Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-10-16
CRUEL
"a S.
THE CRAVE,
=
The Secret of DunraVen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author of Faithful Margaret" Etc. Etc
r4ApT7cR Ix-1ContInued)

IS now, my little Ulva gave mo the balm
Of her pure affection, and her fathers
heart and mine cou.d st Ill meet in our
.CVe iOr hcr.
At that Nino England was much te1sd
Nv Eastern questions; rival tribes were
Suing her for help to conquer each other;
many conflicting claims were mado
which it was ditlicut to Judge between.
1T length it was decided 10 send secret
agent. accredited by the government to
;he scene OF trouble, to gather The real
rights of the several claimants before
Nnpland should enter into the negOtia-
eions with either side. Lord lnrhcapo
was the choice OF the cabinet; state raft
md indomtable courage were requisites
tor the dc icate mission, and in those my
lord was deemed highly gifted
II was sadly significant Of the distance
which Ma, daily dening between our
sprts. that my lord at first made his
irrangements for going on his embassy
Nv himself, and could hardly be got to
Ieliove that his wife preferred TO De oy
mis- side.
"You mistake the nature Of the jour
nov," he demonstrated; 81 do not tlaVel
with pomp and ceremony as the envoy
Of a powerful nation; there arc reasons
why should go as quietly and quickly
IS possib'c. | shall take no attendants,
and | shall follow the ObScurest routes
$50 much the better, l cried; I'VE
shall be the more together, and l shall
30 your only attendant, moro loving and
faithful than any you ever had before!"
"Engelondc, do not require this hard
duty of you -"
Oh, Raleigh, my husband, were you
blind?
Il must go with you-do not do not
forbid me-" ! prayed with bursting
heart. "Why will you deem my WHEY
iove sef-sacrifce? l have no life art
from yours. TO not forbid me to go
With you And my lord was silenced;
no permitted his child wife to creep
within tho 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
yictory was Joy unspeakable for me; and
as | saw myself included in his every
olan, all heaven seemed opening before
ne-a heaven of hope where doubt
would flee away forever was happy
happy
We confded our Ulva to the 'oving
protection Of her mothers kindred, the
5ld Countess of Rothaye, and bade fare
well to the shores Of England, for mo q
long farewell
AnInow was my husbands constant
companion, no other came between US
ne leaned on me-he looked deep into
nv heart and almost recognized the only
image there to be his own; he must have
come to trust me wholly very soon. All
shou'd have died then!
We had reached that great Orlenta
.ity where he had arranged to leave me
the rest of his journey was through
hostile territory, and 1t would have beer
folly for me to wish to hamper him witt
nv presence. Four persons had gon
from our household ahead OF US TO pre-
pare a residence for me; my lord and
had iourneyed incOgnitO avoiding in eV
erv way the recognition OF any one
who might tindentify our persons or rank
for great interests depended upon tn
secrecy of the mission.
We found pleasant residence IN IN
suburbs of the city ready for us, ana
modest household installed, all was ap
oropriatc to the style of well-to do com
moners. which was the disguise we hat
adopted. The four persons refer U
were: Mr. John SircOmbe, who had 0eel
nv lords travelling tutor in his youth
and his secretary since; he was nov
rlaced at the head OF my establishment
as director in my lords absence. IN
second was Kenmore, noble old High
lander and my lords body servant; thel
came Mary, my maid, slmp-e, Kln'
creature who loved me well; and Ma
than, Mr.. SircOmbe's man, O shrewd Tel
low, like his master.
From the first moment that l had me
Mr. Sircombe's cold, grudging eye whel
my lord presented him to his bride a
InchcaDe FOsse, | had never liked him
felt rather than saw duplicity undeI
that smooth exterior, yet, as my lore
placed great confidence in him | wa
ashamed of my dislike and never whis
pored 1t; so that my dear lord though
he pleased me well when he gave me hi
secretary for guardian in his absence
and / accepted him in silence, hoping
that might have no need of faithful
one.
We found letters from England await
Ing us which announced an impOrtan
amendment in the programme Lor
Inchcape was TO have coll. ague 1
share the dangers OF his mission. an
an Officer who had local knowledge Of tn
territory in question, and who coul
guide the envoy by the shortest an
safest route This gentleman who's
name was not mentioned, was to wal
upon my lord Immediately upon his al
rival
We were in the garden. my lord and
when the colleague came, the splendo
of the tropical yerdure was unrolle
around US; we were alone, We two
strolling band in hand among the roses
no sound was heard save our own low
loving voices; love, sweet as the incens
of these surrounding blossoms, was
our hearts
1t was the last moment that love live
Netween us; already the feet t. at wet
10 trampe it dead were at the gate.
A carriage rolled Into the court
guard in blazing uniform rode at, ut |
"Alas my brother envoy is here,
said my hus d, regretiully, we mu
start within the hour, sweet Enoeiond
we must part0 ]oI pressed your /
loved lips to nine, my husband, Tor u
last time-the last time! oh, Raleigh!
Through the scented alleys we heal
him cme-I lifted up mine eyrs-m
heart stood st.l!-it was col, AccrinSto