Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-04-19
CHAPTER I.

The lookout from Penrhyddyn was
grandly picturesque. The ancient granite
wall of the uncouth, struggling building
rose upon the summit of a steep and
thickly wooded hill, around the base of
winch slumbered a pleasant valley, en-
circled by mountainous heights of undu-
lating moorland, gided with masses of
yellow gorse, and purpled with heather
bloom.
Nature, in her widest beauty, reigned
supreme over the scene. Man and his
works, save in the walls of the old castle,
which, from a distance, appeared rather
the rocky summit of the hill, than stones
fashioned by human hands, were not
there-might have had no place in the
world.
In a small chamber, situated at the
top of the tower, which ianked the build
Ing upon the west, sat fair-haired,
thoughtful looking boy, with dark violet
colored eyes, in whose dreamy depths
there lurked a world of passion. He
might have been eleven years of age, GER
tainly not more.
This boy was Arthur Penrhyddyn, the
only child of Sir Launce Penrhyddyn,
the owner of the castle. The room in
which he sat was disused one. Two
old worm-eaten chairs, of antique form,
faded with the dust and cobwebs that
yelled the whole place, and one thing
else, was now the only furniture.
That other thing was the full-length
portrait of a woman. Dust and damp
had played sad havoc with what had
once been fine work of art the colors
of the dress could scarcely be distin-
guished beneath the mildew and dirt that
encrusted them.
AS it stood upon the floor leaning
against the wall, the sunlight blazed full
upon it, strangely illumining the face,
which, unlike the rest of the picture, was
as vivid as though 1t had been painted
but few years, instead of nearly two
centuries back.
Strangely it seemed to have fascinated
the violet eyes of that fair-haired boy as
he sat there contemplating it with a rapt
look of awed wonderment. This contem-
plative reverie was broken in upon by
the opening of the room door and the
appearance Of a second person.
why, Master Arthur, I've been look
ing everywhere for you"
The speaker was an elderly man, evi-
IDENTIFY superior servant. The boy, not
moving his position beckoned him to come
close. Whose picture is that, Daniel p
he asked.
mercy on us, where have you ferreted
out that ill-omened pictur'?' cried the old
man, look of almost CONSERVATION dis
turbing his iron face.
81 found it in that closet" answered
the boy, pointing to a half-opened door.
81 want to know whose it is; and why
do you call it ill-omened?"
81 never did know such a boy for
ferreting about" answered Daniel half
angrily. "Why, I've never seen that
pictur' since l was a boy; 1 thought il
had been done away with long ago."
1T is the first time 1 have ever been
In this room," replied the boy. "I never
could turn the key before, nor persuade
any one to do it for me.''
There's a wicked pixie lives up here
who eats up curious people" said the old
man, gravely.
"Oh, don't believe in fairies p an.
swered Arthur, quietly. II know all
that sort of thing is not true. Never
mind the fairies; 1 want to know who
! that beautiful lady was, and I am deter.
mined to know"
Daniel looked perplexed. AS far as his
own feelings were concerned, he had not
the slightest objection to tell what he
knew. But Daniel had the fear of his
master before his eyes.
A strange man was Sir Launce Penr
hyddyn-a studious, stoical, severe man
but just, and even generous, when duty
dictated
A good master, a good landlord, and @
humane man. The tidings of vessel in
, distress, of shipwrecked crew-and suct
incidents were of continual recurrence
, upon that dangerous coast-would sum
! mon him from his bed even upon the
stormiest winters night. He had had 6
lifeboat built, and many scores of lives
) had he saved from the hungry sea.
His great desire was to inoculate youns
: Arthur with all his own ideas and pre-
judices. The boy had been left mother
less in his second year; but, although
thus brought more entirely under pa
: ternal control, education could not de
stroy a naturally poetic temperament
| And to listen to the wild stories of fairie.
and wizards that abounded among thu
fishermen, was his especial delight.
, Daniel knew very well that the legent
Of the picture was well known to severa
besides himself, who would willingly tel
1t, and thus deprive him of the pleasure
,, "a fine row you'll get me into If it,
known as I've told you what your father
would call a foolish story" he grumbled
, Daniel" said the boy, earnestly, 81
| give you my word Of honor that l viii
| never breathe a word of what you tell m,
to any one, without your permission"
, Instead Of repeating the prolix nara
, tive of the old servant, we shall place tn,
story before the reader In more ters'
and simple form.
Among the gentlemen who, after tn,