, 1897-12-08
1SFODEL CASTLE.

Many years have vanished from the
face of the earth since the castle of Isfo-
del was first erected The ravages of
war have filled many Il land with sor-
row. and the angel Of peace has often
visited the world, bringing balm to the
weary. Empires have arisen and. like
h palinG of Il star, havo disappeared
from the armament of time since that
rcmote period.
AT the time of our narrative Isfodel
had undergone many changes since the
days of its former possessors. 1t still,
however, presented the same granite
appearance. The wild. wrathful ocean
beat against the base of the cliff on
which the castle stood, and dark and
lonely appeared the great forest Il few
rods away Lord Hildcrbrand and
many of his followers had passed away
to the land of the soul.
Finally Isfodcl fell into the posses
sion Of Lord Hurdron. an exceedingly
unpopular man, of grabbed disposition
and darkencd 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 ho won the respect of only a
few persons.
Very ditfe.cnt in her nature was La
dy Ella, the only daughter of Lord Hur-
dron, She possessed all those qualities
and accomplishments that tend toward
fhn lnynlnItnnpt 1f fru, u-ptnnnhnnI
She was greatly liked by all who knew
her. and well 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 Il ma who
possessed not wealth and bore not the
title of nobleman. She well knew her
fathers antipathy to her forming IN i'll
timacy with any of the lower class.
Still this did not deter her from seeking
the company of Roland Hitler, with
whom she had fallen deeply i'll love.
He possessed nothing i'll his nature that
even Lord Hurdron could find aught
against had not the latter such an aus
tere and jealous disposition.
Tho knowledge of love meetings is
sometimes difficult to keep from su'
picious parents, and so it was i'll the case
of Lady Ella and her loyer. 1t was not
long before Lord Hurdron became cog
infant of the interviews between his
daughter and Roland Hitler, and he i'm
mediately proposed to break the init
macy.
Early one morning, rs 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
emily Lady Ella, accompanied by Ro-
land Hitter, appeared III view. Not
wishing to be observed by them, Lord
Hurdron stepped behind n large tree to
wait until they passed by.
Dear Roland, let us sit down for a
few moments" said Lady Ella i'll a
sweet voice.
Lord HUI. Iron managed to restrain
his temper and wait for further devel-
opments. He saw the young couple sit
down under tho outrageous foliage of
IA large oak tree. He beheld the young
man pass his arm tenderly around the
waist of the fair girl, and he noticed
that she did not attempt 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 a
place u%nhindered by your people, for
you know that We're your father to learn
Of our betrothal he would spurn me
from these premises as he would q rep
tile"
Dear Roland" replied Lady Ella,
"wheresoever you go there will l bear
you company. What is the love l en-
terrain fol-. my people compared with
the deep affection that has chained our
hearts together"
"'Then this evening at the red room
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 Il few
words. The mans face slightly changed
color as his masters voice fell IN his
ears.
"A 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 q mile from the
castle of Isfodel. and it was his favorit9
pastime to wander along the high bank
that bordered the ocean and listen to
the beating of the waters below. Rare
ly a day passed but that he spent a por-
ton 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 u voice fell on his
ear.
"A bad place for a a to fall from"
"Ah. is it ycc. Rupert?' said Roland,
Ask your