WNJV. OF CALIF. LIBRARY, LOS ANGELES
 
 'Margaret. 1
 
 Owl Tower 
 
 The Story of a Family Feud 
 in Old England 
 
 By 
 CHARLES S. COOM 
 
 Illustrations by 
 WILLIAM KIRKPATRICK 
 
 1906 
 
 The C M. Clark Publishing Co. 
 Boston
 
 Copyright, 1906. 
 THE C. M. CLARK PUBLISHING CO., 
 
 Boston, Mass. 
 
 Entered at 
 Stationer's Hall, London. 
 
 Dramatic and all other 
 
 RIGHTI RESERVED.
 
 ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 Margaret, Frontispiece 
 
 Page 
 
 "When they arrived at the detached portion of the steps 
 
 Robert held up his arms to her" . . . 41 
 
 "Aw ! I feel privileged, Miss Trevisick" ... 82 
 
 "Who intrusted you with this ?" . . . . 133 
 
 "At sight of Lillipopo the Zulu threw himself on the 
 
 floor of the veranda" . . . . . 187 
 
 "As Robert stood in his hesitation" . . . . 234 
 
 "Sir Joseph stared in wonderment at the spectacle" . 267 
 
 "Sir Joseph rushed forward, and straddled his back . 333
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 THE old ivy-covered tower was haunted; there 
 was not the slightest doubt about that in the 
 minds of the villagers, whose white- washed 
 cottages nestled cozily down the valley away 
 from the sight of its evil presence. Many 
 generations of villagers before their time had 
 believed in its baleful influence over those who 
 dared to enter its walls, and nothing tending to 
 increase the mystery attached to it was lost in 
 transmission. Moreover, did not old Samuel 
 Tredinnick, the village oracle, and sexton to 
 boot, whose duties naturally made him better 
 acquainted with such things, aver that the 
 place was more uncanny than the village 
 cemetery? 
 
 If any further proof was wanting to estab- 
 lish it, the owls had, from time immemorial, 
 made the tower their abiding place, which in 
 itself was sufficient evidence ; for what spot did 
 
 1
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 those ill-omened birds infest that was not weird 
 and sepulchral? 
 
 Not alone by the peasantry was the old tower 
 looked upon with superstitious dread; it had 
 a reputation for ghostly associations among 
 many of the land-owners for miles around; 
 and the owner of the ground on which it reared 
 its lofty height scrupulously avoided it; and 
 if, when on hunting bent, a wounded pheasant 
 dropped within a radius of its shadow, he called 
 his dogs away, as though its flesh was con- 
 taminated by its proximity. 
 
 So the old tower stood regardless of the awe 
 it engendered, and defying the storms of cen- 
 turies, nourishing the ivy which clung around it 
 to its very top, and nursing in its nooks and 
 crannies the ill-omened birds which helped to 
 perpetuate the antipathy attached to it. 
 
 For many generations it had been known as 
 the " Haunted Tower," but in later years an 
 old vicar of the parish had declaimed against 
 the prevalent belief among the villagers in 
 ghosts and hobgoblins, and hoping to drive 
 their fears away concerning the spot, had 
 christened it " Owl Tower," which none the less 
 symbolized its traditional properties, and also 
 
 2
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 tended to increase rather than diminish their 
 superstitious fears. 
 
 Located as it was, within gunshot of the 
 main thoroughfare, the more timid villagers 
 passed the spot with feelings of dread during 
 the open day; but at night-time, and partic- 
 ularly on dark, starless nights, the most cour- 
 ageous would turn his face in the direction of 
 the spot as though to brave the danger down, 
 yet hurry by; and if perchance the owls were 
 out in force, sounding their sepulchral cries, as 
 they were apt to be, the villager ran with bated 
 breath and hand held to his heart, and stopped 
 not until he reached his cottage-door. Dogs 
 were known to give unearthly cries as they 
 passed the spot at night, and once upon a time 
 a horse threw and killed its rider, and bolted 
 back the way on which it came. 
 
 Owl Tower as it is now called aside from 
 the depressing influence it bore, was unique in 
 many respects. It was built of rough granite, 
 its base was square and buttressed to a height 
 of twenty feet, and from thence to a height of 
 ninety feet it was round, tapering slightly 
 towards the top. The square part was pro- 
 vided with steps on the outside which led to the 
 
 3
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 narrow entrance of the round portion, spiral 
 steps within which ascended to the top, an em- 
 battlement ornamenting that portion thereof. 
 The structure was supplied with narrow em- 
 brasures, but the ivy had so densely covered 
 them as to preclude the faintest ray of light 
 from entering the interior. 
 
 On top of the tower huge stones of rough- 
 hewn circular shape lay scattered about like 
 cannon balls, which if speculation may be in- 
 dulged in were originally intended to be 
 bowled down the steps at any foe who might 
 aim to gain the summit. 
 
 The tower was located on the extreme south- 
 ern boundary of an estate belonging to the 
 ancient barony of Trewhiddle, in Cornwall, the 
 present owner being styled Squire John Coles- 
 hill, a lineal descendant of the first ancient 
 holder, Sir Godfrey Coleshill, whose more 
 recent descendants appeared either to have 
 forgotten their titles or to have lost them on 
 the way. The old Elizabethan mansion in 
 which Squire John resided was situated a short 
 distance from the main road, in a northerly 
 direction, being obscured from view from the 
 locality of the tower by a narrow strip of 
 
 4
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 woodland, which had evidently been planted 
 there in former years for that purpose. 
 
 Away beyond the tower, perched on a hill, 
 stood the Castle of Trevisick, occupied at the 
 time of this story by Sir Joseph Trevisick, who 
 was also descended from an illustrious line of 
 ancestors bearing that name. The view of the 
 castle was likewise cut off both from the tower 
 and Trewhiddle mansion by a denser piece of 
 woodland, which, after winding around the 
 outskirts of the village, assumed the propor- 
 tions of a forest. 
 
 Thus Owl Tower itself stood sentinel in a 
 narrow valley forming the boundary of the two 
 estates of Trewhiddle and Trevisick. 
 
 Whatever the original object of the tower, 
 its history had become so disfigured by oral 
 traditions among the villagers, that they no 
 longer possessed any information concerning 
 it worthy of credence. Not so, however, was 
 its history so carelessly regarded by the owners 
 of the two properties surrounding it, for they 
 had preserved it with such zealous care that 
 after a lapse of centuries it remained unim- 
 paired. 
 
 Care had been taken by the ancestor who had
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 erected the tower that the event leading up to 
 it should not degenerate into a legend of the 
 household; for Squire John Coleshill prided 
 himself on the possession of two life-sized 
 pictures that hung in his ancestral hall, and 
 oftentimes posed before them, as he paced up 
 and down on days when stormy weather pre- 
 vented him from indulging in outdoor exercise. 
 His ancestors for many generations had posed 
 in like manner, and Squire John had tried to 
 imbue his only son with the same hereditary 
 malignity which the sight of the pictures had 
 the subtle power of engendering, his daughters 
 of whom he had several being considered 
 incapable on account of their feminine nature, 
 of maintaining the enmity. 
 
 One of the pictures whose mere contempla- 
 tion was able to perpetuate the ancestral ani- 
 mosty unimpaired, and at times aroused Squire 
 John to a pitch of excitement, causing him to 
 mutter execrations and make threatening dem- 
 onstrations with his fists thereat, represented 
 a knight in full armor drawing the body of a 
 beautiful girl out of the water; scrolled under- 
 neath it in old English type are the words, 
 " Litera scripta manet " (the written letter re- 
 
 6
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 mains as proof). The other represents a 
 man in civilian's dress, glancing back uneasily 
 at a sheet of water as he speeds away from it; 
 it is entitled " Eych dyn " (this is the man) . 
 
 The paintings illustrate the sad event which 
 happened to a beautiful daughter of the house 
 of Coleshill, away back in its earliest history, 
 who was betrayed by the heir of Trevisick, and 
 who drowned herself because he failed to keep 
 his troth; a letter left by her explained the 
 cause of the tragedy. The heir fled into 
 France, and the rest of his family shut them- 
 selves in the castle to avoid the vengeance 
 of the infuriated father of the unfortunate 
 girl. 
 
 Failing to secure revenge, and very nearly 
 losing his own life in attempting to force an 
 entrance into the castle, he built the tower, so 
 that he could watch therefrom for the murderer 
 of his daughter; and there, with arquebuise in 
 hand, he sat from day to day, and week to 
 week, bombarding the windows of the castle 
 with his bolts, until that side of the castle was 
 barricaded to him; then he spent his time in 
 shooting at whomsoever went to and from the 
 castle, making life unendurable to them, until 
 
 7
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 the cessation of hostilities revealed the fact 
 that he had died. 
 
 The aggressiveness continued at intervals for 
 several generations, so that although the shoot- 
 ing was not persistent, it occurred at such un- 
 expected and unseasonable times that the 
 inmates of the castle were in perpetual fear for 
 their lives. Finally one old ancestor of the 
 house of Trevisick was found dead in his bed, 
 with a bolt firmly planted in his skull. He had 
 retired to rest, and forgetful of his hereditary 
 enemy, had allowed the light to remain burning 
 in his room, which resulted in his doom ; for his 
 enemy, espying it from his lookout on the 
 tower, took aim with dire effect. 
 
 After this playful experience the law 
 stepped in, and the lord of Trewhiddle was 
 shorn of his title and deprived of certain lands. 
 The open warfare thereafter ceased, although 
 the old animosity continued to exist between 
 the descendants of the two families without 
 abatement. 
 
 In recent years, as time and learning added 
 to the beauty and accomplishments of the 
 progeny of the two households, many were the 
 secret glances exchanged between them, and 
 
 8
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 many a lovely daughter sighed as she viewed 
 the handsome youth whom fate had decreed 
 was never hers to know, saving in dreams of 
 happiness never to be realized. Indeed, on one 
 occasion, two generations back, a noble scion 
 of the house of Trewhiddle had bowed to a 
 beautiful daughter of the house of Trevisick, 
 and she, poor girl, became secretly enamoured 
 of the youth; but fear of doubt held them 
 apart, and she pined away and died just after 
 making her secret love known. 
 
 The present proprietors kept just as much 
 aloof as their ancestors had ever done, but the 
 children of both secretly rebelled at the unjust 
 sentiment which kept them apart, yet neither 
 attempted to break the old-established rule, 
 and glances only betrayed the lingering hopes 
 enveloped in their breasts.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 THE blacksmith's anvil rang out right merrily 
 down in the village one bright July morning as 
 old Ben Judd plied the hammer with his sinewy 
 arm ; and as the sparks flew from off the metal 
 he was welding into shape, other sparks, of wis- 
 dom, escaped his lips; for the village black- 
 smith, next to the old sexton, had a penchant 
 for picking up odd bits of mystical lore; and 
 when he had exhausted his store of such knowl- 
 edge he was never at a loss for other words 
 with which to entertain his customers till they 
 left; for, as old Ben remarked and verily be- 
 lieved, " conversation properly and assiduously 
 carried out, is half one's labor, and all the 
 profit; for it makes you forget half the one 
 whilst the other is accumulating." 
 
 Be it as it may, the tink-a-link-a-link of the 
 anvil kept up a musical accompaniment to his 
 words, and had the dual effect of accomplish- 
 ing his work and charming the ear of a ruddy- 
 complexioned, smooth-faced individual whom 
 
 10
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 he addressed sometimes as " Sammy " and 
 other times as " coachman," and who, indeed, 
 was no less a personage than Samuel Biddle, 
 coachman-in-chief to Sir Joseph Trevisick; 
 and who in consequence of that lofty position 
 was esteemed at the village tavern as among its 
 distinguished visitors. 
 
 " I tell you what it is," said the blacksmith, 
 going to the forge and withdrawing the rudi- 
 ments of a horse-shoe ; bing ! bang ! bing ! tink- 
 a-link-a-link " it is high time that old tower 
 was leveled to the ground " bing! bang! " I 
 could hammer" bing! bang! "the old fool 
 who put it there " bing ! bang ! " Not that I 
 have any malice towards Squire John " bing ! 
 bang! "for he's a good old sort" bing! 
 bang ! " pays every shilling without grum- 
 bling " bing! bang! " There it stands frown- 
 ing upon everybody who passes " bing ! bang ! 
 bing ! tink-a-link-a-link " and scaring the 
 women folk out of their wits at night," bing! 
 bang! bing! "Not only that, it keeps them 
 young misses from coming together " bing ! 
 bang! bing! " and the girls, poor things, have 
 to dry up" bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a- 
 link " before the appointed time ; simply be- 
 
 n
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 cause " bing! bang! " their feelings are not 
 reciprocated " tink-a-link-a-link. " You can't 
 tell me they wouldn't love each other " bing ! 
 bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link "if they had 
 the opportunity. There's Miss Margaret you 
 drove home yesterday " bing! bang! bing! 
 " from boarding school; she is ready " tink-a- 
 link-a-link " to blossom out into woman- 
 hood; " bing! bang! "and not a man in 
 these whole parts to speak" bing! bang! 
 bing! " a loving word to her " tink-a-link-a- 
 link. 
 
 " Likewise, there is Robbie Coleshill just 
 returned," bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a- 
 link " who will inherit the estate after Squire 
 John; " bing! bang! bing " as fine a young 
 gentleman as ever lived " tink-a-link-a-link. 
 " Now I say " bing! bang! " that those two 
 ought to be brought together; " bing! bang! 
 bing! tink-a-link-a-link "they are made for 
 each other ;" bing ! bang! bing! "and but 
 for that cursed old tower," bing! bang! 
 " the natural chances are they would come to- 
 gether;" bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a- 
 link " just as I took to Mary Ann " tink-a- 
 link-a-link. 
 
 12
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Having, during this eloquent bit of wisdom, 
 fashioned a set of shoes to his liking, the black- 
 smith looked intently at the coachman, at the 
 same time resting his hammer on the anvil, say- 
 ing, " If I had my way, I would say to Robert: 
 * Here, my boy, let bygones be bygones ; fling 
 your cap at Margaret's feet, and call her 
 yours.' ' 
 
 During this oration the coachman was an 
 appreciative listener, but remained silent; as 
 the blacksmith finished his remarks, however, 
 he replied : "I quite agree with you, Ben ; it 
 is a senseless thing to let that old tower inter- 
 fere with a reconciliation." 
 
 The coachman having departed, the anvil 
 again resounded, and old Ben became so eager 
 over his work it seemed as though he were 
 welding his thoughts into shape into the iron 
 he had before him, and that indeed Robert 
 Coleshill and Margaret Trevisick must ulti- 
 mately come together.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 GRACE BIDDLE was a daughter of Samuel Bid- 
 die, the coachman, and what is more to the 
 point, and vastly more important to her way of 
 thinking, was lady's maid to Margaret Trevi- 
 sick; not that Grace was in any way indifferent 
 to her parents, or to her numerous younger 
 sisters and brothers, for she was a dutiful 
 daughter; but the servitude of her young mis- 
 tress was attended with such agreeable func- 
 tions, her heart warmed affectionately towards 
 her. There was an entire absence of that ser- 
 vility usually attending such duties; indeed 
 Margaret Trevisick treated her maid more as 
 a companion; and oftentimes, after under- 
 going a species of grooming at Grace's hands, 
 not unlike that bestowed by the latter's father 
 upon the horses, would compel her to take her 
 place and give her an example of the trying 
 ordeal, winding up by asking her, laughingly, 
 " How she liked being raked and pulled to 
 pieces? " 
 
 14
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 On this day of the blacksmith's oration 
 Grace was particularly happy; and as she 
 passed the smithy on a visit to her home in the 
 village, she stopped in the road as the sparks 
 flew from the anvil across her path and re- 
 marked, " Don't you polka-dot me with those 
 sparks, Mr. Judd; they are pretty while they 
 shine, but they will leave my dress full of 
 holes." 
 
 Old Ben ceased hammering, and placing 
 the iron in the fire, came to the entrance, 
 and bestowing a kindly smile upon the girl, 
 answered : 
 
 " Yes, my dear, those sparks are like some 
 people, they glimmer for a brief moment, and 
 are lost forever in the maelstrom of life. How 
 is Miss Margaret? " 
 
 " She is well, and lovely, better than she ever 
 was, I think," responded the girl. 
 
 " Just as full of life? " queried the black- 
 smith. 
 
 " Brimming over," laughingly replied 
 Grace; " I hardly know what to do with her; 
 and then she is so kind, too. Look at this 
 bundle ; she gave me all her school clothes, and 
 many things besides; she called it her house- 
 is
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 cleaning time. She has completed her school- 
 ing, and now she says she must begin again at 
 home." 
 
 " Is she in love with anybody? " asked the 
 blacksmith in a subdued voice, and with a merry 
 twinkle in his eye. 
 
 " She hasn't confided it to me if she is," 
 replied the girl, " and I think she would, for 
 she tells me most everything." 
 
 " I am very much interested," returned the 
 blacksmith, " for we have loved Margaret ever 
 since she was a child." 
 
 Grace having proceeded on her way, the 
 blacksmith returned to his work, and the sparks 
 flew more merrily still. 
 
 "How nice of her," Grace's mother ex- 
 claimed, as she viewed the contents of the 
 bundle. 
 
 " Father will bring another package this 
 evening," said Grace. 
 
 " I do hope she will get a good husband," 
 replied the mother; " I wish that old tower was 
 blown up, then there might be some prospect 
 for her with young Coleshill." 
 
 On returning to the castle that afternoon, 
 Grace met her young mistress as she was leav- 
 
 16
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ing the vicarage, where she had called on a 
 visit, so they walked along together. 
 
 Margaret inquired of Grace concerning the 
 welfare of her people, winding up by asking, 
 significantly, if she had seen any other person. 
 
 Grace blushingly replied that she had not 
 meaning that she had not seen her sweetheart 
 " But," she added, " I conversed with the 
 blacksmith, and he said he was glad to know 
 that you were home and well, as they were very 
 fond of you." 
 
 " I am pleased," said Margaret, " that the 
 villagers are interested in my welfare." 
 
 " Mr. Judd is a nice old man," said Grace. 
 
 " It isn't nice to be talked about haphazardly 
 though, Grace ; even by nice old men." 
 
 " Nor young ones either, do you think, 
 Miss?" 
 
 " That is still more objectionable," Margaret 
 replied. 
 
 " Lor, Miss ; how do you expect any nice 
 young man to love you if you don't talk to him, 
 or allow him to talk about you? " 
 
 "I am not thinking seriously about it, 
 Grace." 
 
 At that moment a young man on horseback 
 17
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 came cantering briskly towards them. As he 
 approached he drew rein, and as he slowly 
 passed them he took off his hat and bowed, but 
 without looking towards them. 
 
 Margaret blushed very deeply, for in the 
 rider she readily recognized Robert Coleshill. 
 
 Grace remarked : " That is young Mr. 
 Coleshill, Miss ; he is such a nice gentleman, and 
 how nice he does behave. I wish you knew the 
 likes of him." 
 
 " And how do you know I would care to be- 
 come acquainted with him? " Margaret asked, 
 still retaining the blush his appearance had en- 
 gendered. 
 
 " I know you have a heart like other people," 
 the girl replied, " and I also know that he has." 
 
