Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1901-12-27
LADY BLANCHE.

Save for the wave Of the tree tops,
and the corn on the hill.
The sun giows red on the valley
On golden sheavcs Of grain,
And the birch trees in the forest
Glow like n western plain.
A river flows through that valley,
Cruel treach'rou and deep,
And the waves roll ON lbs surface
When all the worlds asleep.
Oh, cruel arm Of the ocean,
What tales you could tell
II your tongue was but loosrned
As you flow through the dell
But now you will tell story
That church bells loud have rung,
And which has, Oh mighty river
Come from many a tongue.
Twas late IN the cool September,
And winds were growing chill,
when he squire and Blanche his daugh-
ter
Came to live on the hill.
The squire owned yonder valley
Mnny a western ranch,
But fairer than all his acres
Was his fair daughter, Blanche.
she was good and kind. remember,
Alike TO rich and poor,
And many the fruit and flowers
She'd brought to cottage doors.
Lady Blanche the peasants called her,
Well was the name, / tfow,
For none Of the simple people
Had looked ON iulrer brow.
And then she was fond Of riding
On horseback, grind and gay,
So up and down la the valley
She'd Eallop ev'ry day.
But see the sky How It darkensl
Now comes the thunder's roar
AS the rain comes down in torrents
And beats against the doors.
But in the storm hand is laid
Firmly upon door,
And u proud. sweet voice is saying,
Amid the tenlpest's roar:
"My father, Bessie is Il ing
To me cousin dear
And to her bedside must go,
Though it be far or near.
But llstenl the storm is ccaslnRl
Farewell for must go,
I'm going across the river
Tha can ford, know"
"My daughter, the sources voice trem
bled
"May peace be with you now"
He laid his hands upon her head
And kissed her troubled brow.
go then, my child, ;" he continued,
"Your h, rse is at the door,
But do not fail to soon return
/ love you more and more"
Blanche smiled and bowed her Lowell
head,
Then rode DER brake and fern,
And little did she dream or think
OF how she would return
Riding toward the rivers brink,
She heard the waters roar,
For now they had risen higher
Than eer they had before.
The river that flowed so calmly
Was now foaming food,
But Selim now stood as firmly
As he had always stood.
Blanche's bravo heart almost failed hei
But she said in clear tones,
I'VE must ford the river, Selim,
And do 1t all alone"
The noble creature arched his neck,
And then his rider bore
Into tie raging foaming flood
For the bridge was covered DER.
Well uonei we'll done, oh, noble pair
The flood is nearly crossed
A slip. a slide, startled scream,
Alasl now all is lost.
The treachrous waters closed above
The face Of Blanche 50 fair,
And all was still after that scream
Had rent the silent air.
Yes, sellm was drowned beneath
The waters dark and deep,
Aud the pale form Of his rider
Lay in a silent sleep
The squire sat In a silent room
A tap O me at the door
A man in tears bade him "Make way
Your daughter is no more
We saw her at tho river bank N
That slopes 50 high and steep,
She tried TO cross and then she sank
Benentli the waters deep.
We found her then and brought
here.
Silent and cold and dead.
She looks as though she were asleep
Lying upon her bed.
My wife twined lilies in her hair,
They grew on waters wide,
But now she sleeps, she meier will see
The coming Of the tide.
Now she Is dead. we'll lay her here
She has died like a falling leaf"
Leaving the room they left the squire
Alone in his silent grief
He knclt by the bed where she lay,
His child who just before
Bade him goodbye with tender words,
Her hand upon the door.
He prayed to God with trembling lips,
''pye nothing left 20 love,
Take no pray thee, my Savior,
To thy kind home above"
'Tis the set Of sun, its waning rays
Shine through the churchyard gloon
They light the graves, the mellow ray
Gliding marble tomb