Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-08-28

and formal In what brief intercourse he
had deigned to hold with him; and a
stern and silent man among his mates on
board tho Mergauser
He was man OF giant stature,
straight and massive as tower, with
snow white locks and pale-blue, piercing
northern ewes An expression OF hauteur
redeemed his rough-hewn features from
ynlQaritv. and he had well+earhed the
respect of master and mates by his nautl-
cal skill and the scrupulous fulhllment
of his duties.
Az Edgar Arden demanded the nature
of the peril which threatened them, the
old man answered sternly:
"Many brave ship has laid her Dones
at the foot of yon black rock. There's
current that runs like a mill race to the
rock-it has got a grip of our keel by
now, and we're but leaf in the storm" !"
Tn, boding words struck heavily on
the hearts of the men; eye sought eye
b'anky; they were weary and faint
from the toll OF the day.
But Ardens CHEEKY voice rang out
again.
"Whilo there's life there's hope" cried
he. "My stout men know no fear,
and we're all brave swimmers. | see an
inhabited fort on the rock, and II our
ship must go to piet cs the eople VIII
doubtless b. on the lookout for the pcor
castawaYs."
Tho half. drowned sailors burst out
with rouSing hurrah! Hope returned
when Arden spoke, his gallant spirit lD'
fused itself into every breast.
But Kenmore turned away with look
of chill unb lief, and fixed his eyts upon
tho isle, which was swiftly looming near
er. Gradually his stern features soft
ened, and his keen eye filled with gentle
enc tiOn.
"Farewell farewell unhappy Dun
| raven" Edgar heard him muttering;
"Ive seen the curse fall upon you, but
| III never see it lifted. Farewell, falr
injured ladyl " will tarry long FIR leal
Kenmore, as ye've tarried for deliver
an,e; they will not comel Farewell to
you, proud Ooava, child of sorrow. In
vain do yo starry cen shine DER the
! lonely main, till strong hand opens
vonr cage We Gamma win out! And what
| Ger comes to lady and child, | shanna
be tn re to see; fer cd Kenmore Will
come again no more. no more!"
Arden listened to this weird o1tburst
with indeScribable amaze, q strange look
on his fac. 1t was not only that he
WAS astonished at the revelation OF
passionately loyal nat re in this unbend-
ing old salt, or at the pure and poetlcal
language which he used, enhanced as 1t
was by that plaintive, musical intona =,
tion which is only 10 be heard north OF
| Inverness.
He listened to the wild lament, and
watched the scant and bitter tears OF
old age that started sto the old mans
ewes: and in spite of the peri OF the
moment, sudden fiery curiosity pos
sessed him; he felt as if he could not die
until ho had fathOmed this amazing
mystery.
When Kenmore had ceased to speak
and was sinking into mournful reverle,
Edgar abruptly add essed him,
"What d. you know OF Sleat-na-
Vrecken?"
Kenmore started and met his eyes
sternly.
a was born upon S'eat-na- Vrecken-
ay, and it looks as if wad cen die at
it's FOOT" replied he.
"Than you know all about it?" said
the young captain, eagerly; "you know
whether the tower upon its summit is
not ca led 'Dunrayen Tower, eh?"
Kenmore's stern face grew fierce, his
beetling brCws met over his flashing
ewes in a sudden b ack scowl
"Who spake of Dunraven?" growled
he.
"Ah! l remember nowl" cried Edgar
in great agitation; "my lords chart ol
his domains-the little islet in the
northern seas, saw it in print but
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 t(
him: he was stunned by it. He hac
conned over the great chart of Inch
canes POSSESSIONS with the earl for in
structor; and there he had seen the tiny
islet Sleat-na-V -Vrecken crowned by Dun
raven Tower
"a wild place that" he had said
laughingly; chow Go you pronounce it?'
And my lord had moodily passed it b!
unpronounced, and his voice had sounded
unnatural when next he spoke, upon ;
far different subject.
And now this Kenmore was lamentinl
the fates of an injured lady who woult
look in vain for her lesl Kenmore, AM
of proud OOlava, a child Of sorrow
whose cage door would never be opene'
to set her free until some strong han'
came from ATARI And "Arden OF Inch
CAPE" thought of the beautiful brid
who had died abroad five years ago
to the utter spo ling of his kinsman
life; and of Lord Inchcape's fai
daughter who was supposed to be still
at her education on the Continent; an
it struck him like the lightning's fias
that he had found them-that they wer
in Wonder Tower of Dunraven!
"Tell me-" he said, imperiously, layln
his hand upon the pilots shoulder, "wh
dwells in Dunraven Tower?"
Kenmore was mute; ne gazed in th
, young mans face with force curiosity
81 see the flag flying from the turret,
cried Edgar, $50 know that memce
of the family is there. Who is 1t, man
, I command you TO tell mel have
! right to know"
) Kenmore looked at the imperious youn
, gentleman from head to foot, and h
smi was grim as death.
? maybe it's the lord himself" h
! vouchsafed to say at last
"No! no! You know it iS ~N' el
D claimed Edgar. "N'ny should you lib
: to deceive me?"
4 "Honored SIR" quo'h Kenmore, dryl.
@ "lf We wad excuse the free iom | wa
s submit that We had better be saying yor
4 prayers, gin we a gang to the bottom
G than peerng into matters that concer
d ye not!"