 At this last remark Margaret gave an im- 
 moderate laugh, and the horseman, not yet out 
 of hearing, turned in his saddle inquisitively, 
 and a pang shot through him as he inferred that 
 Margaret Trevisick was mocking him for his 
 courtesy. 
 
 Margaret, too, having seen him turn his 
 head, exclaimed: "There, I'll warrant Mr. 
 Coleshill imagines I was making fun of him, 
 and I feel dreadfully mortified." 
 
 18
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 After this event Margaret proceeded to the 
 castle without taking further notice of the re- 
 marks Grace made to her, and going to her bed- 
 room threw herself on a lounge, murmuring 
 dejectedly: " To think Robert Coleshill should 
 consider me guilty of such barbarous con- 
 duct ; " and she lay brooding over the unhappy 
 circumstance until Grace entered her room to 
 prepare her for dinner. 
 
 Margaret took no interest in her toilet, and 
 made a poor excuse at the dinner table; and 
 after attempting to dismiss the matter from 
 her thoughts by drumming a few tunes on 
 the piano, she finally asked her parents to 
 excuse her, and kissing them, retired for the 
 night. 
 
 " Margaret seems indisposed," remarked 
 Lady Trevisick. 
 
 " That cursed tower has caused more con- 
 fusion of tongues than the Tower of Babel," 
 replied Sir Joseph, " for the people implicated 
 in the latter could betray some signs of 
 language, but we are destined forever to hold 
 our peace." 
 
 Margaret fell on her knees beside her bed, 
 and after repeating the orthodox prayer, lifted 
 
 19
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 her heart for one who knew it not, nor dreamed 
 that he was ever in her thoughts. 
 
 That night she tossed uneasily in her bed, 
 and spent hours in trying to invent a single 
 phrase which would explain away her apparent 
 derision. At last she fell into a slumber to 
 dream of sunny climes and gallant cavaliers 
 bowing gracefully to her as they rode by ; then 
 a cloud obscured the scene and a storm broke in 
 all its fury; and as the raindrops heavily fell 
 a youth rode by on jaded steed, whose noble 
 mien was crushed with weight of woe, and in 
 passing he took his hat from off his head, but 
 bowed not to her.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 NATURE is always displaying examples of the 
 many changes and vicissitudes of life, yet the 
 world rarely takes advantage of them by ac- 
 quiring the wisdom necessary to counteract 
 their depressing influences. 
 
 The morning following the events in the last 
 chapter was ushered in by a heavy storm as 
 though to fulfill the purport of Margaret's 
 dream; and Squire John Coleshill, attired in a 
 night-robe and with a scarlet and white wig sit- 
 ting awry on his silvered head, went to one of 
 the windows of his bedroom to gaze upon the 
 rain as it descended with a pattering noise 
 upon a strip of woodland which that part of 
 the manor-house exposed to view. 
 
 He had no sooner assumed an attitude of 
 pensive thought than a pane of glass was 
 shattered before him, and an arrow fell on his 
 bare feet. Squire John for a moment was too 
 horrified to move ; but the thought that the old 
 deadly feud had been resumed aroused him to 
 his danger; and he sprang aside and hastily 
 
 21
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 commenced to clothe himself, all the time vow- 
 ing vengeance against Sir Joseph Trevisick, 
 and threatening to occupy the Tower with 
 arquebuise in hand, as his ancestors had done, 
 forgetting for the moment the more modern 
 and effective weapon of the gun. 
 
 He had drawn on one leg of his knee-pants, 
 and was about to step into the other, grumbling 
 to himself the while, when his attention was 
 attracted to the arrow ; and cautiously crawling 
 on his hands and knees, he picked it up and 
 extracted from the butt a card which was clev- 
 erly substituted for the usual feathers; and 
 procuring his spectacles, read the dainty hand- 
 writing thereon: 
 
 " Margaret Trevisick apologizes for this apparent 
 boldness, and trusts Mr. Robert Coleshill will not mis- 
 interpret her unseemly merriment of yesterday, as ap- 
 plied to him." 
 
 Squire John held the card in his hand, and 
 looking straight before him as though some in- 
 dividual confronted him, exclaimed : " Well, 
 I be bio wed! as I am a thorough good Chris- 
 tian gentleman, if this isn't the greatest sur- 
 prise that ever happened to the house of Coles- 
 
 22
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 hill for many generations, I have spent all my 
 years for nothing." 
 
 Then Squire John did something which no 
 good Christian gentleman would be willing to 
 admit himself guilty of, for he deliberately 
 kicked the knee-breeches which had slipped 
 around his feet across the room, so that in 
 falling it straddled the foot of the bed; and 
 puckering up his mouth, whistled odd bits of 
 " The Mad Piper," and actually danced until 
 he puffed with exhaustion ; then something im- 
 mediately forced itself upon his thoughts, for 
 he just as inconsistently fell on his knees by the 
 side of his bed. 
 
 Squire John had danced, prayed and break- 
 fasted, and was now walking up and down the 
 hall of his mansion, deep in thought. Oc- 
 casionally he would stop and view the two 
 pictures, but his gaze had not his old-time 
 scrutiny; he seemed rather to be debating in 
 his mind whether after all these years it was 
 not time to bury in oblivion the recollection of 
 
 f* 7 
 that deed which the present generation was in 
 
 nowise responsible for. He recalled to mind 
 also that the circumstance had long ago been 
 partly avenged. 
 
 23
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Shortly afterwards his son entered the hall, 
 and Squire John addressed him, saying : 
 
 " Robert, are you acquainted with Margaret 
 Trevisick? " 
 
 "I have never spoken to her," Robert 
 answered with an inquiring look. 
 
 " Have you met her in any way? " 
 
 " I met her with her maid yesterday on my 
 return from riding, and I regret that she ex- 
 hibited a very frivolous character, for after I 
 had performed the ordinary courtesy of remov- 
 ing my hat, until I had passed her which was 
 all I felt could be done in consequence of the 
 unfortunate feeling existing between the two 
 families I was surprised at being greeted with 
 laughter." 
 
 " You are entirely mistaken in your opinion 
 regarding her," answered his father. 
 
 " I sincerely hope so," replied the son, " al- 
 though my eyes and ears were not mistaken." 
 
 " What would you do if I were to say to you 
 that the old feud was renewed early this morn- 
 ing, and that as I was looking from my bed- 
 room window an arrow shattered the glass and 
 fell at my feet? " 
 
 " I can never believe, father, that Sir Joseph 
 
 24
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 would lower his dignity by being party to such 
 a villainous proceeding." 
 
 " What would you say to the belief I enter- 
 tain that his daughter, Margaret, was the 
 guilty one? " 
 
 " I would say it is much worse than the 
 opinion I had formed of her discourtesy." 
 
 " It is easy for both of us to be mistaken," 
 replied the Squire. Then taking the card 
 from his pocket and placing it in his son's 
 hand, he said: " This message was conveyed 
 by the arrow," and he scrutinized his son's face 
 as he read it. 
 
 Robert turned crimson, and after a short 
 silence said: 
 
 " It shows that Miss Trevisick is a very sen- 
 sible, conscientious girl; she divined exactly 
 what I felt, and she has discovered a way 
 of communicating her regrets, under the cir- 
 cumstances, very much to the credit of her 
 inventive genius." 
 
 " Only that she mistook the room," grinned 
 the old gentleman. 
 
 " Have we not been full of mistakes regard- 
 ing her and her people generally? " asked the 
 son. 
 
 5
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " It looks very much so, Robert," replied the 
 Squire. 
 
 " Is there no way, father, of wiping out this 
 ridiculous feud that exists between the two 
 families?" 
 
 ' That cursed old Tower is in the way, 
 Robert; it has been casting its baleful shadow 
 over both families since this event," pointing 
 with his finger at the pictures " the old ani- 
 mosity will remain as long as it stands." 
 
 " Is Margaret Trevisick any more responsi- 
 ble for that deed," asked Robert, " than I am 
 for the killing of one of her old ancestors by 
 one of mine? " 
 
 " Not in the least, my son ; I realized this 
 morning that Margaret Trevisick has taught 
 me wisdom through the instrumentality of the 
 very weapon which our ancestors used in anger 
 against her house." 
 
 Robert left the mansion, and as he rode over 
 the estate his thoughts often reverted to Mar- 
 garet Trevisick and her novel introduction to 
 him. 
 
 Squire John's first thought, on being left 
 alone, was to direct the butler to remove the 
 pictures, but on second reflection he resolved to 
 
 26
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 let them remain; but the old ire which used to 
 arise at sight of them had vanished, and in- 
 stead he saw visions of a beautiful girl 
 struggling to redeem the happiness of both 
 houses.
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 THE pride of ancestry is a very pardonable 
 trait, and when it continues to be associated 
 with all the elements which consort to keep it 
 illustrious, it is apt to be conducted with a 
 dignity wholly unknown to those outside its 
 atmosphere. 
 
 Such had been the condition of the house of 
 Trevisick for many generations, and its glory 
 to-day is enhanced by better values, and what is 
 more important, by a deeper education, and 
 consequently more generous views of life ; not 
 that the dignity of Sir Joseph was in the least 
 modified thereby, for he still maintained that 
 solemnity of bearing which kept him sacred 
 from undue familiarity. 
 
 It has often been a question whether such 
 men as Sir Joseph Trevisick are really desir- 
 able personages to enter into connubial bliss, 
 or if, indeed, the children of such dignified be- 
 ings can approach them in any way leading 
 unto tenderness, and if they are not wholly 
 shut off from the love devoted to children of 
 
 28
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 less self-important beings. Sir Joseph was 
 naturally uxorious, and his courtship days and 
 subsequent life were those of pure devotion, 
 not only to his wife, but to his children. 
 
 Unfortunately, Sir Joseph had no son to 
 dote upon, and that at times made him some- 
 what irritable; but he had four daughters, of 
 whom Margaret was the eldest, and nothing 
 had been spared in her education to make her 
 fitted to maintain her father's dignity. 
 
 Sir Joseph looked upon his daughter with 
 pardonable pride, and he always carried his 
 dignity a few degrees higher when in her com- 
 pany; for she was a talented, delightful girl, 
 free from the vanity which wealth and position 
 usually engender. He frequently conversed 
 with Margaret, and on the eventful morning 
 which augured so much for the speedy recon- 
 ciliation of the two families being confined to 
 the castle by the storm he said to her : 
 
 "You are the exact counterpart of your 
 mother, my dear, when I first fell in love with 
 her; I mean in appearance, for your mother 
 was somewhat vain of her good looks, I 
 believe." 
 
 " I am not vain, papa." 
 29
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " A little vanity is pardonable in woman," 
 he replied ; " besides, it helps to protect them 
 from adventurers." 
 
 They were sitting in the drawing-room. 
 The sun shone on Margaret's hair, which was 
 adjusted in a graceful coiffure, and a portion 
 of it had become loosened and flowed in a wavy 
 mass upon her shoulder, and her father took 
 it fondly in his hand, saying: " Just like your 
 mother's ; it appears dark almost unto black, in 
 the shade ; but when the sun sheds its rays upon 
 it, it changes to gold, and as you turn your 
 head, it blends in undulations." 
 
 " Did you talk like that to mamma? " Mar- 
 garet asked with a merry laugh. 
 
 " I suppose I must have done so, my dear ; 
 we will ask her by and by ; " and Sir Joseph 
 laughed at the thought, then bending over his 
 daughter he kissed her ; the pretty, well-formed 
 lips settling into a pleased smile as her father 
 proceeded with the description of her mother's 
 appearance in her girlhood days. 
 
 " Then her eyes were brown and large, like 
 yours; although her eyebrows were not so 
 highly curved as yours;" and as he spoke he 
 traced his finger over his daughter's eyebrows. 
 
 30
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " You are fair to look upon, my child ; nothing 
 will preserve your beauty so well as purity and 
 nobleness of life," saying which, he again kissed 
 her, and soon afterwards dozed in his chair. 
 
 There would appear to be something in the 
 mind analogous to matter, for the same feel- 
 ings that prompted Squire John Coleshill that 
 morning to abandon the long-existing feud, 
 and also pervaded the thoughts of his son dur- 
 ing his ride, likewise dominated the mind of 
 Margaret ; and although she thought it unwise 
 to broach the subject to her father, she deter- 
 mined secretly to devise a plan whereby the two 
 families could be brought together at least on 
 terms of mutual recognition ; but how and when 
 to proceed had not yet entered into her cal- 
 culations. 
 
 Leaving her father comfortably asleep, 
 Margaret encased her feet in heavy walking 
 shoes and went out upon the lawn. The grass 
 was still wet with the rain which fell during the 
 early morning; but the July sun was fast mak- 
 ing its presence felt. 
 
 Margaret loitered around the walks for a 
 while, viewing the shrubbery, and at last 
 wended her way through a lane which led 
 
 31
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 through the forest. The raindrops were 
 sparkling in the sunshine, and the birds car- 
 oled to make up for the time the rain had sub- 
 dued their songs. A fawn issued from the 
 bushes and stopped with trembling limbs to 
 gaze with its large, lustrous eyes upon Mar- 
 garet's stately form, and she stood still admir- 
 ing the beautiful picture before her, until the 
 animal bounded away into the thicket. She 
 continued her walk to the end of the lane, and 
 then followed the hedge which divided the 
 Trevisick estate from that of Trewhiddle, until 
 she came directly opposite Owl Tower. She 
 looked up at its frowning height with some- 
 thing akin to awe, as she thought upon its his- 
 tory and the long bitter feud it had engendered. 
 The ivy clinging to its rugged walls, freshened 
 by the rain, glistened in the sunshine; and as 
 the breezes twirled the shimmering leaves, a 
 sound proceeded therefrom like the receding 
 tide. 
 
 For a considerable space around the Tower 
 the sward was covered with dense brake, and 
 selecting a spot less difficult than the rest, Mar- 
 garet succeeded in gaining its base, then ascend- 
 ing the steps, she reached the entrance to the
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 round portion, and after looking around to see 
 if she were watched, she entered and began the 
 ascent. 
 
 A century or more had elapsed since any 
 person had ventured within its walls, and Mar- 
 garet's progress was impeded by masses of ivy 
 which had accumulated inside the embrasures, 
 but now she had commenced her journey she 
 was determined to finish it; so she broke off 
 such portions as opposed her passage and 
 dropped them through the openings. Every 
 embrasure in the tower had more or less of such 
 obstructions, and it consumed considerable time 
 in removing same, but when she reached the 
 summit she was rewarded by the magnificent 
 panorama which lay around her. 
 
 The mansion of Squire Coleshill was plainly 
 visible, and indeed seemed to be directly under- 
 neath the tower; she gazed upon it for some 
 time, because she had never witnessed it in its 
 entirety before. Her own home likewise 
 seemed to be TSO near, she wondered how such a 
 delightful look-out spot could have been over- 
 looked by her. The village with its white- 
 washed cottages looked like so many blocks of 
 chalk scattered about.
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 After surfeiting her gaze with the scenery, 
 she turned her attention to the huge stone 
 spheres which lay scattered about, and she 
 wondered what they were intended for. They 
 were probably last seen by that old Coleshill 
 who had fired the bolt into the skull of her 
 ancestor ; and now, strange to relate, they were 
 being rolled around by a descendant of the 
 latter individual; for Margaret, not content 
 with looking at the spheres, began to push them 
 with her dainty feet; they were heavy, to be 
 sure, but so round they were easily trundled. 
 At last she resolved in her mind the correct 
 supposition what they were originally intended 
 for, and an irresistible desire seized her to try 
 the experiment of speeding one of them down 
 the steps ; so selecting one of medium size, she 
 rolled it to the opening, and after leaning over 
 the parapet to see that nobody was in the way, 
 she gave the sphere a push, and down it 
 bounded, thud, thud, now dashing against the 
 outer wall then back to the steps, each bound 
 gaining in force and velocity. 
 
 Margaret stooped and listened to its fearful 
 progress down the steps, and then again looked 
 over the parapet just in time to see it bounce 
 
 34
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 out from the entrance and fall among the 
 brake, where it became lost to sight. It was 
 such a novel amusement to the girl that she 
 never once stopped to consider she was tres- 
 passing, or that Squire Coleshill might not like 
 any interference even with the haunted tower; 
 so she decided to try another, which acted in 
 precisely the same manner as the previous one. 
 As a third and last attempt, she decided to 
 start the heaviest sphere on its downward jour- 
 ney, and after considerable effort she rolled the 
 ponderous mass to the step and sent it speed- 
 ing down. 
 
 The noise it made in its descent was alarm- 
 ing to her, and each time the sphere struck the 
 outer wall the tower trembled, and the owls 
 flew away from their snug retreat and hid in 
 the neighboring woods. Margaret looked 
 over the parapet, and instead of seeing the 
 sphere bounce out as the other two had done, 
 she was awestruck to witness a cloud of dust 
 and mortar fly forth, followed by a heavy crash 
 of falling stone; and the tower visibly shook, 
 so that she trembled with fear lest it should 
 fall. 
 
 After it was too late, Margaret realized the 
 35
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 gravity of her actions, and felt she had com- 
 mitted a downright offence to the house of 
 Coleshill, requiring a personal explanation and 
 apology. 
 
 She had not long to dwell upon the occur- 
 rence before her thoughts were running wildly 
 in another channel ; for she espied a gentleman 
 emerge from the woodland on the Trewhiddle 
 estate and run swiftly towards the tower. 
 Her first impulse was to descend, but she real- 
 ized she could not reach the bottom before the 
 individual would be half way to the top, so 
 she resolved to remain where she was. 
 
 The gentleman was no other than Robert 
 Coleshilli who had been occupied in reading 
 in the cool of the woodlands. He had espied 
 Margaret walking towards the tower, and was 
 agreeably surprised to discover the courage 
 she possessed in entering it; not that he lacked 
 courage himself, he had not visited it because 
 of the general aversion to it. 
 
 It was not a proper thing for a young gentle- 
 man to do, but he was so interested in the pro- 
 ceedings that he dropped his book and watched. 
 He saw the broken pieces of ivy thrust 
 through the apertures in the tower dur- 
 
 36
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ing Margaret's ascent, and he realized that her 
 journey to the top was a tedious one. He 
 watched her intently as she gazed around after 
 reaching the summit, although her head only 
 was visible ; and he listened with some surprise 
 at the noise the spheres made in their descent, 
 and when they shot out from the entrance he 
 looked with amazement, for he knew not the 
 meaning thereof; but when the third sphere 
 thudded loudly in its downward course, and the 
 seeming explosion followed as it reached the 
 bottom, his fears were aroused for Margaret's 
 safety; so heedless of any harm that might be- 
 fall himself, he sped swiftly to the scene ; and 
 on reaching the entrance to the round portion 
 of the tower he discovered that several of the 
 lower spiral steps had been torn away and had 
 fallen through into the square portion below, 
 and that many of the steps above were in a tot- 
 tering condition, but what caused it he could 
 not imagine; and indeed he gave himself no 
 time for conjecture, for reaching with his hands 
 the steps above him, he climbed thereon and 
 then hastily ascended the tower. 
 
 Margaret stood in the center of the flat roof 
 structure with her hands folded, the very 
 
 37
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 picture of despair; she was really to be pitied, 
 for her state of mind was wrought to a lament- 
 able condition, not only at the damage she had 
 caused, but at the prospect of meeting in such 
 a place, and under such circumstances, a sup- 
 posed enemy to her father's house. 
 
