Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-08-05
THE LADY OF
CASTLE CLIFF

3 tlNltl tue urtBuluCeul Udli-iOuu hIefd
flashing lights and dreaming music,
superb jewels and raPest flowers ran
riot in beauty and color. and sought
the wind and wave swept shore. wan
dering among the rocks and cliffs that
like grim giants guarded an enchanted
coast
How calm and grand and beautiful
II all WRsl From the Castle on the
Ciin fioated the strains Of wonderful
music. down, down. until they mingled
IN an almost fairy-like sweetness
with the Fush OF the silver tide.
From every castle window a blaze
OF light streamed far out on the biue
shimmerlng waters. Many times had
sailors blest the Lady OF Castle Cn1
az they called her. when. battling for
their lives Ia the angry storm waves
they had come In sight Of the brilliant
ly lighted castle and of the immense
electric star that seemed to hang sus
pended in the air, although held BY
a glided statue on the tower, and that
flashed a message Of hope and cour-
age to the heart-weaTy men.
Little paths OF silver rippled eyer
Aut hluSs lulftilu6 Ndltihs AAiss ENlh-
en- stars embedded in their hearts;
perfect replica Of the starry heavens
above.
One could not imagine a heart un-
happy on such a night as this. Gnd
especially one for whom life seemed
to hold so much as the Lady OF Cast
tel Cliff And yet, 1t was not the sweet
night-wind alone that sighed as It
gently rufned the foam-crested waves.
neither was it the answering echo Of
the restless, shimmering waves, tor
Il broke from the lips of the girl on
the shore, her burning cheek pressed
close against the grateful GOODNESS OF
a projecting cliff And yet. there was
no one to blame foi. her present IN
happiness but herself.
When the crash came that swept
away every penny of her father'T
fortune, John Lyndon his lifelong
friend. had come quickly 10 his assist
ance, and placed him firmly back egain
among the men Of his world Then
he ASKED his daughters hand in mar
riage. and Edith Msyberry, just home
from school, the world stretching
broad and beautiful before her. and
filed with the romantic idea that she
was saving her father from poverty
by this marriage, consented to become
his bride.
John Lyndon. shy and reserved. but
with a heart Of pure gold, soon found
he was no match for his beautiful.
plessure-loving wife. She oFaved the
wild excitement of travel and society
and laughed at his sometimes awk-
ward show OF affection But after
the first few months Of their married
life he never spoke OF love to her
again. He made his books his com
panions and although ever kind aud
gentle. humoring her every whim, she
felt that something had gone out OF
her life, and the day came when she
hungsred for the love she had scorn-
fully thrown away. she knew that
she herself had killed his love for her.
and her mighty pride forbade her CIV
ing uttersnce to the affection that was
daily growing In her heart for her no.
BILE husband.
And, above In the Castle tonight,
while her guests drank deep OF the
chalice OF pleasure and happiness.
their hostess wandered among the
rocks on the shore. drinking deeply
OF the chalice OF misery and discon-
tent.
But evidently she was not the only
one abroad on the beach that night,
for even then footsteps sounded on the
rocks above. and two men. one OF
, them her husband and the other his
, college friend. seated themselves a
short distance away. The rocks hid
her from their view and her presence
there remained unknown.
This reminds me of the nights at
, Cnnhurst." her husbands friend was
saying. 81 could almost wish that
some kind fairy would wave her wand
, above us and transport US back TO
Z CnRhurst and our boyhood days. What
say you, Lyndon7 For what would
you ask the kind fsiry?'
only one request would make OF
her gracious majesty"
b And that is"
The love Of the girl who bears my
name"
The other whistled softly; but John
Lyndon was on his feet in an infant
Forget that l said that. Dick!" be
commanded almost sternly. Our
world looks on us as an ideal couple.
We are as far apart as Heaven and
Earth. ! think I have always loved
her" he mused as n TO himself. but
she-" and he paused a moment and
waved his hand toward the brilliantly
lighted castle from whence the sound
OF revelry and mirth iOated from the
open windows. cares only for that"
In a few moments his friend had
left him. and John Lyndon stood alone
on the wind and wave swept shore.
No not alone. for his wife. beautiful.
pleading was standing beside him.
II all seemed a part OF a dream; be
could have almost laid Il to the witch
cry Of the night But # was all very
real. and the perfumed night wind
q cooled the fever OF his brow as he
% tried to realize that the girl he loved
% after all. really cared for him.
We will stay here and watch the
o tide come in. sweetheart" he said.
gently. and while the silver spray
. dashed diamonds all around them. and
the gulls few over the shimmering
5. waves. their pinions flashing IN the
e moonlight, they walked along the
r moonnt shore. and the song OF the
Y breakers grew soft and sweet as lul-
II laby, ~ they passed.-GENEVtEVE
e MARIE BoICE-