Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-09-04
CRUEL
=AS=-
THE GRAVE,
-SOR-
The Secret of DunpaVen
Castle.
BY ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author of Faithful Margaret" ETC.. Etc
CHAPTER H.-ContinuedA

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.
81 could describe her for you every
flowing curve" said he, his tones vibrat'
ing with feel ng, while he raised him elf
to his elbow in his enthusiasm. She is
dark and ri, hly beautiful, Ike al
AsSyrian; her hair ripplcs in blu black
waves above her proud, innocent brow;
she is as meTciful as ho i brave; the
people wor hip her for her tundor goo l.
ness and she is ju what S a princess
ought to be-"
A slight stir and n sound like stifled
breath attracted their eyes to tall fig
ure which stood just without the circlo
of candle-light.
Lady Dunraven started visibly, and
recOiled with u 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
n wonderful fire; yet her voice was low
and even as she spoke.
"ApprOach, MIR SircombC; YOU know
how welcome you ways are. Mr.. Sir
COmbc, Mr.. Edgar. Your patient is
comfortable, you see, sir"
How icy her glance, how austcrc! In
al his astonishment Edgar could rot 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. Fc saw a tall. gGunt mar,
4. L.. cbn,,llor, EnNUp1
and his chest followed; his temples were
sunk, his forehead bald, his eyes weary
and haggard, and his cOuntenance care
worn. lie Looked like worn oIt stu
dent, or like man who has Outlived
every satisfaction his life ever pOSS 'ssed
There was, however, a gloomy fire III
his eyes when they first e.counter d Ed
gars which showed that he had even yet
some interest IN life, and was quite cap
able of anmOsities. His acknowledg
m6nt OF Lady Dunraven's introduction
to the trang,r was particu arly formal.
81 am gratifed to learn that Mr.. Ed
gar is C, mfortablc Although not doc
tor, was fortunate enough to have &C
quired some m dical knowledge in my
university days; and such simple ski a
/ possess is sometimes use ul Oh tn un-
frequent island"
Edgar murmurcd his thanks for Mr..
SircOmbe's ministrationS lie wondered
whether Mr.. Sire ombe had been among
his men applying his simple skill to their
bruises, and If SO, whether he had cX-
tracted from them the information which
he was so anxious to keep back, namely,
that he was Arden Of Inchcapc and they
TnOhnas0 loHC Ha fhnnnlf nnt
Mr.. Sircombe'S mOroSe viSage expressed
no indignant astOnishment when Lady
Dunraven named him Mr.. Edgar.
But if he was safe so far, he 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 "Spaewfe" of S cat
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 reported to be all dead asleep"
"And how Jared my fine old cnemy,
Kenmore?" asked Edgar.
kenmore had Jared the worst Of any.
The old sea lion, inspired by his adorcd
COlavas presence on the scene, had
dved after the stunned and sinking
young captain again ard 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 who'e night
had been spent between the rooms of her
favorite servant and her gucst, and the
attention which she gave to Sircombe's
report of KcnmOres present state show
ed how deeply she would have mourned
his loss.
"HaS he spoken yet?" asked she. No,
he had beon conscious, but too weak for
any effort Mr. Sircombe 1iad left him
Sleeping profoundly with watcher in
the room; hc believed all danger was
past.
Edgar heard the story of his rescue
by the stern cd Highlander and the
lovely girl-nO5c WITH hriling emotion.
1t seemed like some fine old romance of
ancient chivalry; he made a picture of
The wild enc in his mind and pOndcred
over it There was something faScinat-
ing in the situation, and fair Ulva g.ew
and grew in his Imagination with ever
Frightening beauty. He asked no more
questions, but with halfshut eyes.
which saw nothing present, and faint
smile on his lips, lay dreaming.
Observing his silence, Lay Dun
raven made a negligent sign Of diSm. .ssa',
which Mr.. SircO nbe instantly obeyed,
with a low, submissive bow; and then
sie turned her brilliant eyes eagerly
upon the un onsciOuS face Of Edgar,
and pored over it with intense interest
The night sped; the fire llckcred and
died, and flickered again; low, ftful
wind complained around the walls tho
eternal roar of the hO low ocean thun-
dcred afar.
Edgars open-eyed dream pass d in.o
restless slumber; he WOKE again to
clca or vision of hs cream; wild
thoughts ard impulses came TO weary
him; he began to Teri lex himself about
hi; surroundings; anl still through
every vary ing phase of his mood he saw
fair 90 ava in h,r dark-b ue attire
standing upon the clil. tn her pale
face and dark, fa-hiny eyes. calling on
Kenmore 10 try again. try again! for
the stranger must lie saved. md he
began to long for tie touch OF that
scething surf, and to pant for the Chilli
ness of the night wnl: and then he
wouid forget his heat and thirst again