 As Robert Coleshill emerged into the pres- 
 ence of Margaret he stood panting for a 
 moment, with hat in hand, watching intently 
 the beautiful girl before him. 
 
 Margaret in turn looked at him, furtively, 
 and then turned her eyes on the remaining 
 spheres. 
 
 At last Robert Coleshill addressed her, say- 
 ing : " I humbly beg your pardon, Miss Tre- 
 visick, if I have unwittingly intruded. I wit- 
 nessed the explosion from the woodland, and 
 feeling that something very unusual was oc- 
 curring, and knowing you were in the tower, I 
 hastened hither fearing your life was in 
 danger. If my services are not required here, 
 they will be at the base; I will retire thither and 
 await your pleasure." 
 
 Margaret's good sense and courage im- 
 mediately returned to her, and approaching 
 Robert Coleshill, she extended her hand to him, 
 
 38
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 at the same time looking at him with her won- 
 derful eyes, saying: " Mr. Coleshill, I thank 
 you a thousand times for your good intentions. 
 I was so perplexed for a moment at the realiza- 
 tion of the damage I so foolishly committed, 
 and at the prospect of meeting you, without 
 being able to explain my conduct, that I felt 
 like jumping over the tower." 
 
 " I am very glad you restrained yourself, 
 Miss Trevisick," he replied, " for I would have 
 been deprived of this great pleasure in meeting 
 you, and all of us would have been forced into 
 another long sorrowful generation of grief." 
 
 "I doubt not your sincerity, sir, and it sur- 
 prises me the more, having been silently in- 
 spired almost from childhood to feel the 
 contrary was to be expected." 
 
 " It has been my daily regret," Robert 
 replied, " that my life has to be darkened by 
 the reflection of a deed for which I am in no 
 way responsible." 
 
 " I feel it is a monstrous absurdity, Mr. 
 Coleshill; and my anxiety to disentangle the 
 meshes which have been wound about us by 
 generations of foolish ancestors is what in- 
 duced me to trespass on your property to-day ; 
 
 39
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 for I felt that this old tower, on account of the 
 stigma attached to it, was the place to begin to 
 unravel some of it. I feel, however, I have 
 made a very bad beginning, for I have com- 
 mitted great damage I have no doubt." 
 
 "If you will allow me to take that freedom, 
 Miss Trevisick, I will say you have made the 
 best possible progress in a very little time, for 
 so far as the house of Coleshill is concerned, 
 the meshes are this day removed." 
 
 " I feel most grateful for your condescen- 
 sion," Margaret replied; "if I can only suc- 
 ceed as well with my father." 
 
 " I will pray sincerely to that end," Robert 
 rejoined. 
 
 " And now, sir, how shall I clear myself 
 from the damage I have committed? " 
 
 " It would have been a blessing, Miss Tre- 
 visick, if you had knocked the entire structure 
 down, provided you escaped uninjured; as 
 it is, I think the damage will prevent fur- 
 ther visits, as the lower steps have fallen 
 away." 
 
 'They must be fixed," Margaret replied, 
 " for such a beautiful view of the country is 
 not obtainable elsewhere;" and then she 
 
 40
 
 "When they arrived at the detached portion of the steps 
 Robert held up his arms to her." ....
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 pointed out to him the different localities they 
 each knew well. 
 
 ' Yes," Robert commented, " I wonder I did 
 not think of it before; it is not too late now, 
 thanks to your discovery." 
 
 Then he turned his attention to the spheres, 
 and as they both dwelt upon their use, Robert 
 laughed heartily as he styled himself the des- 
 cendant of a savage of the stone age. 
 
 As they started to leave Robert said : " You 
 had better let me precede you in the descent, 
 Miss Trevisick, on account of the danger 
 beneath." 
 
 When they arrived at the detached portion 
 of the steps Robert held up his arms to her 
 and she sliJ into them, for it was the only 
 thing she could do. Then she dusted his coat 
 with her handkerchief, and they descended the 
 square portion of the tower. 
 
 Again extending her hand to him, Margaret 
 said : " How happy I am over this meeting, 
 Mr. Coleshill, I can hardly tell you." 
 
 " It is the happiest event of my life," Robert 
 truthfully responded. " May I accompany 
 you to the woods ? I never had the pleasure of 
 setting foot on any part of Trevisick estate." 
 
 41
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " And my venture to-day is the first time I 
 have ever trespassed on Trewhiddle," Margaret 
 replied. 
 
 " If I meet with no opposition in my first 
 venture, I will be doubly happy," Robert 
 resumed. 
 
 Having assisted each other over the hedge 
 separating the two estates, the young couple 
 wended their way through the forest. 
 
 They had not walked far when they met a 
 doe with its fawn. The mother gazed at the 
 intruders for a moment, and then ran bleating 
 into the underbrush. Margaret stooped to 
 fondle the fawn, which was too young to fol- 
 low. While she was thus occupied a loud 
 crackling of the underbrush was heard, and 
 before they could realize their danger, a stag, 
 followed by the deer, bounded in their midst, 
 and with lowered antlers made a dash for 
 Robert. 
 
 He quickly seized the enraged animal by the 
 horns, and though it reared and plunged and 
 butted at him with all its savage strength, the 
 youth incited to mighty action for the safety 
 of her beside him strained his muscles to the 
 bursting point, and at last with one heroic 
 
 42
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 effort threw the animal with such force that it 
 straightway struggled to its feet, and with 
 cowed aspect and protruding tongue limped 
 away. 
 
 "Are you hurt, Mr. Coleshill? " Margaret 
 anxiously inquired; going up to him and wip- 
 ing the traces of the struggle from off his face. 
 
 " Only in thought, Miss Trevisick ; my first 
 venture on Trevisick estate has met with severe 
 opposition." 
 
 " I am so sorry, Mr. Coleshill," Margaret 
 dolefully replied. ,.. " Is it not a good omen that 
 you conquered? " 
 
 " I momentarily forgot," he answered; " you 
 can make it so, Miss Trevisick, if you will." 
 
 As she extended her dainty hand to him at 
 parting, he looked lovingly into her eyes, and 
 she returned his gaze unflinchingly. 
 
 43
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 WHEN a man is born into this world already 
 comfortably provided with a competence, and 
 has no necessity for puzzling himself how to 
 keep up the supply, his thoughts are untram- 
 meled with the forebodings usually attending 
 him who has to continue in harness from day 
 to day ; and he has no proper conception of the 
 terrible anxiety involved. Nevertheless, such 
 a man's thoughts must have sway in some 
 channel, and generally they run into those of 
 an ambitious character. A man so placed 
 likes to feel that his importance by right of 
 birth is properly appreciated by his fellow- 
 men not so favorably situated. 
 
 The ambition of most men thus happily pro- 
 vided for is usually satisfied with a title; but 
 when a man finds himself robbed of his title, 
 and has to look back several generations to find 
 the cause, he is apt sooner or later to be dis- 
 satisfied with his lot. Such had very recently 
 become the condition of Squire John Coleshill. 
 
 Why a title should be at all necessary to him 
 
 44
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 who had lived so many years very comfortably 
 without it, and how it came about that he 
 should ultimately discover the want of it, are 
 matters for future revelation ; but certain it is, 
 Squire John did come to feel the need of a 
 title. 
 
 Through all his life Squire John had been 
 highly satisfied with the worldly condition he 
 was born unto, and was a model husband and 
 an indulgent parent. He always carried him- 
 self with deportment, and was dignified up to 
 that stage which stops short of a title. 
 
 The villagers had an affection for him, for 
 he was always assisting the needy ; but when it 
 came to the real display of humble obeisance 
 and servile prostration, Squire John felt it was 
 bestowed on Sir Joseph Trevisick ; and he was 
 right. 
 
 " Now," said Squire John, " take away the 
 title from Sir Joseph and add it to my name, 
 and immediately the villagers will transfer 
 their servility to me unmindful of the past." 
 In that he was correct also. 
 
 Squire John's longing for a title was com- 
 mendable, looking at it from a paternal point 
 of view. It is doubtful if its possession would 
 
 45
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 change his dignity, or allow him to accept the 
 humble obeisance of the villagers, for his man- 
 ner of life was too firmly established. 
 
 Robert Coleshill after leaving Margaret 
 Trevisick was so overjoyed at the happy 
 sequel of meeting her that he took the first op- 
 portunity of communicating it to his father. 
 
 Squire John was so agreeably surprised over 
 the disclosures that he brought his hand down 
 on his thigh with a slap that made him wince. 
 
 r< Well done, my boy, well done ! " he ex- 
 claimed. " As for the old tower, I wish she 
 had knocked the foundation from under it." 
 
 " She came very nearly doing it," replied 
 Robert, "although she is dreadfully put out 
 about it." 
 
 " I will have it torn down at once," said the 
 old gentleman. 
 
 " Not so, father; Miss Trevisick is anxious 
 that it remain; it affords a magnificent view of 
 the country. I have already put a force at 
 work to repair the damage." 
 
 " She's a stunner a nice girl, I should say," 
 exclaimed Squire John, correcting himself. 
 
 "A very delightful young lady," com- 
 mented Robert. 
 
 46
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Do you know, Robert, I feel the loss of 
 that title; if I had it, nothing in the world 
 would prevent you from engaging yourself to 
 Miss Trevisick, not even the old feud; as it is, 
 I feel her father will oppose it to the bitter end. 
 I wish you every success. Be manful, be 
 brave, and " pointing to the pictures " re- 
 member this." 
 
 Robert glanced at the pictures, and leaving 
 the hall, proceeded in the direction of the 
 tower, where he spent the balance of the day in 
 viewing the country from its summit, and in 
 watching the men at their work of restoring 
 the steps. As he stood on the outer steps one 
 of the workmen handed him a ring, saying he 
 had found it among the rubbish; it was a 
 lady's ring and had but recently been worn. 
 Robert rewarded the man and placed the ring 
 in his pocket.
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 AN English village of any pretension is gen- 
 erally considered incomplete without an inn; 
 and the village of Trevisick, being considered 
 of importance by its inhabitants, boasted of 
 one, and one only. It was located a stone's 
 throw from the vicarage, was kept by Widow 
 Hodge of pure renown, and owned by Sir 
 Joseph, and consequently was conducted with 
 great propriety; so much so, indeed, that Sir 
 Joseph did not hesitate to bow to the widow in 
 passing, and even the old vicar would stop in 
 on occasion to take a sip of brandy. 
 
 The inn had been the evening rendezvous of 
 the old tradesmen of the village from time 
 immemorial, and as they never admitted the 
 younger men on an equal footing, a small room 
 at the back of the bar had been set apart for 
 their exclusive use. There were eight chairs in 
 this room all told, claimed by as many individ- 
 uals, and it was a rare occasion for either of 
 them to be vacant of an evening. The old men 
 
 4-8
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 would arrive precisely at seven o'clock, and sip 
 their grog, and smoke their long-stemmed clay 
 pipes, and keep up a round of talk which never 
 seemed abated. 
 
 There was very little business at the inn dur- 
 ing the daytime, and Saturday night was in- 
 variably the busiest time. That night had ar- 
 rived, and the widow was busy at the bar. 
 The eight chairs were occupied, and the old 
 men were loading their pipes, patiently await- 
 ing the arrival of their grog, for they made it 
 a point never to commence or properly speak- 
 ing never to resume conversation until they 
 were fully equipped. 
 
 This important part having been supplied, 
 the village oracle, Sam Tredinnick, opened the 
 conversation. 
 
 " Been something of a mystery over at the 
 Tower, I hear." 
 
 The old men bent over and glanced eagerly 
 at the speaker, for although the blacksmith and 
 the master stone-mason knew as much about it 
 as the oracle, they were as anxious to hear him 
 as the others ; and indeed much of their conver- 
 sation consisted of repetitions and resurrec- 
 tions from the dead. 
 
 49
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " I hear," continued Sam, " that day before 
 yesterday, which is Thursday, right in bread 
 daylight rumbling noises were heard emanat- 
 ing from the Tower, and that huge balls which 
 no man could lift flew out of the entrance as 
 though shot from a cannon; and finally that an 
 explosion occurred tearing the steps away and 
 well-nigh upsetting the Tower. It was so 
 violent the owls flew in every direction ; the like 
 was never seen or heard before." 
 
 " It's a frightful place that," said the tailor; 
 " Squire Coleshill ought to be petitioned to tear 
 it down, or something worse will happen." 
 
 " Yes," continued Sam, ignoring the tailor, 
 "my daughter's boy had been sent to pick 
 water-cress, and he returned without any, stat- 
 ing the ghosts were playing Old Nick inside 
 the tower. She warmed his jacket, thinking he 
 was lying; but afterwards I found it was true 
 enough; George here " pointing at the stone- 
 mason "knows something about it." 
 
 Then the assembly turned their gaze upon 
 the stone-mason. 
 
 ' Yes," said that individual, " young Master 
 Robert asked me to go with him to see about a 
 job he wanted done at the Tower. I told him 
 
 50
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 I wanted nothing to do with any jobs there, not 
 that I feared for myself, but my family had to 
 be considered." 
 
 " That's right," interjected the tailor. 
 
 " Then," continued the mason, " he said he 
 would keep me company whilst I worked, and 
 also give me a bonus. I consented at last on con- 
 dition he kept around, but refused the bonus. 
 He had to send two men from the mansion to 
 assist me, for I couldn't get a soul to go there. 
 It was certainly an awful crash; but there is a 
 deep mystery attached to it. One of the men 
 picked up a gold ring from the rubbish a 
 lady's ring and gave it to Master Robert." 
 
 "Murder!" gasped the tailor in his excite- 
 ment, and the others looked at the mason with 
 jaws distended. 
 
 " What about those cannon balls? " inquired 
 the oracle. 
 
 " I forget that part of it," answered the 
 mason ; " we found embedded way down in the 
 rubbish a large round stone which took two of 
 us to lift." 
 
 " A thunder-bolt, I've read of the like," 
 gasped the tailor. 
 
 " He has hit it," said another; " the rumbling 
 
 51
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 was the thunder, and the stone was the bolt, 
 and it just " 
 
 "Bah!" exclaimed the blacksmith, "it was 
 that old ancestor of Squire John's with his 
 arquebuise; don't you remember how he shot 
 t'other ancestor in the skull? " 
 
 "Another thing," said the mason, "young 
 Master Robert was up and down the Tower all 
 day long, and each time he brought down arms- 
 ful of ivy; it is queer doings." 
 
 " This part of the world is getting too 
 ghostly for me," gasped the tailor. 
 
 They all agreed that the Tower had become a 
 menace to public safety, and that it was some- 
 body's duty to notify the villagers to avoid it 
 more carefully than ever by day, and never to 
 go in its vicinity by night; and at this juncture 
 the clock struck eleven and they departed to 
 their respective homes.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 MARGARET TREVISICK'S education from child- 
 hood had been entrusted to the care of a gov- 
 erness, who still remained at the castle to im- 
 part knowledge to Margaret's younger sisters. 
 
 When Margaret reached the age of sixteen 
 years she was sent to a seminary at Exeter, 
 kept by the Misses Corey, two maiden ladies, 
 sisters, whose birthright entitled them to a life 
 of luxury and ease, but whose fortunes had 
 been so reduced through the prodigality of a 
 brother, they were compelled to fall back on 
 their education to maintain themselves. In 
 this they were eminently successful, for many 
 of the nobility being acquainted with the cir- 
 cumstances, and likewise knowing the high 
 standing and estimable character of the two 
 ladies who moreover had passed the age for 
 matrimonial alliances had no scruple in com- 
 mitting their daughters to their charge. 
 
 The Misses Corey used one business card in 
 common, on which was neatly engraved: 
 
 53
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Miss Jane Corey, 
 
 Miss Mary Corey, 
 Young Ladies' Seminary, for im- 
 parting useful knowledge to daugh- 
 ters of the Nobility. French, Music 
 and Drawing. No dancing. No 
 Callers. Strictly guarded." 
 
 Both these worthy ladies were very tall and 
 gaunt. They wore their hair which was gray 
 on the one, and brown on the other flattened 
 over their foreheads, and drawn up tightly at 
 the back to the top of the head, where it ter- 
 minated in a cork-screw coiffure of very 
 moderate proportions, a tortoise-shell comb of 
 lyre design, acting both as ornament and in- 
 strument to keep it in place ; two curls dangled 
 from the coiffure so as to reach just below the 
 ears on either side, sometimes they lay in front, 
 at other times they settled on the ears and stuck 
 out horizontally like miniature cannons. They 
 affected the fashion of the Elizabethan period, 
 saving that the fardingale hoop had been in- 
 verted, and instead of projecting out from the 
 waist-line, it presented its circumference at the 
 bottom. Their facial expressions were unal- 
 
 54
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 luring, though indicative of great power of 
 command. 
 
 Jane, the elder, was never known to depart 
 from the stern rigidity of her manner, but 
 Mary sometimes condescended to converse 
 familiarly with certain of the scholars on home- 
 topics, and even to relax into a smile at unusual 
 exhilarating occurrences. 
 
 The building in which these worthy ladies 
 imparted knowledge, and lived and possibly 
 dreamed, was located in the vicinity of Queen's 
 College. 
 
 It had originally been an old mansion, 
 and was fitted up on its lower floor to 
 form two moderate-sized schoolrooms, a din- 
 ing-room, and kitchen. The second story con- 
 tained two sitting-rooms, and the remaining 
 space, including the third story, was devoted 
 to sleeping apartments. The contour of the 
 building was severely plain, the front being re- 
 lieved only by a portico which opened unto a 
 small plot of ground neither lawn nor garden, 
 but containing the unimproved elements of 
 both ; for the grass grew in tufts, and the shrubs 
 had long passed the budding stage of their 
 existence. A high cob-wall formed the bound- 
 
 55
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ary of the entrance path on the outer side, and 
 the line of demarcation of the inner side was 
 partly set off by straggling box-wood, and 
 partly by whitewashed stones. The path 
 led around to the back entrance, a side path 
 affording egress to the front or portico en- 
 trance. 
 
 It was in this desolate-looking place that 
 Margaret completed her education. It is not 
 to be inferred, however, that the lives of the 
 pupils were spent in conformity with the en- 
 vironments, for where youth and beauty as- 
 semble, the natural inclinations will have 
 sway. 
 
 During the hours of school a rigid applica- 
 tion was devoted to the lessons and to the edu- 
 cational harangues of the two old maids, 
 for the latter would not tolerate the slightest 
 deviation from the principles adopted by 
 them. 
 
 The two sisters divided their labors, and on 
 account of the presence of maps and other 
 material necessary for the exploitation of the 
 different stages of learning, the pupils were 
 compelled to change from one room to the 
 other, and this was the only diversion they had 
 
 56
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 during school hours; it was possible then for 
 them to impart a smile or even to give a mali- 
 cious pinch, as the spirit moved them. 
 
 Drawing was presided over by Jane Corey, 
 and music by Mary, and it was in a great 
 measure on account of this wise selection that 
 the success of the school depended, for the 
 more than stern disposition of the one was 
 counterbalanced by the even temper of the 
 other. 
 
