The Democratic advocate., 1900-06-30

OF course we islanders were all deeply
concerned in this. 1t was of deep moment
to US who should be our next landlord
We were sorry for the old lord, for he had
been good and kindly ruler of his tenan-
try. The story of the Mad Spaniard and
his treasure quickly left mems minds in
presence of this new event, which we be-
held in the light of grave calamity. We
could only look on and sorrow for him; we
we're as powerless to help him as we were
to stay the storms that swept the coast.
The day came when the sale was to be
effected, the mortgage foreclosed, and the
estates of Arranmore TO pass from the
hands of its ancient possessors. Of course
the tenantry all assembled to witness pro-
ceeding that was Of such deep moment to
them; and, of course, among the others
went we islanders There was large con-
course assembled There are few things
more melancholy than the breaking up Of
an ancient home; it means the sunderance
of so many ties, the ruin of so many hopes,
the coming of so many changes. Where
fore an air of gloom pervaded the place as
we wandered aimlessly about, waiting for
the sale to commence. Carriages bearing
many of the surrounding gentry drove up;
containing, also, many London gentlemen
interested in the matter, either as intend
ing purchasers, as relatives, or as mortga-
gees. We were watching the various vehi-
cles which, as they came, discharged their
freights and went away, without indeed
any motive more potential than vague and
idle curiosity, when suddenly neighbor
touched me on the arm and said, in a voice
which at once caught my attention, so full
Of strange surprise it was-''Lookl Look
[ looked in the direction his outstretched
hand indicated; and there, in the act .oi
descending from an elegant carriage, the
same curious grin remembered 50 well on
his tawny, wrinkled face, was-yes, by the
immortal ghost of King Bryan was
Spania, the Mad Spaniard himself
| rubbed my eyes quick and hard, for
thought was bewitched or dreaming. L
rubbed them harder still, when the next
moment there stepped down-like sun
beam, summer flower, enhancing, radl-
ant-Donna Gracia, the Spanish hose,
smiling, delighted, with a halo of loveliness
around her which far outshone even hel
beauty on the summer sands of Arran.
think | rubbed my eyes hardest of all when
there came from the carriage, third and
lastly, Charlie Norman-the future Lord
Clare looking just as good -humored and
brave as when he carried the colors Of Eng
land on the redoubts of the stormed Indian
strong hold
Is it necessary to tell how the sale was
stopped; how the old baronial castle re-
mained undespoiled; how the mortgage was
paid off; how such wedding never yet was
seen in hall or tower as that which eele-
brated the union of the Hon. Captain
Charles Norman and Donna Gracia, heiress
to don know how many Spanish quar-
terings-for she was lineal descendant to
the powerful grandee whose bones whirened
on the Implying Arran coast; how, when
the old lord was gathered to his fathers,
the succeeding Lord and Lady Clare made
themselves so popular and beloved that
don't think a single soul envied the posses
sors of the treasures torn from the depths
of the Sanctissima Trinidad? | trow net