The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-02-12
THE GRAVE
The Secret Of DunpaYen
Castle.
by ANNIE ASHMORE,
Author Of Faithful Margaret" ETC., Etc
CHAPTER L.
EIHLT-HA-YREC

oL1AT-HA -fhEChhN
AL day long the blast had scourged the
porthern seas into maelstrom OF boil
Ing surf: the h avens wero eclipsed by
ieaden clouds which trailed their ragged
skirts along tho surface Of the waters;
Iightnngs streamed from the rent skies
like FIRE through aA open door; thunders
roled-it was wi d day, that!
Set In tho midst OF this elemental
frenzy, rock bound is.et stood, black
and steadfast; its basaltc cliffs were
crowned by an ancient square embat-
tied tower A fng strcamed from Its
turrets, the broad rose window OF It's
rhapel glimmeroi amid the wild wrack or
the storm.
The breakers roarcd around the foot
Of tho is.c-lcaroi upon its rocky walls,
fincing their snowy foam up even to
tn, castle parapct, and fell back In
thousand silvery ri.ls, to crouch and leap
again in endless, Intellectual fury.
When the hour OF sunset came,
wild glare shot from the angry west
across the scethiny waste, and along
e. at fiery pathway little ship came
fleeing before the storm under bare
poes
She was slight and dainty craft,
more fit for ths silver reaches OF the
Than than for these fierce Hebridean
as. Yet, like some high-couraged,
b autifui animal running for its life, she
still kept ner rayon.ng pursuers, the
waves, lehiud her, and stagger~ on un-
daunt d.
1t was Edgar Ardcn's yacht, the Mer-
gausei, " hiuh had been blown out OF her
course, and was now running head on
the iron hound lie as fast as the
winl and current could drive her.
Edgar Arden and his stout-hearted
men W. g utter Strangers in these s. as;
they al made long and gallant fight
for dear life, and hoped even yeJ to slip
by the looming rock and find safe sea-
room beyond
But as that fierce ray lit the scene,
showing distinc ly for the first time the
form of the foam-swa he'd rock, voice
rose from among the little company on
The laboring bark, voice like the knell
Of DOOM:
arhc Sleat ma .vrecken! Beware the
Elca -na-Vrecken!"
The mon, clinging each to his pla ce
that h. might not b swept away by the
crowding waves, turned with one ac-
cord to ga. O at the u.terer OF the warn
Ing
1t was the cn,y man among them who
knew these waters, an old Highlander
whom they had picked up about iona
for pilot
Ran shine, no eye had ever before
seen old Kenmore moved; his spirit was
hard as his countrys granite, and no
easily daunted, but he was daunted now
Elevated above them ali and hanging OF
to the bare mast, with his long white
locks drift NJ on the gallo, he gazed upor
the approa hing isle in pale dsmay.
"Ths s eat ma Vrecken!" echoed Ed
gar Arden quickly, "where have l heart
that wild Morse name? Or Is 1T on'y
reminis, encc of some old sea legend
STRANGE 1t rings familiar in my ear
But what particular peril are we in frou
that b ack rock? Eth, Kenmore.
He was fine fe low, Arden; the bea'
ir;eal OF ga liant, brave patrician; n
81 epy languor or lily fingers with him
he was all life and fire, yet with tina
look in his flashing eyes which wome
love men for
.Tcndcr and true" as douglas" 9
tho sw ct ballad, was Arden OF lncf
zane: and IL he had not yet dscovere
tho lady who was destined to win n
loyal heart, it was through no coldnes
of temperament or predominance
ef.concelJ.
Edgar Arden had not been very lon
promoted to the acknowledged heirshl
of a noble English house; he was the o.
pban son of the nearest of kin to the Ia
of Iuchcape; and when that nooiema
lost his beautiful young wife abroad nv
wears before, having no issue save
daughter by his first wife, he orougl
his heir-at law home to lnchcape foss
and formally ratified his rights
Edgar was already gentleman
hrandfnO and ha enteTf
that desolate house like blessing to u
ombittcred Inchcape, upon whom
crushing calamity had recently falie
He had always heard 50 much OF Inc
canes fine career, his philanthrop
pro 'ects, his political power, that wh'
no first came. TO the Fosse and found
k;nsman a broken, brooding man, wi
noble aspirations all forgotten, al
mowers UNDECIDED, his ardent you.
heart was touched, and he loved hi
with no common love-
Lord Inchcape gradually awoke
the comforting sweetness OF this une
nected affection. He marked the you
and hogan to thank God that, since
was den ed son of his own body, u
true man was to stand In that reiati
TO him. Thus it was that Edgar oecal
tho beloved Of Inchcape, master
neople. He was denied nothing that
set his heart upon-his will was law.
He craved yacht; the earl presen.
him with nonpareil in yachts
MeIqanser. He wanted crew;
due complement OF men was GU. ed :
the flower OF Lord Inchcapes tenant
And we'll they loved their gallant you
capt.in; they would have followed 2
round the world at his bid; nobody
SO great or so good in their eyes
sArden of Inchcape."
Edgar had been alone In Inc wo
since his infancy. when he lost both
parents. A guardian had then tai
cid care of him according to the lei
of his instructions, sending MIN q
frst-class academy, and then to Eat
but small was the home happiness u
Lord Inchcape took him home 10
Fosse.
Edgar had enjoyed his usual lucl
his trip in the Mergauser until he :
Kenmore aboard like second Jonah,
he had never shown tho least oeyo
AIT kA had hA0n