 After school hours, however, the girls threw 
 off the yoke of submission, and retiring to their 
 rooms indulged in all sorts of boisterous 
 amusement. It was useless for Jane Corey 
 (her sister never interfered in these innocent 
 revelries) to knock at their doors and command 
 silence; it modified for a moment, but as soon 
 as the girls discovered her departure, by the 
 usual method of peeping over the bannisters, 
 the tumult resumed. 
 
 The two sisters chaperoned their pupils in 
 all their walks and shopping, and it was under- 
 stood that whoever disobeyed. this all-important 
 rule was to be immediately reported. to their 
 parents for the latters' action in the matter. 
 If any of their relatives came on a visit, they 
 
 57
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 were not admitted unless known, saving in the 
 presence of one of the sisters. 
 
 When they took their walks abroad through 
 the city they walked three in a row; Jane 
 walked abreast of the first row and Mary at 
 the rear, so that flirtations in any way might 
 be guarded against. Their walks in the coun- 
 try, however, were not so guarded, and they 
 walked and conversed to suit themselves, and 
 even did such mortifying things to Jane 
 Corey, at least as climbing the hedges and 
 low trees to get at the blossoms; in this no 
 amount of reprimand could withhold them. 
 
 The culinary affairs of this establishment 
 were conducted on the most rigid economy, 
 why, it will never be satisfactorily explained. 
 It was not to be inferred that either of the 
 pupils had been subjected to it in their previous 
 experience, or would be reduced to the neces- 
 sity of practising it in their subsequent lives; 
 yet Jane Corey who superintended that all- 
 important part of the girls' welfare exhibited 
 a parsimony altogether out of proportion to 
 the necessity of inculcating that useful art. 
 Consequently it resulted in the girls being com- 
 pelled to devote a goodly portion of their pin- 
 
 58
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 money in providing food for their rebellious 
 stomachs, and in this they were aided and 
 abetted by the servants, who bought crackers 
 and cheese, and even cold tripe, and cow-heels 
 a luxury almost unknown to the wealthy- 
 entered into the articles of consumption, and 
 were stored in hat-boxes in one of the bedrooms 
 for more easy access. 
 
 There was a certain dish in this establishment 
 highly esteemed by Jane Corey, as evidenced 
 by the frequency with which it reappeared, but 
 which was looked upon with loathing by the 
 girls. It consisted of a combination of sliced 
 potatoes, chopped turnips, and bits of salt 
 bacon, highly seasoned with pepper, the whole 
 being dexterously encased in dough, and placed 
 in a dish to bake. 
 
 This dish had been christened by Margaret 
 Trevisick as " Poor Man's Pie," and was once 
 the cause of hilarious diversion during school 
 hours. As the classes were changing from one 
 room to the other, Margaret took the oppor- 
 tunity to utter " Poor Man's Pie to-day," which 
 set those who overheard her into fits of 
 laughter. Jane Corey, ever on the alert to 
 guard against indecorum, demanded the cause 
 
 59
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 of the unseemingly conduct, and Margaret 
 answered: " I thoughtlessly whispered, ' Poor 
 Man's Pie.' " 
 
 " Please go to your room, Miss Trevisick," 
 said Jane Corey, " and await the bell calling 
 you to that repast." 
 
 Margaret, still enveloped in laughter, retired 
 to one of the sitting-rooms on the second floor, 
 and was heralded as a martyr by the other girls 
 when they returned to dress for dinner. 
 
 " You can have my share, girls," exclaimed 
 Jane Valtort. 
 
 " And mine! and mine! and mine! " shouted 
 as many girls in chorus. 
 
 " What have we good in the larder? " asked 
 Lillipopo Isandlana, a tall, graceful, laughing 
 brunette. 
 
 " Nothing but dry bread and pickled onions," 
 answered another. 
 
 ' There is nothing to do but submit to the 
 inevitable," exclaimed Jane Valtort, and going 
 up to Margaret, she threw her arms around her 
 neck, and kissed her on each cheek, saying: 
 " Come, my dear Margaret, I wouldn't worry 
 over such a simple thing, nobody cares." 
 
 Jane Valtort was the daughter of Edmund 
 60
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Valtort, a prominent barrister of Lincoln's Inn 
 Fields, London, whose country residence was 
 in Rutland. She was a bright little lady of 
 exquisite mould, and Margaret and she had 
 endeared themselves to each other so that they 
 were almost inseparable. 
 
 "Come away from her, Jane!" exclaimed 
 Lillipopo Isandlana ; " the school days will soon 
 be over, and I have hardly had a chance to dis- 
 cover whether Margaret uses cosmetics or not," 
 and amid the laughter this remark provoked, 
 the beautiful girl forced Jane Valtort aside, 
 and placing her arms around Margaret's waist 
 gave her such an embrace that she groaned 
 aloud, which created another outburst of 
 laughter. 
 
 " Now leave Margaret and me together, 
 girls; we are going to fast to-day; " and after 
 they were left alone, Lillipopo again clasped 
 Margaret in her arms, saying : " My dear, when 
 I leave here I will go so far away from you, I 
 may never expect to see you again. All the 
 relations I have in this world, so far as I know, 
 are in the vicinity of Natal. I have learned to 
 love you very deeply, and that is all of you I 
 can take with me. I long for somebody to 
 
 61
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 love me, and I have resolved to make love to 
 the first man I meet, who appeals to my heart 
 as suitable to me." 
 
 "How wickedly you talk, Lillipopo; you 
 surely don't mean what you say? " 
 
 " I don't suppose I could do such an unlady- 
 like thing, Margaret; I simply talk that way 
 because I feel the necessity of a sympathetic 
 soul, somebody who understands the longing 
 of my heart." 
 
 " I trust you will discover such a soul, Lilli- 
 popo, and when you do, that you will be forever 
 happy." 
 
 At last the time arrived for the breaking up 
 of school for the holidays. Many were leav- 
 ing to take more important duties in the world, 
 never to return; and many were the heart-rend- 
 ing tears shed as the girls discovered the sorrow 
 of parting. 
 
 The girls kissed the Misses Corey and when 
 Margaret fulfilled her part of this farewell, 
 she said: 'You will not feel aggrieved to- 
 wards me concerning ' Poor Man's Pie ' ? " 
 
 " Not now, Miss Trevisick," answered Jane 
 Corey, " but decorum must be preserved dur- 
 ing school hours." 
 
 62
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Mary Corey requested the girls to notify 
 her when any of them might marry, as she kept 
 a diary of every girl who attended their school. 
 ' We do not desire a long or close correspond- 
 ence," she said, " because our duties are so 
 exacting it would be impossible to attend to it ; 
 but we like to feel that everyone who has 
 finished her education here realizes the fruits 
 of our teachings." 
 
 At last it came Jane Valtort's time to bid 
 good-by to Margaret. 
 
 " My dear, I don't know what to say to you," 
 said the little lady with the tears streaming 
 down her cheeks. " All the kissing I have 
 given you to-day does not satisfy me, and my 
 heart feels like a stone. Would your parents 
 let you visit me for a few weeks? " 
 
 " I am afraid not, Jane," said Margaret, 
 drawing her boon companion to her lap; " I 
 will plead with my father; meanwhile we will 
 keep up a close correspondence, will we not? " 
 
 " Indeed we will," and Jane again hugged 
 and kissed her friend. 
 
 " And above all, when you are engaged, tell 
 me what he is like, will you? and I will do like- 
 wise."
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Yes, I will gladly tell you all," Jane 
 replied. 
 
 And then the two friends parted, each one 
 feeling that a most bitter calamity had befallen 
 her. 
 
 64,
 
 CHAPTER IX 
 
 WHETHER Lady Trevisick was too unsym- 
 pathetic for her better educated and more 
 liberal-minded daughter to fully confide with, 
 will remain an open question. It is certain, 
 however, that Margaret invariably confided 
 with her father. One reason perhaps was, that 
 as Sir Joseph superintended all the affairs of 
 his household Lady Trevisick never having 
 troubled herself therewith it was natural for 
 Margaret to look upon him as the proper au- 
 thority. Be it as it may, Margaret, like a duti- 
 ful daughter, sought her father immediately 
 after leaving Robert Coleshill, and explained 
 to him all that had transpired since she left him 
 asleep in the drawing-room. 
 
 Sir Joseph was seated in the library, and as 
 Margaret recited her adventures to him, he 
 gazed upon her in profound astonishment. He 
 fairly knitted his brows, and as she concluded, 
 he arose and thrusting his hands in his pockets, 
 walked towards a window and looked out upon 
 
 65
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 the lawn, evidently too much surprised at the 
 sudden revelation made to him to make im- 
 mediate reply. 
 
 Finally he turned around, and coming near 
 to where Margaret stood, spoke to her with 
 considerable emphasis. 
 
 "Margaret, I don't like this adventure of 
 yours. In the first place it is a breach of the 
 discipline involved in this house for several gen- 
 erations; and in the next place, it is a very 
 irregular way of getting introduced to a young 
 gentleman, even if he were eligible, which Mr. 
 Coleshill very decidedly is not. I am not 
 speaking from a moral standpoint, for I have 
 no reason to doubt his standing as a gentleman 
 of honor ; but aside from the natural antipathy 
 this house bears to the house of Coleshill, the 
 latter has no title ; and I will not tolerate for a 
 moment the lapsing of the glory handed down 
 to me unimpaired, for so many generations, 
 by an alliance of a daughter of mine to any 
 man without a title." 
 
 It was the first time Margaret had ever been 
 angrily addressed by her father, and she col- 
 ored deeply; and as he walked away from her, 
 she said: 
 
 66
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Papa, I am very sorry for my mis- 
 take. I had no expectation of meeting Mr. 
 Coleshill, and so far as affection for him is 
 concerned, it would be a novelty indeed." 
 
 " It is too early for you to know," responded 
 Sir Joseph; "country environment usually 
 leads to spontaneous attachments without due 
 consideration of the consequences." 
 
 ' Tell me, papa, is it righteous to harbor a 
 feud against those who are innocent of the 
 cause, and whose lives are known to be as hon- 
 orable as our own? The divine law reads, 
 ' Love ye one another as brethren.' ' 
 
 ' That law is difficult to carry out in prac- 
 tice," answered Sir Joseph with a somewhat 
 milder bearing, for he began to realize that his 
 daughter perceived the injustice of the ban 
 laid upon her. 
 
 " It would be so much happier for both fam- 
 ilies to have a speaking acquaintance," sug- 
 gested Margaret meekly. 
 
 " If it would end there," replied Sir Joseph, 
 " but you do not understand the difficulties. 
 That old Tower has stood menacing me from 
 boyhood, so that I am kept away from the most 
 enjoyable part of my estate. Then again I do 
 
 67
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 not care to humble myself to an untitled person 
 by making acknowledgments." 
 
 " Could it not be done without reference to 
 the past? Mr. Robert Coleshill asserted that 
 so far as he is concerned the feud ended this 
 very day." 
 
 " Of course he did," replied Sir Joseph sig- 
 nificantly; " but it is Squire Coleshill's duty to 
 come to me, if he desires to reconcile the two 
 houses, and that I know he will not do; and I 
 will not go to him." 
 
 "Will it answer if Robert comes?" asked 
 Margaret anxiously. 
 
 " Decidedly not," replied Sir Joseph. 
 
 " Then it will be left for Robert and me to 
 do so, papa, after you are dead." 
 
 Sir Joseph instantly divined there was no 
 preventing that from taking place, and angrily 
 retorted: "Margaret, I want you to abstain 
 from all communication with Robert Coleshill, 
 and to realize at once the impossibility of ally- 
 ing yourself to anybody other than a titled per- 
 sonage, whose selection must be agreeable, if 
 indeed he is not altogether chosen by me." 
 Saying this, Sir Joseph left the room. 
 
 Margaret sat in a despondent mood for sev- 
 68
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 eral minutes, then she went to her escritoire, 
 and indited a long letter to Jane Valtort, full 
 of affection, and relating her adventure, and 
 her father's subsequent displeasure in regard 
 thereto.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 SUNDAY had arrived, and Squire John Coles- 
 hill, like a good Christian gentleman for he 
 himself had said it accompanied his family to 
 church. Robert walked beside him, while his 
 wife and daughters took the lead some steps 
 ahead. The family usually walked to church, 
 for, as Squire John remarked, riding did not 
 indicate a lowly spirit. 
 
 They passed by the old Tower on their way, 
 and Squire John continuing his remarks said: 
 ' There it stands, Robert, frowning upon Mar- 
 garet and her father." 
 
 " Margaret likes its frowning battlements," 
 Robert replied. 
 
 " I am glad of it," said the Squire ; " nothing 
 would do my declining years so much good as 
 to know you were united ; but the absence of a 
 title is the impediment." 
 
 "Here they come!" said Robert in a whisper, 
 and as they turned a bend in the road, Lady 
 Trevisick and her younger daughters appeared 
 in view, followed by Sir Joseph and Margaret. 
 
 70
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " We will run right into them," said Squire 
 John ; " slow up a bit until they reach the turn." 
 
 " Not so, father," replied Robert; " we have 
 been too slow already; it is that hanging back 
 that has kept us isolated." 
 
 ;< What will you do? " asked the father. 
 
 " I will certainly bow to them," answered 
 the son. 
 
 " I don't propose to be dragged into any 
 such submission," exclaimed Squire John ex- 
 citedly, his old ire returning to him. 
 
 " Now, father, you will spoil what I have al- 
 ready accomplished; forget Sir Joseph, and 
 think you are bowing to Margaret." 
 
 " That's different," said the Squire; " I can 
 do that with a good grace." 
 
 The two families met, and Mrs. Coleshill and 
 her daughters turned the bend without any 
 sign of recognition, but Robert and his father 
 stopped to let Lady Trevisick and her 
 daughters pass, and took off their hats in do- 
 ing so, repeating the latter courtesy as Sir 
 Joseph and Margaret followed. 
 
 Sir Joseph, true to good breeding, took off 
 his hat and actually bowed, while Margaret 
 imparted a smile as she bowed to Robert. 
 
 71
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Squire John pinched his son's arm and 
 whispered: "By George, that was easy 
 enough, and makes me feel quite pleasant and 
 familiar." 
 
 Sir Joseph remarked to his daughter: 
 " Young Robert Coleshill has a dignified bear- 
 ing." 
 
 " I am proud to hear you say so, papa." 
 
 " I don't want you to forget my injunctions 
 though, Margaret," he added. 
 
 And so at last the two families reached the 
 old church and occupied the same family pews 
 their forefathers had done. 
 
 The door of Squire John's pew still bore a 
 fac-simile of the insignia which his ancestors 
 owned before the title was abrogated, for no 
 person dared to commit the sacrilege of robbing 
 it from the church ; and so it remained, a weekly 
 reminder to Squire John of what he had lost. 
 This Sabbath day he stopped on reaching the 
 door, and traced his finger around the insignia. 
 The villagers who observed the action thought 
 he was removing the dust therefrom; and old 
 Nancy Harris, who cleaned the church, went 
 up to it after they had left and brushed the 
 dust away until it shone. 
 
 72
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 The old vicar selected as his text, " Be ye 
 kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving 
 one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath 
 forgiven you." He expatiated on the impor- 
 tance of forgiveness in order to reach the king- 
 dom of heaven. The sermon was eloquent in 
 its way, and it could not have been more applic- 
 able to the two houses of Coleshill and Trevi- 
 sick had it been designed intentionally for 
 them. 
 
 There is no doubt both Sir Joseph and Squire 
 John felt the full force of the sermon, and if 
 the old vicar had thought to bring them to- 
 gether after the services, the reconciliation 
 would have been complete ; but he did not, and 
 they again retired to their respective house- 
 holds. 
 
 The inhabitants of the village used great de- 
 corum to use Jane Corey's expression on 
 Sundays, and outside of a walk on the country 
 roads, indulged in no frivolities. 
 
 Old Ben Judd rarely left his home after at- 
 tending church, but on this particular Sunday 
 afternoon he left his wife clandestinely and 
 strolled away alone. Later in the day he could 
 be seen walking around the base of Owl Tower, 
 
 73
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 sometimes poking a stick into the cracks and 
 crannies, at other times standing back with his 
 arms akimbo, gazing towards the top of the 
 structure. 
 
 " Upon my life," he said, " it looks as though 
 it was falling over upon me." And indeed the 
 tower had that peculiarity that upon stretch- 
 ing back the neck to gaze at its summit, it 
 seemed to be moving. 
 
 After bringing his head back to its normal 
 position, old Ben again assayed the experiment. 
 " It is falling this way as sure as I stand here," 
 he exclaimed, and hastening around to the 
 entrance side, he again stretched his neck back- 
 wards, with the result that he said: " Now it 
 is falling this way," and after trying the four 
 sides of its base with the same result, he ex- 
 claimed: " It is falling every way, and some 
 day there will be a great crash." 
 
 Ben Judd had a peculiar way of gesticulat- 
 ing as he talked. He had been so accustomed 
 to use the hammer during his conversation, as 
 he saved half the labor and made all the prof- 
 its, that he could not relinquish the habit when 
 he was away from the shop; so as he spoke he 
 emphazied his remarks by giving quick alter- 
 
 74
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 nate blows with his closed fist into the palm of 
 the other. 
 
 It so happened that Sir Joseph, influenced 
 probably by the sermon, had likewise strolled 
 to the border of his estate directly opposite the 
 Tower something he had never done before. 
 He espied the blacksmith, and observing his 
 peculiar actions, it interested him to the point 
 of open curiosity, for he came to the hedge 
 and called to Ben. 
 
 Old Ben was astonished to find he had been 
 observed, and particularly so when he discov- 
 ered who that observer was ; but he hastened to 
 the fence, and touching his hat, said : ' Your 
 servant, Sir Joseph." 
 
 Sir Joseph returned the courtesy and said: 
 
 " What did you see, Judd? " 
 
 " Whichever way I look at that Tower, Sir 
 Joseph, it appears to be falling over on top of 
 me." 
 
 " It is the action of the clouds, probably," 
 replied Sir Joseph, " or possibly your brain 
 swims as you look up." 
 
 " It may be clouds, Sir Joseph, but my brain 
 ain't trifled with a bit; howsoever I do think 
 that cursed Tower should come down, it's a 
 
 75
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 menace to everybody. The women folk are 
 afraid to pass it any more." 
 
 " That is mere superstition," replied Sir 
 Joseph ; " there is nothing about the tower that 
 can hurt anybody." 
 
 " The owls are there," persisted Ben. 
 
 " I tell you, Judd, neither the tower nor the 
 owls will hurt anybody; it is the associations 
 connected with it." 
 
 " Well, it is better out of the way, if only to 
 remove those associations," answered Ben 
 bluntly. 
 
 ' Those could be removed without disturb- 
 ing the structure," said Sir Joseph; " I can't 
 say, after looking at it closely, that I dislike it ; 
 it is a relic of bygone days." 
 
 " It keeps you and Squire John from grasp- 
 ing friendly hands," replied Ben. 
 
 ' That is our business, you know," said Sir 
 Joseph. 
 
 "So it is, and it is a great pity you don't 
 come together like men. How did you like the 
 vicar's sermon? " 
 
 Sir Joseph evidently did not care to discuss 
 the subject, for he turned upon his heel and 
 walked towards the castle. 
 
