Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-04-17
ISABEL!
A Romance
By Lily Seymour.

By Lily Seymour.
Have you ever read the legend,
That the Northiand loves to tell;
OF the hayward, willful, dating.
Merry, bro wn-eyed Isabel?
Long ago, SO runs the legend.
Where's now Wildwood by the Sea.
In a rude log hewn cabin
Lived the village priest, DuBree.
Fat and jolly was the Friar
And the people loved him well;
But far dearer was his sister,
Winsome, loving Isabel.
Suitors by the dozen had she.
Farmers, soldiers, sailors raw.
Cavaliers from old Virginia
Puritans from Boston bay.
And the maiden laughing gaily
Danced and dreamed the live long
day,
or q handsome, red clad soldier
England's peerless, Earl of Grey.
Thus sped by the fall and winter
I'll with spring the tidings came;
OF a land, united, rising,
T6 avenge proud Boston's shame.
From New Hampshire to fair Georgia..
From the Old Dominion's shore;
Men were rising, rushing northward.
To the scene of strife and war.
Then the village teemed with hustle
And the tread of marching feet;
Vows and promises were spoken
In the twilight, soft and sweet.
AS the maid, n winter evening,
Sat and listened to the roar;
OF the ocean in the distance
Came a knock upon the door.
"Isabel, y the soldier staggered
"Quick, this package, give to none,
Save to him, Virginia's Chieftain,
Haoten it's for Washington.
Hasten. lisa. they are riding,
Fast and hard upon nv trail.
Promise me to take-1 he shnddered
And his cheeks grew deathly pale.
"Washington-" the word was whisper
ed
HE must have it, now, tonight"
Flashed the brown eyes, though the
red lips
Quivered and the cheeks were white.
Ears long trained to indian keenness
Had a distant tramping heard;
"Come!" she lead, half dragged him
with her
"You may trust me; you've my word!pv
"Never yet has it been broken.
Never will 1t ever be;
Washington shall have the package;
So l vow; by Sainte Marie!"
Late that night, a slender figure,
In her brothers. gown and hood;
Mounted on her indian pony
Galloped through the lonely wood.
"Haltp' the stern command rang
sharply
On the night air, crisp and clear;
Like q peal Of doom it sounded
In the maiden's startled ears.
With a whispered prayer for safety
Did she rein her trembling steed;
''Stop me not" the words fell softly
''Tis q case of direst need"
"Pass on Father" cried the soldier,
We've no war on hood and gown:
And the red lips murmured blessing
While the tears dimmed eyes of brown.
Lightly. swiftly, sped she onward,
It'll a second stern command;
Woke the maiden from her dreaming
Brought the pony to a stand. {
She had reached her destination
Now, at last, her work was done;
ST would see.r the sweet voice faltered
"Take me, please, to Washington"
.Father." Washington spoke kindly
SIS there aught-n he paused, the hood
Loosen by the ride had fallen
And a girl before him stood.
Briefly did she tell her story
And the paid moon shone down;
On a troop of Blue clad horsemen
Led by one in cowl and gown.
Thus the Continental soldiers,
So the ancient writers say,
Captured ClintOn'e famous troopers
Led by England's peerless Grey,
Long years passed, the wal was over
And the maid with eyes Of brown;
Stood once more bafnrs the ehieftain,
Clad not now in hood and gown.
Rut arrayed in bridal spIendor
FAIR as the famed Queen Of May;
Bv her side q Blne clad soldier s.s
Who was once, the Earl Of Grey.