Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-10-29
ISFODEL CASTLE.

Many years have vanished from the
face of the earth since the castle of lsfo-
del was first erected The ravages of
war have filled many land with sor-
row, and the angel Of peace has often
visited the world, bringing balm to the
weary Empires have arisen and, like
the paling Of star, have disappeared
from the armament of time since that
remote period
At the time of our narrative Isfodel
had undergone many changes since tho
days of its former posses.ors. 1t still,
however, presented the same granite
appearance The wild, wrathful ocean
beat against the base of the cliff OIL
which the castle stood, and dark and
lonely appeared the great forest a few
rods away Lord Hilderbrand and
many of his followers had passed away
to the land of the soul.
Finally Isfodel fell into the posses
sion Of Lord Hurdron, an exceedingly
unpopular man, of grabbed disposition
and darkened reputation. He was dom
ineering i'll his conduct toward those
beneath him in social standing, and
added to this, he bore such a selfish
spirit that he won the respect of only a
few persons.
Very different in her nature was La
dy Ella, the only daughter of Lord Hur-
dron. She possessed all those qualities
and accomplishments that tend toward
the development of true womanhood
She was greatly liked by all who knew
her, and we'll did she merit the love that
her friends bore her.
If there was one thing to which Lord
Hurdron was violently opposed, it was
that Lady Ella should marry man who
possessed not wealth and bore not the
title of nobleman She we'll knew her
fathers antipathy to her forming all in
timacy with any of the lower class.
Still this did not deter her from seeking
the company of Roland Hitter, with
whom she had fallen deeply in love.
He possessed nothing in his nature that
even Lord Hurdron could find aught
against had not the latter such an aus
tere and jealous disposition.
The knowledge of love meetings !
sometimes difficult to keep from stts-
picious parents, and so it was in the ca Q
of Lady Ella and her lover. 1t was not
long before Lord Hurdron became cog
nizant of the interviews between his
daughter and Roland Hitter, and he inn
mediately proposed to break the init
macy.
EARLY one morning as he was passing
through the dark forest Of Athol Lord
Hurdron's attention was arrested by the
sound of voices falling on his ear. Pres
entity Lady Ella, accompanied by Ro-
land Hitter, appeared in view, Not
wishing to be observed by Them Lord
Hurdron stepped behind large tree to
wait until they passed by.
"Dear Roland, let us sit down for u
few Moments said Lady Ella in
sweet voice.
Lord Hurdron managed to restrain
his temper and wait for further devel
opments. He saw the young couple sit
down under the outrageous foliage CT
large oak tree He beheld the young
man pass lis arm tenderly around the
waist Of the fair girl, and he noticed
that she did not attelnpt to resist this
act Of familiarity.
"Dear Ella" said Roland, "let us
leave this country and fly to some for
eign land. where our marriage can take
place unhindered by your people, for
you know that were your father to learn
of our betrothal he would spurn me
from these premises as he would rep
tile. 4"
Dear Roland, replied Lady Ella,
"wheresoever you go there will bear
you company, What is the love | en-
tertain for my people compared with
the deep affection that has chained our
hearts together?'
await my coming" And as Roland
uttered these words he arose from his
seat and together they walked away.
As Lord Hurdron heard these words
he inwardly cursed the soul Of Roland
Hitter He waited until the young low
ers had gone some distance, when he
emerged from his place Of concealment
and quietly wended his way toward the
castle. On his way he met one of his
servants, to whom he spoke few
words The mans face slightly changed
color as his masters voice fell Oh his
ears.
IA thousand pounds, Rupert, if you
perform the deed, " said Lord Hurdron,
as he departed
II understand, my lord" And the
man walked away.
Roland Hitter lived mile from the
castle of Isfodel, and it was his favorite
pastime to wander along the high bank
that bordered the ocean and listen to
the beating Of the waters below Rare
ly day passed but that he spent por
tion Of his time there.
On the afternoon following the events
just narrated Roland was walking lei
surely along the bank, gazing on the
blue waters when voice fell on his
ear.
"A bad place for a man to fall from. 4
"Ah. is it you, Ruperta" said Roland.