 76
 
 Old Ben Judd looked at his retreating figure 
 and said to himself: ' There will be no more 
 horses to shoe for Sir Joseph," and he retraced 
 his steps hastily towards his little cottage. 
 
 Ben's haste would be looked upon as unnec- 
 essary under the circumstances, but it was soon 
 explained, for he entered his shop, and taking 
 the hammer struck the anvil. 
 
 Tink-a-link-a-link " I have said it." 
 Tink-a-link-a-link: " I will say it again." 
 Tink-a-link-a-link: "I will now go home 
 and repeat it to Mary Ann." 
 
 77
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 AFTER Sir Joseph Trevisick's interview with 
 his daughter he became suspicious lest there 
 might be clandestine meetings between her and 
 Robert Coleshill, and those suspicions al- 
 though without foundation gave rise to his 
 watching and questioning her movements, re- 
 sulting in a coolness between them. 
 
 Margaret readily discovered the suspicion 
 hanging over her, and it made her extremely 
 unhappy; and she was careful that her actions 
 were such as not to increase her father's resent- 
 ment towards her. 
 
 She had not expected that any feeling would 
 exist in her bosom for Robert Coleshill, outside 
 of a friendly regard such as the young have 
 towards each other; and her father's reference 
 to a deeper attachment was received by her 
 with some amusement; but after several days 
 she became alarmed to find that her thoughts 
 constantly reverted to their meeting in the 
 Tower, and when she saw him on the following 
 
 78
 
 OWL TOWER, 
 
 Sunday, her heart fluttered and the blood flew 
 to her cheeks. 
 
 After several weeks, during which she had 
 no opportunity to communicate with Robert 
 Coleshill, a longing so possessed her she de- 
 cided again to visit the Tower. 
 
 She selected an afternoon at a time when 
 her father usually rested, and hastening to the 
 tower, ascended to the top. A rustic seat had 
 been placed there since her last visit, and on it 
 lay a book ; deciding to remain but a few min- 
 utes, she wrote her name in pencil on the fly 
 leaf, trembling at her audacity, and began the 
 descent. The passage had been entirely cleared 
 of all debris, so that it consumed but a few 
 minutes in making the journey up or down. 
 She had descended but a few steps, when she 
 tripped, and falling backwards to save herself, 
 her body came in contact with a stone which 
 moved inwards with the pressure against it. 
 Margaret screamed in her fright, and the next 
 moment found herself lying on the floor of a 
 small cell, to which light was admitted through 
 an embrasure invisible from the outside. A 
 few stone spheres were scattered about the cell 
 like those upon the roof, and her curiosity lead- 
 
 79
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ing her to explore a niche in the wall, she with- 
 drew a small metal box therefrom, which she 
 concealed about her, then she hastily left the 
 cell and swung the stone door to its closed posi- 
 tion. A few minutes later and she entered her 
 home. 
 
 Margaret's departure had been discovered by 
 Sir Joseph, and he watched her enter the tower 
 and shortly after leave it. His mind became 
 impregnated with visions of the past trou- 
 ble which had befallen his ancestry, and he 
 determined at once to prevent a repetition 
 of it. 
 
 He first directed the gamekeeper to watch 
 the tower and report to him who left or entered 
 it, and withdrew himself to the castle. 
 
 Margaret immediately on returning from 
 the tower, went to her room, hid the metal box, 
 and summoning her maid, prepared herself for 
 dinner. 
 
 As she entered the drawing-room Sir Joseph 
 cast a painful glance at her, but Margaret, 
 nothing daunted, went up to him and kissed 
 him, but he returned her salute very coldly. 
 
 At dusk the gamekeeper reported to Sir 
 Joseph that Robert Coleshill had entered the 
 
 80
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 tower, and left it again after an interval of an 
 hour, with a book in his hand. No other per- 
 son had come near the place. 
 
 The following day Sir Joseph called Mar- 
 garet to him and said: " My dear, I want you 
 to make preparations to accompany your 
 mother and myself to London for a few 
 months' sojourn." 
 
 Margaret had never visited the Metropolis, 
 and she welcomed the command with keen sat- 
 isfaction; and while Grace Biddle was oc- 
 cupied in packing such articles of apparel as 
 had been selected, she spent some time in writ- 
 ing to her old school friend, Jane Valtort, of 
 her intended journey. 
 
 Sir Joseph had no permanent home in the 
 city, so he usually rented a house from a par- 
 liamentary friend. 
 
 For a few days Margaret took keen delight 
 in the sights of London ; after that she lost all 
 interest in them, and her thoughts reverted to 
 her country home, and Robert Coleshill. How 
 she longed to write him and tell him of her 
 heart's desire ! 
 
 They had been in the city about two weeks, 
 when Margaret received an introduction to Sir 
 
 81
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Thomas Trubody, and his son and heir, 
 Richard. 
 
 Richard Trubody was twenty-six years of 
 age, over six feet in height, and appeared much 
 taller on account of his meagerness. A silk 
 hat which he invariably wore tended to increase 
 the delusion. He wore a monocle, sometimes 
 in one eye, sometimes in the other, according to 
 the hand which caught it first, or as the one eye 
 became painful to him. He was clothed en- 
 tirely in black, his frock coat descending to his 
 knees. His pointed patent leather shoes were 
 partly hidden by fawn-colored gaiters. Us- 
 ually he carried a cane with a buck-horn 
 handle, curved like a shepherd's crook. Above 
 all, he was very closely connected in mental pro- 
 clivities to the late lamented Lord Dundreary. 
 
 On having this creature introduced to her, 
 Margaret extended her hand to him. Richard 
 Trubody, after passing his cane from his right 
 hand to his left, gave a stoop of his right 
 shoulder, and bringing his hand upwards, 
 seized Margaret's, and dangled it up and down, 
 saying: 
 
 " Aw! I feel privileged, Miss Trevisick," and 
 then he relinquished her hand, and after trans- 
 
 82
 
 ^ 
 
 "Aw ! I feel privileged, Miss Trevisick.
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ferring his shepherd's crook back to his right 
 hand, stood ogling her. 
 
 Margaret, after shaking hands with him, 
 replied to his remarks with a simple, " Thank 
 
 you." 
 
 Having ogled Margaret to his satisfaction, 
 Richard Trubody resumed: "Aw! I will be 
 in town a few days, Miss Trevisick; may I 
 have the pleasure of escorting you anywhere; 
 to the theaters, for instance? " 
 
 " I must refer you to my father for an 
 answer, Mr. Trubody," Margaret replied. 
 
 " Aw ! yes, very proper indeed. You haven't 
 visited town before, I presume? " 
 
 " No, and I have no desire to do so again ; I 
 prefer the country air, it is so nice and clear." 
 
 " Aw! yes, here it is nice and aw! " 
 
 " Foggy," suggested Margaret. 
 
 " Aw! yes, nice and foggy; very good, Miss 
 Trevisick, I declare; nice and foggy, ha, ha." 
 
 Margaret laughed, too, but afterwards she 
 declared to Robert Coleshill that she blushed 
 outwardly and inwardly at the knowledge that 
 she was laughing at his amusement over her 
 own ridiculous mistake. 
 
 "Aw! I think a few days in your society, 
 
 83
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Miss Trevisick, will send me back home quite 
 enlightened over the peculiarities of this town." 
 
 " You will be disappointed in your expecta- 
 tions," replied Margaret, already taking a 
 dislike to him; "for the fog will never clear 
 away sufficiently for me to become interested 
 in it." 
 
 "Aw! all it requires, Miss Trevisick, is a 
 good brisk northeast wind. Aw, if you will 
 excuse me a few minutes, I will confer with 
 Sir Joseph ; " and he again passed his shep- 
 herd's crook to his left hand, gave a stoop of 
 his right shoulder, and walked over to where 
 Sir Joseph and Sir Thomas were deep in con- 
 versation. 
 
 Sir Thomas held up his hand to his son, say- 
 ing: "Leave us alone just one moment 
 longer, Richard." Then resuming his conver- 
 sation with Sir Joseph, he said: 
 
 " Now, Sir Joseph, my son who is heir to 
 my estate has attached himself to some girl 
 or other without a title, and I object to any 
 such departure from the rule of my ances- 
 tors." 
 
 ' That is exactly the case with my daughter," 
 interposed Sir Joseph; " at least I am inclined 
 
 84
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 to believe as much; and the reason simply is, 
 there are no other eligible young men near my 
 estate ; none with a title, at least ; and I have al- 
 ready informed my daughter that a title is 
 indispensable.'* 
 
 " Exactly," answered Sir Thomas. " So 
 far as real affection is concerned, it is bound to 
 come sooner or later, whoever they marry." 
 
 Sir Joseph made no reply to this remark, but 
 he shifted uneasily in his chair, and glanced to- 
 wards Margaret, and from her to the figure of 
 Richard Trubody. 
 
 " Are you favorably impressed with Rich- 
 ard, Sir Joseph? ' inquired Sir Thomas. 
 
 " He is different in appearance from any- 
 body my daughter has been accustomed to see," 
 answered Sir Joseph dryly, " and it is she who 
 must be impressed." 
 
 " You know, Sir Joseph, the nobility ; that 
 is, those who can claim any long line of ances- 
 tors are invariably different from anybody 
 else ; if it is not in appearance, it is in their 
 actions. It appears to be a wise provision of 
 Providence to distinguish them from the rest. 
 There must be some oddity about them or you 
 can make up your mind they have broken the 
 
 85
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 rule, and married without a title. Richard is 
 all right mentally, and as he fills out, very few 
 members of the house of Paliament will com- 
 pare with him." 
 
 " I have often wished I had a male heir," 
 said Sir Joseph melancholily ; " I would have 
 been saved all this worriment." 
 
 "How long do you propose remaining in 
 the city, Sir Joseph? " 
 
 " If this matter can be satisfactorily ar- 
 ranged between us, I will leave to-morrow, for 
 I miss the comforts of home." 
 
 " I have no doubt Richard can be persuaded 
 to change his mind," said Sir Thomas ; " as 
 soon as he sees the advantage of the match. 
 Suppose I call him over, " 
 
 " Well," was all Sir Joseph said. 
 
 Richard Trubody having seated himself be- 
 side them, his father addressed him, saying: 
 
 " Richard, we have to be somewhat plain in 
 our remarks to you, because it concerns the 
 momentous question of your future happiness. 
 Sir Joseph's daughter has become secretly at- 
 tached to a young man without a title, which as 
 you know, is not to be endured for a moment. 
 There has been no outward demonstration be- 
 
 86
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 tween them, but Sir Joseph is afraid it may 
 break out like the smallpox at any mo- 
 ment." 
 
 " Aw! certainly," Richard commented. 
 
 " I have suggested to Sir Joseph that you 
 have a title, and are otherwise eligible for his 
 daughter's hand. Before he consents, how- 
 ever, to your paying your addresses to her, he 
 insists that you must be unequivocally free 
 from all other attachments." 
 
 " Aw, merely a passing fancy, that's all." 
 answered Richard, with a poor attempt at a 
 laugh. 
 
 " My daughter has been accustomed to 
 nothing that is not pure and noble," said Sir 
 Joseph, " and I will not lend my hand to any- 
 thing that will contaminate her spotless char- 
 acter." 
 
 " Aw, I will take steps to-day to put an end 
 to the aw passing fancy," commented 
 Richard. 
 
 ' That being done," said Sir Joseph, " I give 
 my consent to the wooing of my daughter; of 
 course I cannot do that for you." 
 
 " Aw, no, of course not," replied Richard. 
 
 " I will assist you, however," said Sir Joseph, 
 87
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " by influencing her, and if that won't do, by 
 using my prerogative." 
 
 " And we all know what that means," said 
 Sir Thomas, rubbing his hands in the height of 
 his enthusiasm. 
 
 " After attending to that all important mat- 
 ter of withdrawing from your present 
 
 " Aw, passing fancy," interjected Richard. 
 
 " Attachment," continued Sir Joseph, " you 
 may visit Trevisick castle, and there sur- 
 rounded by peaceful scenes, etc., form a better 
 acquaintance with my daughter." 
 
 " Aw, I will soon wind up that little matter," 
 said Richard. 
 
 Richard Trubody had no opportunity to 
 escort Margaret anywhere in the city, for in 
 two days after their conference Sir Joseph re- 
 turned with her; but he had the very great 
 pleasure as he said of informing her of the 
 prospect of paying her a visit at her home. 
 
 " Not especially to call upon me, sir," Mar- 
 garet replied. 
 
 " Aw, Sir Joseph has invited me to come," 
 he stammered. 
 
 '* I trust you will enjoy your visit, Mr. 
 Trubody." 
 
 88
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 AFTER leaving the smithy, old Ben Judd en- 
 tered his cottage and explained to his wife 
 what had transpired between him and Sir 
 Joseph. 
 
 Mary Ann Judd was a modest little woman 
 of very few words, and when conversing with 
 her husband it was usually in monosyllables, 
 and for that reason had maintained the peace 
 of the little household from the day of their 
 marriage. She likewise used those monosyl- 
 lables sparingly, which was calculated to pre- 
 serve that peace unimpaired to the day of her 
 death. 
 
 Her invariable reply to her husband's re- 
 marks was: "That's right," or "That's 
 wrong," as the case might be; and if by mistake 
 she answered wrong, she quickly made it right 
 for the sake of euphony. 
 
 Whether Mary Ann Judd was soured be- 
 cause her husband had not taken her with him 
 that afternoon, or whether it was on account of 
 
 89
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 the natural regard she had for titled person- 
 ages, can only be conjectured. 
 
 When old Ben related how he had spoken to 
 Sir Joseph, his wife answered: 
 
 " That's wrong; you had no right to speak 
 to a gentleman like Sir Joseph in that 
 
 manner." 
 
 Now, if Mary Ann had not departed from 
 her orthodox way, old Ben probably would 
 have growled to himself; as it was, the unusual 
 multitude of words jarred on his ear, and he 
 replied petulantly: 
 
 " Serves me right for telling you ; you never 
 did know anything." 
 
 " I know right from wrong," retorted Mary 
 Ann. 
 
 " You get it twisted mighty often, I have 
 noticed," growled old Ben. 
 
 " I have twisted it to suit you, but I will do 
 it no longer," she again retorted. 
 
 " You are a " 
 
 " Don't you dare say it," screamed Mary 
 Ann, and thereupon she sat down and covering 
 her face with her apron burst into tears, sob- 
 bing as though her heart would break. 
 
 " Now, I've done it," said old Ben, and he 
 90
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 arose and put his arms around his wife and 
 tried to kiss her, but she pushed him from her. 
 
 " I didn't say it," exclaimed Ben. 
 
 "No, but you meant to," Mary Ann ex- 
 claimed between her sobs. 
 
 " Will you kiss and make up? " asked Ben. 
 
 " No, go away from me," she screamed. 
 
 " It's that cursed old tower," exclaimed Ben; 
 " not a living soul has gone within its shadow 
 who has not fallen under its evil influence." 
 He wound up this remark with three taps on his 
 palm, and then lighting his pipe, strolled out 
 into the garden. 
 
 The following evening the eight chairs at 
 the village inn were occupied as usual, and old 
 Ben recounted his experience at the tower. 
 
 " Yes," he said, " I gazed up at the tower 
 and it was falling this way; I ran around 
 the other side, and it was falling that way; 
 and I finally discovered it was falling every 
 way." 
 
 The tailor shrugged his shoulders and threw 
 his hands over his head, as though to ward off 
 imaginary falling stones, and gasped, " Forty 
 devils!" 
 
 " Yes," continued old Ben, " and I told Sir 
 91
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Joseph the old tower prevented him from ex- 
 tending the hand of friendship to Squire 
 John." 
 
 "Jerusalem!" gasped the tailor. 
 
 Whether old Ben had the power of trans- 
 ferring any of the evil influence he had imbibed 
 from visiting the tower, is matter for specula- 
 tion ; but certain it is that on the following day 
 the little tailor horrified his wife by threatening 
 to turn her out of the house if she cooked any 
 more cabbage. 
 
 " What shall I cook? " the unfortunate 
 woman inquired. " I have been giving you 
 cabbage every day for forty years, and you 
 never complained before." 
 
 " Cook anything, anything," he snarled, 
 " anything but cabbage." 
 
 And his wife left him to visit one of her 
 neighbors, to receive her condolence over the 
 first quarrel she had with her husband. 
 
 The heretofore peaceful village had sud- 
 denly exhibited signs of a general epidemic of 
 quarreling; and one and all decided that a 
 period had arrived in the history of the tower 
 when it had the power of disseminating its evil 
 influence among them. 
 
 92
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 MARGARET was once more back to the rural 
 scenes she loved so well. For several days she 
 remained at home, or loitered about on the 
 lawn, her thoughts dwelling upon the unhappy 
 condition that had befallen her. 
 
 During the journey from London her 
 father had explained to her that Richard Tru- 
 body, who was heir to a title and rich lands 
 besides, was about to visit Trevisick for the 
 purpose of getting better acquainted with her, 
 with the ultimate object in view of marrying 
 her. Sir Joseph added that he trusted she 
 would appreciate the effort he had made in her 
 behalf, and use grace and tact in the premises. 
 
 Margaret did not answer her father, for she 
 knew it was the custom among wealthy families 
 to do just what her father had done. 
 
 When she had been home less than a week 
 she received a sorrowful letter from little Jane 
 Valtort, which added to her unhappiness; it 
 read: 
 
 93
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " You remember, my dear Margaret, how proud I was 
 to inform you according to promise we made at school 
 I had a sweetheart who was very devoted to me, and 
 that papa who is slightly acquainted with his parents 
 consented to the match? Well, my heart is broken, for 
 without any previous reference to it, he has written me 
 an icy note stating ' He regretted circumstances pre- 
 vented further communication.' If he had called and 
 explained himself, it would have been bad enough; but 
 to be cast aside as though I were too insignificant for 
 that condescension, it makes me so ashamed I don't know 
 what to do. I have to run to my room when I feel like 
 crying, because I am too proud to let my parents know 
 of my disgrace, for I can't help feeling that way about 
 it. I was always so good to him too, as you know I would 
 be; yet he didn't even put my name on the note, as 
 though I am too small even for that. You had better 
 write me at once, Margaret dear, for I know I shall die 
 very soon with grief." 
 
 Margaret had never, even for a day, forgot- 
 ten her little schoolmate, and on reading this 
 sad termination to her engagement she felt 
 very sorrowful; and what with her own dis- 
 affection, she bent her head in her hands and 
 burst into tears. Her grief, however, lasted 
 but a short time, and she at once set about 
 replying to Jane's letter. 
 
 "My dearest Jane," she wrote: "I have 
 94
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 shed tears over your sad letter, and now I am 
 writing one to counteract the one you received. 
 I am in love too, secretly, for I have not made 
 it known to him; and now I am in misery be- 
 cause papa has decided upon my marrying a 
 man of title, who has been invited to the castle 
 to follow me around and ogle me with a mon- 
 ocle stuck in his eye, and to catch me with his 
 shepherd's crook which he carries, and to make 
 love to me. He puts me in mind of a bean- 
 pole, with a silk hat perched on top; in fact 
 just like that caricature of a man you used to 
 make at school and make fun of. I hate him 
 already, and when he arrives I shall run away. 
 Let me know if I can stay with you until the 
 storm blows over? " 
 
 Having placed this letter in the family mail- 
 pouch, Margaret's thoughts reverted to Rob- 
 ert Coleshill, and she longed to write him also, 
 but her pride would not admit of it; then she 
 thought of the Tower, and lastly of the metal 
 box which she found there. 
 
