyes An expression of hauteur
redeemed his rough-hewn features from
vulgarity, and he had well-earned the
respect of master and mates by his nauti-
cal skill and the scrupulous fulfllment
| of his duties.
| As Edgar Arden demanded the nature
Of the peril which threatened them, the
old man answered sternly:
~Many brave ship has laid her bones
at the foot OF yon black rock. There's q
| current that runs like a mill race to the
rock-it has got grip of our keel by
now. and we're but q leaf in the storm.
The boding words struck heavily on
the hearts of the men; eye sought eye
| bisnkly; they we're weary and faint
from the toll Of the day.
But Arden's CHEEKY voice rang out
again.
while there's life there's hope" cried
he. my stout men know no fear,
and we're all brave swimmers. l see An
inhabited fort on the rock. and II our
ship must go to pieces the people will
| doubtless be on the lookout for the poor
castaways."
The half-drowned sailors burst out
with rOusing hurrah! Hope returned
when Arden spoke, his gallant spirit in
fused itself into every breast
But Kenmore turned away with a look
Of chill unbelief, and fixed his eyes upon
the isle, which was swiftly looming near
er. Gradually his stern features soft
ened, and his keen eye filled with gentle
emotion.
Farewell! farewell! unhappy Dun
raven" Edgar heard him muttering:
1--we seen the curse fall upon you, but
| I'll never see it lifted. Farewell. fair
injured lady! ye will tarry long for leal
| Kenmore, as ye've tarried for deliver.
| ance; they will not come! Farewell to
| you, proud Oolava, child of sorrow! In
vain do your starry cen shine DER the
lonely main, till a strong hand opens
| your cage ye Gamma win out! And what
e'er comes to lady and child, l shanna
be there to see; for old Kenmore will
come again no more. no mOre!"
Arden listened to this weird outburst
with indescribable amaze, a strange look
On his face 1t was not only that he
was astonished at the revelation of a
passiOnately loyal nature in this unbend-
ing old salt, or at the pure and poetical
language which he used, enhanced as it
was by that plaintive, musical intona-
| tiOn which is only to be heard north Of
Inverness.
He listened to the wild lament, and
watched the scant and bitter tears Of
old age that started to the old mans
moment, a sudden fiery curiosity pos
sessed him; he felt as if he could not die
until he had fathomed this amazing
mystery.
When Kenmore had ceased to speak
and was sinking into mournful reverie,
Edgar abruptly addressed him,
~What do you know of Sleatna-
Vrecken?"
Kenmore started and met his eyes
sternly.
IL was born upon Sleat-na- -Vrecken-
ay, and it looks as If l wad cen die at
its FOOT" replied he.
"Than you know all about it?" said
the young captain, eagerly; "you know
whether the tower upon its summit is
not called 'Dunraven Tower, eh?"
KenmOre's stern face grew fierce, his
beetling brows met over his flashing
eyes in a sudden black scowl.
"Who spake of Dunraven?" growled
he.
"Ah! / remember now" cried Edgar
in great agitation; @my lords chart of
his domainS-the little islet in the
northern seas, l saw it in print, but 1
never heard it pronounced before, and the
name Of the town was Dunraven!" His
hurrying thoughts went on in silence:
an incredible revelation was opening to
him; he was stunned by it. He had
cOnned over the great chart of Inch
cape's possessions with the earl for in
structor: and there he had seen the tiny
iSet Sleat-na- Vrecken crowned by Dun
raven Tower.
"A wild place that" he had said,
laughingly; "hOw do you pronounce it?"
And my lord had moOdily passed it by
unpronounced, and his voice had sounded
unnatural when next he spoke, upon a
far different subject.
And now this Kenmore was lamenting
the fates of an injured lady who would
look in vain for her leal Kenmore, and
of proud Oolava, child Of sorrow.
whose cage door would never be opened
to set her free until some strong hand
came from afar. And "Arden OF Inch
cape" thought of the beautiful bride
who had died abroad five years ago.
10 the utter SpOiilng OF MS klnSman
life: ana Of Lord Inchcape's fair
daughter who was supposed to be still
at her education on the Continent: and
it struck him like the lightning's flash
that he had found them-that they were
in yonder Tower of Dunraven!
Tell me, he said. imperiously, laying
his hand upon the pilots shoulder, ~who
dwells in Dunraven TOwer?"
Kenmore was mute; he gazed in the
young mans face with fierce curiosity.
Il see the flag flying from the turret"
cried Edgar. $50 know that member
of the family is there. Who Is it, man?
l command you to tell mel have q
right to know"
Kenmore looked at the imperious young
gentleman from head to foot, and his
smile was grim as death.
"Maybe it's the lord himself" he
vouchSafed to say at last
mo! no! You know it is not. ex-
claimed Edgar. ~Why should you like
to deceive me?"
"Honored SIR" quoth Kenmore, dryly.
eff We wad excuse the freedom l wad
submit that ye had better be saying your
prayers, gin We a gang to the bottom.