 Taking the latter from its hiding place, the 
 rusty hinges broke as she opened the lid; and 
 withdrawing a parchment, engrossed in old 
 English, she deciphered the following words ; 
 
 95
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " By Divine grace His Sovereign Majesty 
 Ring George the Third, for divers injuries 
 done to the House of Trevisick, and the sus- 
 picion of slaying one Hugh Trevisick in his 
 bed; doth hereby revoke, annul, make void and 
 of no effect, the title of Baronet now apper- 
 taining to the House of Coleshill in the Barony 
 of Trewhiddle; such abrogation of title to re- 
 main in force during the lifetime of the present 
 owner of said estate, and to continue in full 
 force and virtue to his heirs, until such time 
 thereafter as written proof shall be adduced, 
 signed by at least twenty prominent men of 
 the vicinity in which said Barony is located, and 
 likewise by one eligible member of the House 
 of Trevisick; to the effect that the House of 
 Coleshill has refrained from molesting said 
 House of Trevisick for a period of two 
 generations." 
 
 Margaret could hardly believe her senses as 
 she read this precious document. She had no 
 doubt in her father's honor if it was intrusted 
 to him under ordinary circumstances, but she 
 feared he would prefer to adhere to his pres- 
 ent arrangements. Finally she thought of 
 
 96
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 sending it to Robert Coleshill, then the happy 
 thought came to her to secure the reinstatement 
 of the title in Robert's name, herself. 
 
 It was several hours before she could form a 
 plan for its consummation, but at last she re- 
 membered that Jane Valtort's father was a 
 barrister-at-law, and she sent another letter to 
 her, explaining the facts, and enclosing the 
 precious document, adding: " Be sure to tell 
 your father to treasure and return it safely to 
 me, for my heart is wrapped up in it." 
 
 To have seen Margaret after this would have 
 betrayed no sign of sorrow, and her father 
 came in for a share of her happiness, for she 
 kissed him ; and taking her harp, which had not 
 seen the light for many a day, she removed its 
 covering and played to her heart's content. 
 
 97
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 NOTWITHSTANDING the happiness the discovery 
 of the document brought to Margaret, and the 
 assurance she had received of ultimately re- 
 covering the lost title, she looked forward with 
 considerable anxiety to the arrival of Richard 
 Trubody. 
 
 Margaret had very little acquaintance with 
 men, and although her affections were set on 
 Robert Coleshill, she had not made any effort 
 to disclose it to him ; and she tried to picture in 
 her mind how she should act towards this man, 
 who, as she knew, was coming with the pro- 
 nounced intention of wooing and wedding her. 
 
 Once she resolved upon writing to Robert, 
 but what could she say? or what could she do? 
 She was so perplexed that if Robert Coleshill 
 had asked her to elope and marry him, she very 
 likely would have acceded to his request. 
 
 Finally, after the lapse of ten days, the 
 coachman deposited Richard Trubody at the 
 porch entrance to the castle. Sir Joseph re- 
 
 98
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ceived him, for Margaret who had been ap- 
 prised of his coining retired to her room ; but 
 fearing the anger of her father, she later en- 
 tered the drawing-room where he and Richard 
 were conversing together. 
 
 Margaret extended her hand, and Richard 
 drooped his right shoulder and clasped it, 
 saying: 
 
 " Aw, I feel privileged a second time, Miss 
 Trevisick." 
 
 " I trust you will enjoy your visit, Mr. Tru- 
 body," she said significantly, and then she sat 
 down apart from them. 
 
 After dinner, Margaret played on the piano, 
 and did many other things which a cultured 
 young lady would naturally do to entertain 
 her father's guest. 
 
 The following morning after breakfast she 
 accompanied him in a drive around the village 
 and other places of interest, introducing him to 
 the Vicar and a few others whom they called 
 upon. 
 
 The second day she took him to the green- 
 house and exhibited the gardener's art. Lift- 
 ing an immense cucumber in her hands she 
 said: 
 
 99
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 "Isn't this a large cucumber, Mr. Tru- 
 body? I have watched it ever since it was so 
 long " dropping the cucumber and spreading 
 her hands to indicate the size. 
 
 " Aw, do you call that a cu-cu-cumber? " he 
 stammered with evident surprise ; " I thought 
 cu-cu-cumbers grew in slices." 
 
 On the third day, having exhausted all the 
 sightseeing, and being surfeited with his " aw 
 this " and " aw that," Margaret sat down in a 
 favored retreat among the shrubbery with a 
 book in her lap, and although her eyes were 
 fixed upon it, her thoughts were elsewhere. 
 
 Richard hunted through the grounds until he 
 discovered her, then seated himself beside her. 
 He had in his short stay become familiar 
 enough to address her by her first name. 
 
 " Aw, Margaret, this is a perfect paradise. 
 I already feel I have lived here a lifetime. 
 Would you like to realize my presence for the 
 future?" 
 
 "I have no objection to your living, Mr. 
 Trubody, if that is what you mean." 
 
 " Aw, call me Richard ; it sounds more fa- 
 miliar. I used to be called Richard by a 
 aw " 
 
 100
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " What else could she call you? " Margaret 
 wickedly asked. 
 
 " Aw, they sometimes give me a pet name ; 
 but you did not understand me. I can live 
 anywhere, of course. I mean, would you like 
 me to live with you as your aw " 
 
 At that moment a servant entered the shrub- 
 bery bearing a letter, and Margaret arose 
 and went forward to meet him. It was from 
 Jane Valtort, and Margaret opened it and 
 read: 
 
 " I am sorry for you, my dear Margaret. I think 
 we may as well decide to grow up old maids and keep 
 school. Since I have been so disappointed, I have longed 
 to go back to the Misses Corey, but it would never be the 
 same place without you. 
 
 " My lost sweetheart answers the description you give 
 of the gentleman who is destined to be your husband, 
 but I loved him too well to imagine he resembled a bean- 
 pole. His name is Richard Trubody, son of Sir Thomas 
 Trubody. 
 
 " Papa says he will attend to the document, and that 
 his fee will be half a dozen kisses, for he has been lov- 
 ing you secretly, he says, ever since I told him about 
 you and how good you were to me. 
 
 " I am still crying my eyes out for my lost sweetheart." 
 
 Margaret turned to Richard Trubody and 
 101
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 said: "You will have to excuse me, sir; I 
 have a letter of importance to attend to." 
 
 Richard looked at. her curiously for a 
 moment, and answered: "Aw, very well." 
 
 Margaret instantly wrote a note to Robert 
 Coleshill, as follows: 
 
 "Will Mr. Robert Coleshill be good enough to meet 
 the writer at the Tower to-morrow morning at ten o'clock? 
 She desires his advice on a momentous question. 
 
 " MARGARET TREVISICK." 
 
 Placing the note in an envelope, Margaret 
 proceeded to the village, and arriving at the 
 smithy, discovering the blacksmith alone, she 
 entered. 
 
 Old Ben looked at her over his glasses with 
 great curiosity depicted on his countenance, 
 his hammer uplifted to strike the glowing iron 
 upon the anvil. 
 
 Margaret had held up her skirts with both 
 hands as she entered, and she now lapped her 
 dress over so that one hand could engage it, 
 while she held the letter in the other. 
 
 " Mr. Judd," she said, " I have come to ask 
 a great favor of you." 
 
 " I am your very humble servant, Miss," 
 binglbangl 
 
 102
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " How pretty those sparks are. Will they 
 burn my dress? " 
 
 " I beg your pardon, Miss, I intended strik- 
 ing the anvil," tink-a-link-a-link. " You see, 
 Miss, I am so accustomed to talk and strike, 
 that I can't do one without the other." Then 
 old Ben placed the iron in the fire to avoid 
 striking it again, and returned to the anvil, 
 
 " I have an important letter for Mr. Robert 
 Coleshill," Margaret resumed, " which I want 
 you to deliver to him personally this evening; 
 I know I can trust you to keep the matter 
 secret." 
 
 " I will deliver it, Miss, and will assuredly 
 keep it secret for your sake." tink-a-link-a- 
 link. 
 
 "Thank you, Mr. Judd," and Margaret 
 again took hold of her skirts with both hands 
 and left the shop. 
 
 Then old Ben sprang to the fire with an 
 alacrity belying his old age, and withdrawing 
 the red-hot iron, took it to the anvil and struck 
 it fast and furiously; and the sparks flew wildly 
 about the shop and out into the road, as he 
 repeated : 
 
 " A letter from Miss Margaret Trevisick " 
 
 103
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link " for 
 Mr. Robert Coleshill ; " bing ! bang! bing! 
 tink-a-link-a-link. " To be delivered to him 
 personally " bing ! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a- 
 link " by old Ben Judd," bing! bang! bing! 
 tink-a-link-a-link " who will keep it a secret." 
 Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link. 
 
 Then old Ben moralized: 
 
 " I can see through this whole thing," tink- 
 a-link-a-link " Sir Joseph is acting upon my 
 words " tink-a-link-a-link " and is making 
 overtures to Robert " tink-a-link-a-link 
 "through the medium of his beautiful 
 daughter." Tink-a-link-a-link. " It is a 
 pity to keep it secret," tink-a-link-a-link 
 " and I've a good mind to tell it to Mary Ann." 
 Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link. 
 
 104
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 THE following morning Margaret endured the 
 attentions of Richard Trubody until nine 
 o'clock, and then she asked to be excused. 
 Shortly afterwards she retired to her room, 
 from which point of vantage she could look in 
 the direction of Owl Tower, although it was 
 hidden from view by the dense foliage of the 
 strip of woodland between. 
 
 She was gazing from a window, when 
 Richard Trubody with his shepherd's crook ap- 
 peared from around the castle, and proceeding 
 across the lawn, took the lane leading to the 
 boundary of the estate. Margaret felt un- 
 easy for fear she would meet him on her way 
 to keep her appointment with Robert Coleshill. 
 
 Richard Trubody walked down the lane, cut- 
 ting at the tall weeds with his cane, and re- 
 marking : " Aw, if you were men, see how 
 pretty I would cut you down." Arriving at 
 the boundary, he espied the tower, and ex- 
 claimed: "Aw, I declare, a relic of olden 
 
 105
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 times," and he straightway followed the hedge 
 skirting the woods, and reaching a point di- 
 rectly opposite the structure, he entered the 
 brake surrounding it, and proceeded to inspect 
 it. Finally he bent back his head to look up- 
 wards, and he immediately ducked it, causing 
 his monocle to drop from his eye, and his hat 
 to fly off; and without stopping to pick it up, 
 he ran around the other side of the structure. 
 
 "Aw," he exclaimed, "it is falling that 
 way." 
 
 Then as it seemed to him a long time tum- 
 bling down, he put his monocle in his eye and 
 again bent back his head; and this time, in his 
 efforts to get away quickly, he sprawled his 
 length in the bracken. As soon as he restored 
 himself to his feet, he exclaimed : 
 
 " Aw, the whole thing is about to fall ; possi- 
 bly it revolves." 
 
 After procuring his hat, he ascended the 
 square part of the tower, and taking another 
 look at its summit, he began the ascent of the 
 spiral steps. 
 
 His tall stature and frail limbs rendered the 
 undertaking an extremely arduous one, and he 
 used his hands to assist him. Just before he 
 
 106
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 reached the top, his hand came in contact with 
 the secret door and swung it on its pivot, re- 
 vealing the small cell within. 
 
 " Aw, I declare, a secret chamber," he 
 ejaculated. 
 
 A few steps further took him to the top, and 
 he sat down in the rustic seat, completely ex- 
 hausted. 
 
 Espying a book beside him, he exclaimed: 
 " Aw, somebody makes this spot their retreat," 
 and opening the book he detected Margaret's 
 name written in conjunction with Robert 
 ColeshiU's. 
 
 "Aw, clandestine meetings, I'll be bound; 
 and is this the meek and modest Margaret 
 Trevisick whom I am inveigled into marrying? 
 We will see." Then he opened the book and 
 read aloud the title. " Aw, the modern art of 
 warfare. I am not interested in anything but 
 love; those who want to fight can do so; Rich- 
 ard Trubody smokes the pipe of peace." 
 
 Then his gaze fell on the spheres, and he 
 arose and pushed them around with his foot, 
 remarking: "Aw, what the devil are these 
 things for? " and without attempting to puzzle 
 his brains to seek a problem concerning them, 
 
 107
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 he again sat down and spoke in a moralizing 
 tone: " Aw, this is the spot for making love; 
 if I had you here, Margaret Trevisick, there 
 would be none of that evasion just as I arrive 
 at the point; I would make you stand and, aw, 
 deliver." 
 
 After several minutes spent in a musing at- 
 titude, he arose and looked over the embattle - 
 ments. The beautiful panorama before him 
 had no attraction for him, but he whined: 
 " Aw, Margaret, my girl, if you were only 
 here," and at that moment he espied the form 
 of a female emerging from the woodland be- 
 longing to Trevisick estate and in the act of 
 climbing the hedge. 
 
 " Aw, I'll be blowed if it isn't Margaret," 
 he exclaimed ; " the fates are with me. I sup- 
 pose it is another clandestine meeting, but I am 
 first in the field, and I will get her answer or 
 make an expose of her character. Oh! Jane! 
 Jane! why did I abandon you for a frivolous 
 creature like this? " 
 
 Margaret had ascended to the entrance of 
 the round portion of the tower, and there she 
 awaited Robert Coleshill's arrival. 
 
 " Aw, why is she so long tarrying? " said 
 
 108
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Richard; "perhaps there is an underground 
 secret chamber. This whole business is too bad, 
 that a man of my standing should be drawn 
 into this perfidious trap; if my temper once 
 gets aroused I will, aw " 
 
 At this moment another sight met his excited 
 gaze, and Robert Coleshill came bounding 
 from the opposite side, and with great agility 
 reached the spot where Margaret was con- 
 cealed. 
 
 " Aw, by heavens! " Richard exclaimed; " if 
 this doesn't beat anything my eyes ever beheld ; 
 the fellow actually leaps in the air in his hurry 
 to meet her; modest indeed! she is as deceitful 
 as Delilah. How shall I manage with her 
 now? If this was a sword" brandishing his 
 cane " I might run him through. Aw, I will 
 leave this beastly part of the world ; it is not fit 
 for Richard Trubody to inhabit. I feel con- 
 taminated ; " and putting his monocle in his 
 eye he commenced to descend, when he heard 
 footsteps immediately below him, and hesitat- 
 ing for a second, he pushed open the secret 
 door and crawled into the cell. 
 
 When the couple had reached the top, Mar- 
 garet said: 
 
 109
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " I discovered your happy forethought, Mr. 
 Coleshill, in providing yourself with a seat." 
 
 "I made it for you, Miss Trevisick," he 
 responded, " so you might have an opportunity 
 to rest after your tiresome ascent." 
 
 " You are very considerate, sir, and I hope 
 to take advantage of your kindness very often ; 
 and now if I may claim your indulgence, I will 
 make known my errand. 
 
 " You are already aware that papa objects 
 to my becoming engaged to any person with- 
 out a title, and in order that there may be no 
 doubt about it, he has invited a gentleman here 
 to follow me around the estate with the avowed 
 purpose of gaining my affection and marrying 
 me. I not only abhor him, but his manner is 
 entirely repulsive to me. Rather than marry 
 him, I would leave home. What would you 
 advise me to do? " 
 
 " I must consider a few moments, Miss 
 Trevisick." 
 
 " Oh, please call me Margaret ; he does, and 
 he has only known me a short time, whereas 
 you have known me all my life." 
 
 Robert took her by the hand, saying : " If 
 I addressed you as I feel towards you, I would 
 
 no
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 say, * My dear Margaret,' for I am desperately 
 in love with you; tell me, am I too bold? " 
 
 " And I will call you ' dear Robert,' for it 
 is useless to hide the fact any longer, that my 
 heart -" 
 
 Before Margaret finished her sentence, Rob- 
 ert was on his knees before her, and clasping 
 his arms around her as she sat, he exclaimed: 
 " My darling ! my heart-beats choke me with 
 joy. I have been longing to hear your dear 
 voice again, and now you tell me that you love 
 me," and he placed his lips to hers, drawing her 
 into his loving embrace, and looking tenderly 
 into her eyes. " I have been dying for a sign 
 of your love, and now that I have found it, my 
 happiness is more than I can stand; tell me 
 once again, sweetheart, that you love me." 
 Margaret turned her sweet, blush-covered face 
 to his, and said softly: "Robert, I love 
 
 you." 
 
 Robert then resumed his seat, still holding 
 her hand in his. 
 
 " Margaret, dear, you must not allow your- 
 self to be forced into marrying this man; 
 neither must you sully your good name by leav- 
 ing home; I would not consent to it. When 
 
 in
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 we marry as I feel we will it must be 
 brought about by my proving my worthiness 
 to your father. I would want you to come to 
 me without any fear of subsequent unhappi- 
 ness, which would certainly arise if your 
 father's wishes were entirely ignored. If you 
 realize any difficulty in escaping from this 
 man's attentions, tell Sir Joseph plainly that 
 you cannot marry him; and then if he insists, 
 there will be ample time for you to confer with 
 me again." 
 
 " Robert, dear, you know best, of course. 
 Now let me tell you one thing more, and then 
 I must be leaving or I shall be missed. I re- 
 ceived a sorrowful letter from Jane Valtort 
 an intimate schoolmate stating her sweetheart 
 had withdrawn his attentions very unceremoni- 
 ously from her, without giving any explana- 
 tion; and it turns out on comparing the name 
 Richard Trubody that he is the same indi- 
 vidual who is pursuing me. To think for a 
 moment that I would injure my dear Jane by 
 recognizing his attentions ! I wouldn't if it were 
 you instead of him." 
 
 " I am sure you wouldn't, Margaret, and I 
 am just as sure I would not be guilty of such 
 
 112
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 unmanly conduct. That letter ought to be suffi- 
 cient to convince your father; if not, I would 
 send for Jane to pay you a visit. Is this Tru- 
 body a tall person? " 
 
 " He is like a beanpole," Margaret replied 
 laughingly. 
 
 " I think I met him at school," Robert 
 replied; " does he * aw ' everything he says? " 
 
 " That's the man," Margaret eagerly re- 
 joined, rising as though to depart. " He is 
 Trubody by name, but not by nature." 
 
 " I think that letter will put an end to his 
 persecutions. And now, dearest, let me ask 
 you a few questions that are close to my heart 
 before we separate. Do you think you love 
 me deeply enough to wait a few months, possi- 
 bly a year or even more? " 
 
 " How can you ask me, Robert? I would 
 wait, if necessary, until we had grown old." 
 
 "You are quite sure, Margaret?" and he 
 drew her to him again. 
 
 " Quite sure," she answered, looking lovingly 
 and contentedly up to him. 
 
 " I don't know how to thank you," he added. 
 " You have made me so very, very happy." 
 
 " And, Robert dear, I, too, am happy; all 
 
 113
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 doubt has fled, and I am content to know that 
 my love is returned." 
 
 " I have been loving you secretly, Margaret, 
 since I was a mere boy." 
 
 " I must not tell you how long I have loved 
 you, Robert, for you might grow conceited." 
 
 Robert drew her to him and kissed her 
 passionately. 
 
 " There will be nothing left of me, Robert 
 dear, if you embrace me so rapturously." 
 
 At that moment his arms relaxed, and his 
 countenance turned deathly pale. 
 
 " Oh! what is the matter? " Margaret eagerly 
 asked. 
 
 " Hasten to the bottom," he replied. " I 
 will follow you." 
 
 They descended the steps with great alacrity, 
 and had reached about midway when they 
 heard a loud pounding behind them, and Mar- 
 garet exclaimed in agony: "Oh, Robert! 
 one of the spheres is trundling down the 
 steps." 
 
 Robert realized the awful danger, and tak- 
 ing Margaret in his arms, pressed her closely 
 against the inward wall of the steps, and placed 
 his body against her so as to protect her.
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 At that instant the sphere bounded from the 
 steps immediately above them, and descended 
 on its journey to the bottom. 
 
 " Another is coming! " Margaret screamed; 
 " Robert, you will be killed! " 
 
 " Keep close, my dear," he said ; and as he 
 pressed her still more closely so that perchance 
 the sphere would escape them, it struck the 
 step whereon they stood, and bounding with 
 an awful leap, shattered the wall just below 
 them, carrying a large portion of the stone- 
 work away with it and leaving a hole which 
 exposed the outside landscape to view. 
 
 They thereupon rushed down the steps to 
 the bottom, where they stood panting with 
 excitement. 
 
 'What does it mean?" Margaret asked. 
 
 " I have never had the slightest superstition 
 about anything," Robert replied, " and I was 
 very glad this tower had the reputation it has, 
 on account of the privacy it affords ; but I cer- 
 tainly saw a human hand dangling from an 
 embrasure just back of the embattlement 
 where we stood." 
 
 Margaret instantly thought of the secret 
 cell, but wanted to hide the knowledge of it 
 
 115
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 until the title had been recovered; yet she won- 
 dered who it could be; and then she thought 
 of the trouble her actions were likely to bring 
 upon them both. 
 
 " Here it comes, whatever it is ! " exclaimed 
 Robert; and at that moment Richard Trubody 
 appeared at the foot of the steps, to Mar- 
 garet's utter dismay. 
 
 " Aw, is anybody injured? " inquired Rich- 
 ard with a horrified look. 
 
 Robert seized him by the collar and shook 
 him to and fro, exclaiming: ' You scoundrel, 
 your tried to kill us! " 
 
 "Aw, aw," gasped Richard, between the 
 shakes, " I am not guilty ; Margaret ! help ! aw, 
 aw." 
 
 " Don't hurt him, I beg," Margaret pleaded, 
 taking Robert by the arm; "let him explain 
 his actions." 
 
 " Aw, I wished to avoid you, and hid in the 
 secret cell," Richard hastily explained; "the 
 stones rolled out as I bent down to make my 
 exit from it." 
 
 ' We will give you the benefit of the doubt," 
 Robert replied; "and I humbly beg your 
 pardon." 
 
 116
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 "Are you Robert Coleshill? " asked 
 Richard. 
 
 " I am,'* Robert replied, " and I remember 
 you at Eton." 
 
 " Aw, bless my soul, how-de-do? " and they 
 shook hands together. 
 
 * You were always getting into some ridic- 
 ulous scrape or other at school," Robert said 
 to him; " how do you propose to get out of this 
 one?" 
 
 " Aw, I will gladly relinquish all claims on, 
 aw, Margaret, provided she will reinstate me 
 with Jane. I am longing to see her again, for 
 she understands me better than anybody else." 
 
 " You don't deserve her," Margaret com- 
 mented with emphasis. " She is my dearest 
 friend ; but as she seems to be fond of you, you 
 may obtain her forgiveness by pleading for it." 
 
 " Aw, does Jane know I am here? " 
 
 " No," Margaret replied; "neither does she 
 know you have acted so shamefully towards 
 her by trying to bestow your affection on me." 
 
 " Aw, promise me, Miss Trevisick, that you 
 won't report me, and I will leave as soon as I 
 can do so without appearing to ignore Sir 
 Joseph's hospitality." 
 
 117
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Margaret agreed to keep the matter secret 
 until after Jane and he were married, and she 
 was thus left to win her father's consent as best 
 she could to her attachment to Robert Coles- 
 hill. 
 
 118
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 THE mind of Richard Trubody, after his ex- 
 perience in the tower, seemed to be relieved of 
 considerable weight, and his actions became 
 those of an overgrown boy ; indeed, had he thus 
 behaved when he made his advent at the castle, 
 it is very probable Margaret would have had 
 less dislike for him. 
 
 The morning following the episode he met 
 Margaret on the lawn, and bowing to her, re- 
 marked : 
 
 " Aw, a delightful morning, Miss Trevisick; 
 do you know, I feel like another man; the 
 thought of once more seeing my dearest Jane 
 fills me with delight." 
 
 ' You don't deserve her for acting so un- 
 manly towards her," replied Margaret. 
 
 " Aw, I quite agree with you, Miss Trevi- 
 sick, that it was very ungracious of me, and I 
 am truly ashamed; yet allow me to remark 
 that you were unwittingly the cause of it. If 
 you hadn't crossed my path, and your presence 
 been forced upon me, as it were, I would have 
 
 119
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 remained true to Jane. Aw, indeed I don't 
 know that I have been untrue to her, outside 
 of the little break I made in withdrawing my 
 presence for a time; for after you ignored me, 
 my heart glanced back to her like a rubber 
 ball." 
 
 " Are you sure you have a heart, Mr. Tru- 
 body?" ' 
 
 " Aw, Miss Trevisick, believe me, I have had 
 a lump here " placing his hand on his chest 
 " ever since my arrival at the castle." 
 
 "Why didn't say so before," Margaret 
 replied, " and thus saved me from a great deal 
 of misery your attentions involved, and per- 
 haps also from behaving rudely to you, for I 
 was too unhappy to know how I acted towards 
 
 you." 
 
 " Aw, I am very glad you ignored me, and 
 that events have transpired as they should. 
 How will I explain matters to Sir Joseph, and 
 get away from here, for I am anxious to see 
 Jane, and make up with her? " 
 
 " Just say to my father, you have failed to 
 make a favorable impression upon me, and 
 that you have a pressing engagement else- 
 where, requiring your immediate attention." 
 
 120
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 "Aw, thank you, Miss Trevisick ; by George ! 
 I had been thinking all night what I should 
 say, and here you have settled it in a moment ; 
 * failing to make a favorable impression on 
 your daughter, and having pressing business 
 elsewhere requiring my immediate attention ' ; 
 very good; upon my word, if Jane was not in 
 the way, I would still try to persuade you to, 
 aw " 
 
 " I would have nothing to do with you," re- 
 torted Margaret, " so you need not trouble 
 yourself further about me." 
 
 " Aw, Robert is a lucky fellow to get the 
 affections of a girl like you; he always was 
 very successful, though, in whatever he under- 
 took at school." 
 
 " Have you written to Jane? " Margaret 
 inquired. 
 
 "Aw, no, I intend calling upon her; I 
 abhor writing." 
 
 " You should have felt that way about it 
 sooner," Margaret replied. 
 
 " Aw, Miss Trevisick, you are too hard upon 
 
 me." 
 
 " I would have nothing to do with you, if I 
 were Jane." 
 
 121
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Aw, I will tell Jane how cruel you are, 
 after we get settled down." 
 
 " She will not believe it if you do." 
 
 And Margaret left him and entered the 
 house, where she spent some time in writing to 
 Jane Valtort. 
 
 Feeling that Jane's lover would return to 
 her; Margaret, in order to comfort her, used a 
 pardonable deceit by suggesting that her lover 
 was only playing truant for a while, and would 
 eventually beg to be reinstated. Regarding 
 her own attachment she wrote: " I am in love 
 with the dearest fellow in the world, but as he 
 is minus a title, we must await developments, 
 for papa is determined I shall marry nobody 
 without a title." 
 
 On the second day Richard Trubody mus- 
 tered courage, and going to Sir Joseph, de- 
 livered his address, which he had learned by 
 heart. 
 
 Sir Joseph viewed him with some displeas- 
 ure, and replied: 
 
 ' Very well, Richard, I trust you have other- 
 wise enjoyed your visit? " 
 
 " Aw, very much, indeed. I feel well paid 
 for my trip." 
 
 122
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " That is something to be thankful for," 
 said Sir Joseph. 
 
 " Aw, yes. I will remember it for a life- 
 time." 
 
 And Richard Trubody took his leave that 
 day, and when his time came for bidding Mar- 
 garet good-by, she said to him : " Let me 
 hear nothing but worthy accounts of you from 
 Jane; she is a dear, affectionate girl, far too 
 good for you." 
 
 " Aw, Miss Trevisick, you are most awfully 
 hard on a poor devil;" but notwithstanding 
 this comment, he was evidently pleased to feel 
 that Jane was beloved by her, for as he shook 
 her hand he said: 
 
 " Aw, I have become a wiser and a better 
 man for knowing you ; I wish you nothing but 
 happiness; good-by." 
 
 Margaret remained in the drawing-room 
 after Richard's departure, for she felt her 
 father would refer to the failure of his visit, 
 and her indifference towards him. Sir Joseph, 
 however, was so annoyed at his daughter for 
 ignoring his wishes that he kept to the library 
 until near the dinner hour, when he entered the 
 drawing-room. 
 
 123
 
 He spoke with emphasis as he approached 
 her: " Well, Margaret, setting aside your 
 duty to your parents, do you feel perfectly 
 justified in your actions towards Richard 
 Trubody? " 
 
 " Dear papa, let me explain to you, and you 
 will think less ill of me." 
 
 " I desire no explanations, Margaret ; it is 
 purely a matter of duty, and my question re- 
 quires a plain yes, or no, from you." 
 
 " I must answer ' no,' respecting my duty to- 
 wards you, papa, and ' yes ' most strenuously 
 to that concerning Richard Trubody." 
 
 " Thank you for coming to the point ; it is 
 not customary for the principals of our house 
 to be ruled by their sons, let alone their 
 daughters. You must likewise bear in mind 
 that until very recently, royalty assumed the 
 prerogative of dictating whom the children of 
 noblemen should marry. If you fully appre- 
 ciate this fact, there can be no misunderstand- 
 ing between us. Now I will condescend to 
 listen to your objection to Richard Trubody, 
 for understand, your refusal of his advances 
 means opportunity number one." 
 
 " Papa, dear, you have acted so differently 
 
 124
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 towards me of late, I don't know whom to look 
 to in my distress. I discovered my heart was 
 not mine to bestow on Richard Trubody." 
 
 " You talk absurdly, Margaret ; you are a 
 child no longer. Who controls your heart, if 
 you do not? " 
 
 " Oh, papa ! " said the unfortunate girl, 
 " don't be so cruel to me," and she burst into 
 tears. 
 
 " Margaret, I have no desire to be harsh 
 with you, but you forget what sorrow your 
 stubbornness is causing me." 
 
 " I am very sorry, sir," Margaret replied 
 through her tears. 
 
 " Dear me, don't estrange yourself by ' sir- 
 ring ' me," said Sir Joseph sternly, " or I will 
 shut myself up and leave you to your own 
 resources." 
 
 Margaret dried her eyes at this threat, and 
 looked around the room as though to find an 
 answer. Finally she said: 
 
 " Dear papa, Richard Trubody is such an 
 ungainly person, and his whole manner of 
 speech is so foreign to my ideas of a man, I 
 could not bring myself to like him. I did try, 
 but I found it useless ; something held me back; 
 
 125
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 besides, I discovered he had cast aside my dear 
 school friend, Jane Valtort, in order to make 
 love to me, and after that I despised him. I 
 could more easily die than marry him." 
 
 " Those sort of things are frequently done," 
 replied Sir Joseph. " Men are not so simple 
 as women in their affections." 
 
 " Is a man simple in being just and honor- 
 able, papa? Can a man who truly loves a 
 woman cast her aside and transfer that love to 
 another in a moment? " 
 
 " I never tried the experiment," Sir Joseph 
 replied, "but that is not here nor there; you 
 are not a man." 
 
 "Is a woman a plaything, papa, for any 
 man who comes along to trifle with her love? " 
 
 " Margaret, I am too old a man to be answer- 
 ing a lot of foolish questions. Allow Richard 
 Trubody to return to his first love, if he will, 
 which is very doubtful. Who controls your 
 affections?" 
 
 Margaret hesitated, blushed deeply, and at 
 last rushed to her father and throwing her arms 
 about his neck, cried : " Papa, don't be unkind 
 to me; I find my heart has gone out to him 
 whose title was taken from him." 
 
 126
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 "You mean Robert Coleshill? " said Sir 
 Joseph. 
 
 4 Yes," answered Margaret as she wept in 
 her father's arms. 
 
 " You have met him again? " 
 
 " I have only spoken to him twice." 
 
 " And both times in the Tower, I suppose? " 
 
 " Yes, papa." 
 
 " It is a very fine place for a nobleman's 
 daughter to meet a man, and particularly for 
 one who has been educated with such pure mo- 
 tives as you have been." 
 
 Margaret wept too bitterly to make answer 
 for a moment, but when she could command 
 her words sufficiently* she said : " Robert 
 Coleshill would not injure me in thought, let 
 alone in deed; he is a gentleman with the soul 
 of honor." 
 
 " It is perfectly natural that you should 
 think so, my dear." 
 
 Whether Sir Joseph said " my dear " absent- 
 mindedly or intentionally, it had the instanta- 
 neous effect of encouraging Margaret; and 
 drying her tears, she said : 
 
 " Papa dear, listen to me. If I if Robert 
 procures a title, will you allow him to call 
 
 127
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 and plead with you? I know you will like 
 him." 
 
 " Titles are not procured any more, Mar- 
 garet; they are bestowed by our sovereign for 
 worthy actions done." 
 
 " Yet if those actions have been done in times 
 past, and a title is bestowed for the seeking? " 
 pleaded Margaret. 
 
 " If Robert procures a title," Sir Joseph 
 answered, " I will then give ear to him." 
 
 ' Thank you, dear papa, I will give no cause 
 for further sorrow," and she kissed him and 
 proceeded to her apartments to prepare for 
 dinner. 
 
 Sir Joseph gazed after his beautiful 
 daughter and muttered : " That cursed Tower 
 is the cause of all my trouble. I only wish 
 Robert Coleshill would do some valiant deed, 
 and thus break the spell that has been hanging 
 over us." 
 
 128
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 AFTER obtaining her father's consent to the 
 conditions proposed by her, Margaret recov- 
 ered her usual happy frame of mind, and Sir 
 Joseph rejoiced at the sudden change his con- 
 cession had brought about ; for he had no idea 
 that a title would be procured, although not 
 unwilling that his daughter's happiness should 
 be gratified by its realization. 
 
 To add to Margaret's happiness, she received 
 a letter from Jane Valtort brimful of joy over 
 the return of her " bad boy," as she styled her 
 sweetheart. She wrote : " Richard explained 
 he had loved me unceasingly, and that he would 
 never be guilty of such unmanly conduct again. 
 I got real angry at him, but he pleaded so 
 pathetically to be forgiven, I submitted to the 
 inevitable, for I was longing all the time to 
 hug the dear fellow. And now, my dear Mar- 
 garet, papa is sending you a document which 
 you must procure the signatures to, and return 
 to him ; then you will get the title. You do not 
 
 129
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 state if Robert Coleshill is your intended, but 
 I feel he must be." 
 
 The following mail brought the important 
 package, and Margaret in her gladness wrote 
 a few lines to Robert Coleshill thus: "My 
 dearest Robert : After undergoing much tor- 
 ture of mind at the hands of papa, he has prom- 
 ised to consider our attachment as soon as 
 you procure a title. I am satisfied it will not 
 take long to accomplish that. Yours, ever de- 
 votedly, Margaret. I enclose a miniature of 
 myself taken the day I left school ; it may rec- 
 ompense you for the absence of the original, 
 for I must not give papa any occasion to 
 change the favorable view he entertains re- 
 garding you." 
 
 Margaret summoned her maid and again 
 walked to the smithy. 
 
 Old Ben Judd was, as usual, hammering 
 away at the anvil, but there was nobody present 
 to indulge in conversation so that he could 
 save half the labor, although the profits were 
 accumulating. 
 
 Margaret entered unmindful of the sparks, 
 and old Ben beamed on her a smile of welcome 
 as he took off his cap to her. 
 
 130
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Addressing him, she said : " Mr. Judd, in 
 this envelope is a very important document 
 which requires the signatures of twenty promi- 
 nent men of the village in order to secure Mr. 
 Robert Coleshill the title temporarily with- 
 drawn from one of his ancestors. You may 
 have heard of the occurrence in its transmission 
 down the ages? " 
 
 " Yes, Miss," answered old Ben, " I have 
 heard about it." 
 
 " I want you to do me the kindness of ob- 
 taining those signatures. You must get the 
 full name, age and occupation." 
 
 " It will be the greatest pleasure of my life, 
 Miss Trevisick," and old Ben began to draw 
 off his leather apron. 
 
 " Oh, you needn't stop your work, Mr. 
 Judd," Margaret said ; " you can do it this 
 evening, and I will call for it the day after 
 to-morrow." 
 
 " I will certainly attend to it, Miss." 
 " Keep it clean, as it goes back to London." 
 " Yes, Miss, I will do that also." 
 " And here is a letter for Mr. Robert Coles- 
 hill, and whatever you say to him, don't men- 
 tion a word about the title." 
 
 131
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " You can trust me, Miss Trevisick." 
 
 " Good-day," and Margaret joined Grace 
 Biddle, who was waiting in the road. 
 
 Old Ben had been welding a heavy piece of 
 iron when he was interrupted; he now with- 
 drew it from the fire, and taking it to the anvil, 
 commenced to hammer vigorously, chanting as 
 though to keep in rhyme with the ringing of 
 the anvil: 
 
 " Margaret is the most sensible of them all." 
 Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link. " She 
 will reconcile the long-standing feud." Bing! 
 bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link. "The old 
 tower will be torn down." Bing ! bang ! bing ! 
 tink-a-link-a-link! "There's to be a title for 
 Robert." Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a- 
 link! "And I have made a discovery." Bing! 
 bing! bang! tink-a-link-a-link! "Margaret 
 is in love with him." Bing! bang! bing! tink- 
 a-link-a-link! "There will be a marriage in 
 Cana of Galilee." Bing! bang! bing! tink-a- 
 link-a-link ! " And I am selected by Margaret 
 because she likes me," bing! bang! bing! tink- 
 a-link-a-link! " and for fear of creating jeal- 
 ousy," bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link! 
 " I will not say a word about it to Mary 
 
 132
 
 'VVho iutrusted you with this?" .
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Ann." Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a- 
 link. 
 
 Old Ben was so anxious to please Margaret, 
 and moreover was so desirous of seeing his 
 prophecy fulfilled, particularly that concern- 
 ing her marriage to Robert, that he set out im- 
 mediately after supper to obtain the necessary 
 signatures. 
 
 Much speculation was rife among those who 
 contributed their names, but old Ben was mute 
 on the subject. At last he had obtained all but 
 the vicar's, and he called upon him forthwith. 
 
 "Who intrusted you with this? " asked the 
 old vicar. 
 
 " Miss Margaret Trevisick," answered Ben. 
 
 " She should have brought it to me," said the 
 vicar ; " I am the proper medium for such mat- 
 ters. Does Sir Joseph know about it? " 
 
 Old Ben hesitated a moment, and answered : 
 " He knows all about it ; I had a talk with him 
 concerning it a few weeks ago." 
 
 " In that case I will add my name to it; 
 otherwise I would not." 
 
 Ben chuckled to himself as he left the vicar- 
 age, and muttered as he tripped along for he 
 had fallen secretly in love with Margaret, and 
 
 133
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 his old heart was bubbling with affection for 
 her " It is necessary to tell a lie sometimes in 
 a good cause, and I will tell a bigger one than 
 that for her if need be." 
 
 If any person had passed the smithy a few 
 minutes afterwards they would have heard the 
 sound of the anvil proceeding from the shop, 
 for old Ben could not resist stealing in and 
 hammering his sentiments into that document. 
 
 Margaret called early at the smithy on the 
 third day. 
 
 ' You have succeeded in getting the signa- 
 tures, Mr. Judd, I know." 
 
 ' Yes, my dear excuse me, Miss Trevisick, 
 
 " Oh, you are perfectly excusable, and quite 
 welcome, too, Mr. Judd, if it suits you to say 
 so." 
 
 " Thank you, Miss." 
 
 After Margaret left the shop old Ben 
 kicked over his nail box, flung his apron in a 
 corner and said: " Bless my soul, she is beauti- 
 ful enough to drive an old man like me insane ; 
 I wonder what Robert Coleshill's mental condi- 
 tion is like?" Then running to the Village 
 Inn something he was rarely known to dq 
 
 134
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 during the daytime he called for two fingers 
 of brandy, saying to Widow Hodge: "My 
 heart is fluttering, and needs a stimulant." 
 
 " I know what it is," answered the widow; " I 
 frequently get those spells, particularly when 
 I think of poor Hodge." 
 
 ' You ought to marry some nice young man, 
 Mrs. Hodge." 
 
 " Lor', what would an old widow like me do 
 with a young man, Mr. Judd? " 
 
 Old Ben leaned forward and .whispered in 
 her ear: " If I were to marry again, I would 
 marry a young woman of about twenty-one 
 years, but don't mention it to Mary Ann." 
 
 135
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 MABGARET lost no time in returning the docu- 
 ment, duly signed, to Edmund Valtort, Esq., 
 barrister-at-law, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Lon- 
 don; and took the opportunity to pour out her 
 heart to him for the very great kindness he had 
 done her. After this she took to her books 
 and drawings with such a display of her old- 
 time avidity, that Sir Joseph, who could not 
 help witnessing the happy change, felt glad he 
 had gratified her heart's desire. 
 
 During the day Margaret strolled in the 
 woods, and meeting the gamekeeper, said to 
 him : " Jarrett, as soon as Sir Joseph orders 
 any venison I would like you to kill the heavy- 
 antlered stag; be careful of the head, as I in- 
 tend sending it to the taxidermist." 
 
 Robert Coleshill received Margaret's letter 
 from the hands of the blacksmith, and he took 
 it to his room, where he could ponder over it 
 undisturbed. He acted very differently from 
 what most young men would have done on 
 
 136
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 reading the welcome news contained therein. 
 He first pressed the miniature to his lips, then 
 knelt beside his bed, and remained several 
 minutes in the attitude of prayer. He then 
 sat down and spent some time in writing. One 
 letter he indited to his father and laid it on 
 his own dressing-table ; then taking a ring from 
 his finger, he enclosed it in the other letter and 
 directed it to Margaret. Then he proceeded 
 to the Tower, and after taking in a glance of 
 the surrounding country, riveted his eyes on 
 the castle, hoping to catch a glimpse of her 
 who was so dear to him, but in that he was 
 disappointed. Shortly afterwards he was seen 
 by Squire John wandering about the estate, 
 stopping here and there to fondly dwell on 
 reminiscences of his boyhood's life. 
 
 After dinner he retired to his room and at- 
 tired himself in a coarse traveling suit; then 
 he put some changes of linen in a portmanteau, 
 and secretly left his father's mansion, entering 
 the woodland, where he deposited the portman- 
 teau; then he proceeded to the home of the 
 blacksmith and met old Ben on his way to join 
 his companions at the inn. 
 
 " Mr. Judd," he said, " will you see that Miss 
 137
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Trevisick gets this letter to-morrow, and not 
 before? I am going away for a time, and I 
 may communicate with her through you; I 
 know I can trust you." 
 
 " That you can, young sir," and he warmly 
 shook the hand Robert extended to him as he 
 bade him good-by. 
 
 Returning to the woodland, he took the port- 
 manteau and walked in the direction of the 
 railway. His thoughts were so deep in sorrow- 
 ful reflection he was unmindful of the fact 
 that one that had been his companion in 
 all his walks for years, and had shared his joys 
 and sorrows, had discovered his intentions and 
 was now following him with lowered head in- 
 tent on sharing his pilgrimage. 
 
 Robert had reached a spot where he could 
 obtain a last view of his home, and turning 
 around, he espied his favorite spaniel standing 
 in the road. As he spoke to it, it whined as it 
 looked up at its master, and again lowered its 
 head. 
 
 " Come here, you poor dog," said Robert, 
 stooping down and taking it in his arms. " We 
 will miss each other sadly, I know, but you 
 would find me strangely altered if I remained 
 
 138
 
 at home. Go home, good Fan ; I will come back 
 again ; " and as the dog turned homewards 
 with all its usual display of gladness hidden in 
 its dejected mien, Robert recalled the happy 
 hours he had enjoyed in its companionship, 
 and tried in vain to gulp his sorrow down. 
 
 But his purpose was fixed, and he was deter- 
 mined that no grief at parting should hinder 
 his course. Taking the train for Plymouth, 
 he reached the garrison, and there notwith- 
 standing the late hour he discovered hurried 
 scenes of full-fledged soldiers coming and go- 
 ing unceasingly. 
 
 Robert stood apart and watched the activity 
 going on, when an enlisting sergeant addressed 
 him: 
 
 " Here, you young sir, do you want to en- 
 list?" 
 
 Robert nodded assent. 
 
 " Come with me," said the sergeant, and he 
 led him before an individual in full uniform 
 whom he addressed as Major, giving his cap a 
 touch at the same time. This officer looked 
 intently on the noble appearance of Robert, 
 and repeated the sergeant's words, " Do you 
 want to enlist?" 
 
 139
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " I want to volunteer my services in any en- 
 gagement now on, or that is likely to take place 
 at an early date," answered Robert. 
 
 The officer still looked at him critically, and 
 said: " Trouble at home? " 
 
 " I have caused none," Robert replied. 
 
 " Then there is a woman in the case; take 
 my advice, young sir, and return. This kind 
 of business is only fit for those who have no 
 home, or are otherwise very desperate." 
 
 " I belong to the latter," responded Robert. 
 
 " Have you any preference? " asked the 
 officer. 
 
 " I am a good horseman, and prefer ' King's 
 Dragoon Guards.' ' 
 
 ' You are totally inexperienced in warfare, 
 and the risk is very great," said the officer, un- 
 willing to enlist him. 
 
 " I have been reading up on the subject for 
 a considerable time," Robert replied. 
 
 The officer shook his head deprecatingly : 
 " Reading is not worth a d ; excuse me for 
 being so plain with you. You require some 
 rough experience in the field at home, at least, 
 to accustom you to the hardships abroad." 
 
 " I am determined," said Robert. 
 
 140
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Taking a book labeled " Recruits King's 
 Dragoon Guards," the officer said: "Give 
 your name, age, and address." 
 
 " Robert Coleshill, twenty- four, Trewhiddle 
 Manor." 
 
 The officer recorded this information, and 
 without looking up, said: "Do you know 
 Squire Coleshill? " 
 
 " He is my honored father," Robert replied. 
 
 " Then naturally you know Sir Joseph Tre- 
 visick, or of him at least? " 
 
 ' Very well indeed," Robert replied, look- 
 ing at the officer with great curiosity. 
 
 " I am Troop Sergeant-Ma j or Lunney, 
 King's Dragoons, and Lady Trevisick's 
 youngest brother." 
 
 " Indeed," answered Robert; " I am greatly 
 surprised to hear it, and I regret that an old- 
 standing feud between my family and Sir 
 Joseph's may interfere with my present plans." 
 
 " Not in the slightest, Mr. Coleshill. I have 
 no intention of recognizing any such folly 
 among my relatives. May I ask if the woman 
 in your case is Miss Trevisick? " 
 
 " I have made no such allusion," Robert 
 replied. 
 
 141
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " It is usually unnecessary," said Major 
 Lunney, " but you may as well be candid with 
 me. Is it Margaret? " 
 
 " It is," Robert replied after a moment's 
 hesitation. 
 
 " A most beautiful and accomplished girl," 
 commented the Major; " now place me in your 
 confidence. What is the trouble? " 
 
 There was no withstanding the Major's 
 brusque manner of questioning, so Robert 
 replied : 
 
 " Sir Joseph objects to his daughter marry- 
 ing any person without a title." 
 
 " And yours was annulled ; I remember the 
 history. Does Margaret return your affec- 
 tions? " 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Clandestinely, of course ; there is no other 
 way? " promptly inquired the Major. 
 
 Robert made no reply. 
 
 " Why don't you elope with her? I would 
 if she loved me." 
 
 " I will do nothing dishonorable," Robert 
 replied. 
 
 "Bah! nobody will thank you for acting 
 
 142
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 honorably in such a matter. Do you expect to 
 win a title by going to battle? " 
 
 " I thought there might be a remote possi- 
 bility." 
 
 "Remote? Take my advice, Mr. Coleshill; 
 go home and await events. You will at least 
 be able to feast your eyes upon her now and 
 then; whereas, if you go to battle, the chances 
 are about even of your coming home without a 
 title, or remaining abroad with one which will 
 be of no earthly use to you." 
 
 ' Thank you, Major Lunney, for your so- 
 licitude; I have decided to serve." 
 
 ' Very well, the Invincible sails at six in 
 the morning. You may room with me if you 
 will, and two days out I will explain all about 
 where we are going; " then calling the enlist- 
 ing sergeant, he addressed him, saying: 
 " Take this gentleman's measure and see that 
 a few extra khaki suits are placed aboard in my 
 room; " then turning to Robert, he said: " I 
 must leave you now, Mr. Coleshill ; the sergeant 
 will take care of you, and I will meet you on 
 board at daybreak." 
 
 143
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 THE spaniel returned to Trewhiddle, and 
 whined plaintively all through the night; and 
 when Squire John opened the hall-door in the 
 morning to admit it, the poor animal looked 
 up at him, making almost human cries. 
 
 " It is trying to talk," said Squire John to 
 his wife; then addressed the animal, saying: 
 " Your master is rather late, Fan, but he will 
 be down presently." Then the old gentleman 
 patted it, but the dog would not be comforted ; 
 indeed it only whined the more, and was so dis- 
 tressed that Squire John directed the butler to 
 go to Robert's room and notify him. 
 
 The butler hastily returned, bringing the let- 
 ter which Robert had left, exclaiming: " His 
 room is vacant, Sir, and I found this letter on 
 his dressing-table." 
 
 " What can it mean? " said the Squire, his 
 hands trembling with excitement as he opened 
 the letter, and when he read its contents he 
 turned deathly pale and staggered to a chair. 
 
 144
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 "Oh! John, what has befallen him?" ex- 
 claimed his wife, rushing forward and clasping 
 her husband's hands. 
 
 He answered her : " Robert writes ' that his 
 life would be nothing to him without Margaret 
 Trevisick, and that a title is necessary to pro- 
 cure her father's consent ; so he has gone to en- 
 list in the army, to make himself eligible.' 
 D Sir Joseph and all his kit! If any injury 
 befalls Robert, I will wipe them off the face 
 of the earth. That cursed Tower has done this ; 
 he met Margaret there, and he is under its ban ; 
 and so will she be, you mark my words, so will 
 she be." 
 
 " Go for him, John ! " begged his wife ; " stop 
 him, buy him out, do anything to prevent him 
 from going to fight; he will be killed! " and the 
 unhappy mother shed bitter tears. " To think 
 that my dear Robert would leave his old mother 
 for the sake of a girl. Why don't you go for 
 him, John? " 
 
 And go he did ; but it was of no avail. He 
 returned with the sorrowful tidings that the 
 ship containing their dear son had already de- 
 parted on its long voyage. 
 
 So the happiness which had ever attended 
 145
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 the old couple from their wedding-day was 
 blighted, and from this time forth a gloom 
 spread over the household that nothing could 
 disperse. The children dispensed with their 
 usual gayety, and sadness took the place of the 
 happy mirth which was their inheritance. 
 
 Sorrowful as was the House of Coleshill, it 
 did not compare with the intense grief mani- 
 fested by one elsewhere. 
 
 Margaret that same morning had been 
 handed Robert's letter, and going to her room 
 to read it undisturbed, she broke the seal and 
 the ring fell therefrom. She picked up the 
 ring, and having seen it before on Robert's 
 hand, she put it to her lips, then placed it on 
 her index finger, for it was too large for her; 
 then she began to read, and as she read, her 
 beautiful eyes dilated into a troubled look, her 
 hand rose swiftly to her brow, and with a 
 scream which resounded throughout the castle, 
 she fell heavily to the floor. 
 
 Sir Joseph, followed by Lady Trevisick, 
 rushed to Margaret's room, and discovered her 
 inanimate form, and lifting her quickly in his 
 arms, kissed her pallid brow, and placed her 
 tenderly on her bed; then he stood aside with
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 painful look while his wife administered unto 
 her such restoratives as were at hand. 
 
 A physician was hastily summoned, and fail- 
 ing to restore her to consciousness as soon as his 
 efforts warranted, inquired the cause of the at- 
 tack; and Sir Joseph who by this time had 
 read Robert's letter disclosed the facts. 
 
 "Ah! Sir Joseph," exclaimed the physician, 
 " she requires a different medicine. If you 
 would have your daughter live, she must re- 
 ceive your fatherly solicitude, loving hearts 
 and kindly hands to administer unto her; for 
 shocks like these that spring from sudden 
 grief, no chemist's art was made to heal. Be 
 sympathetic with her grief, be kind and gentle 
 to her youth for winter's storms quick blast 
 the hope of love's young spring and nature 
 will help restore your child." 
 
 Margaret's return to consciousness was fol- 
 lowed by hysterical sobs and cries for her dear 
 Robert, and even the venerable doctor, accus- 
 tomed as he was to sights of woe, was reduced 
 to the point of wiping his eyes. 
 
 Finally a drug was administered, and she 
 fell into a troubled sleep. Her face betrayed 
 emotions of the heart; it changed from looks 
 
 147
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 of sad bewilderment and spasmodic sobs to 
 the beautiful expression of hope indicated by 
 rippling smiles ; and at last her countenance re- 
 mained passive, and she slept soundly. 
 
 " Let her maid remain constantly with her," 
 said the doctor, " and when she awakes, con- 
 dole with her a while, and abstain from all 
 harshness." 
 
 It was several weeks before Margaret left 
 her room, and when she did it was to wander 
 about aimlessly. Sir Joseph had secreted 
 Robert's letter so she might not extend her 
 grief by referring to it, but the ring, which she 
 still retained, was a constant reminder to her. 
 
 One day she inquired for her mail, and her 
 maid brought her an accumulation of letters, 
 and among them was a package from Edmund 
 Valtort containing the title. Margaret gazed 
 at the parchment document with tearful eyes, 
 but the passionate longing she at one time had 
 for its possession had departed, and she real- 
 ized that all the pleasure she anticipated from 
 it was lost. 
 
 There were several letters from Jane Val- 
 tort, and these gave Margaret a few hours' hap- 
 piness in answering. Jane was profuse in her 
 
 148
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 eulogy of Richard Trubody's devotion to her, 
 and said she had woven a net around him this 
 time from which he could not escape. 
 
 In writing to Jane Valtort, Margaret 
 omitted to mention her great sorrow, for any 
 reference to it was too painful to her. 
 
 Having attended to all matters that had 
 been neglected during her illness, she resolved 
 herself into a life of study. 
 
 Sir Joseph had assumed his early kind de- 
 meanor to his daughter, and he seemed to re- 
 joice that she had been spared to him. 
 
 Robert Coleshill had been greatly beloved 
 by his father, and the old gentleman wandered 
 from day to day to his son's room and toyed 
 with the articles which he had most frequently 
 handled; and afterwards, descending to the 
 hall, would shake his fist at the pictures, ex- 
 claiming : " From generation to generation 
 ye have been the cause of woe." 
 
 149
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 AT daybreak on a December morning in the 
 year 1880, H. M. S. Invincible steamed out 
 of the harbor of Plymouth. A tender in wait- 
 ing had taken off the dispatch officer and a 
 few anxious friends of those on board, and the 
 man-of-war with its Union Jack and pennant 
 flying, cleaved the waters as it sped down the 
 channel. 
 
 There was considerable commotion on deck 
 as the ship's crew bustled about lashing por- 
 table cannon which were deposited on deck, 
 and in securing the hatchways, to guard 
 against damage by storms which were likely to 
 be encountered at any time during the voyage. 
 
 Groups of soldiers, whose careless mien 
 stamped them as veterans, loitered about the 
 deck, while scattered about the gunwale 
 lounged anxious raw recruits, looking back at 
 the land they were rapidly leaving behind, and 
 which many of them were destined never to see 
 again. 
 
 150
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 There was one whose appearance puzzled 
 the veterans. He had a soldierly bearing, yet 
 not sufficient to indicate he had seen much serv- 
 ice; and still he acted unlike the raw recruits, 
 for his look was directed towards the prow. 
 Presently he was seen to take a miniature from 
 his bosom and gaze intently upon it. 
 
 ' That solves it," said one veteran to another; 
 " it never fails to betray the state of the 
 weather." 
 
 " It's a pity, too," remarked the other, " but 
 I made the same mistake. My poor old father 
 pointed out the narrow path with thorns and 
 nettles by the way, and the one surest to bring 
 honor and contentment; but I chose the broad 
 road which leadeth unto destruction, and here 
 I am, destined sooner or later to be pinked, as 
 a reward for my disobedience." 
 
 " Have you heard what's in the wind? " 
 
 " No news yet," was the response. 
 
 At that moment a bugle sounded the roll 
 call, and the soldiers swarmed to the deck from 
 below and formed in line at their captain's 
 order, and responded to their names. 
 
 "Robert ColeshiU?" 
 
 " Here." 
 
 151
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 The captain called him aside, and after the 
 roll was completed escorted him to the room 
 of Major Lunney. 
 
 " You may as well make yourself acquainted 
 with this den, Mr. Coleshill," said Major Lun- 
 ney; " after to-day I will be able to converse 
 with you. I want to take a look at the horses ; 
 if you choose, you may accompany me." 
 
 " I will do so," Robert replied. 
 
 And Robert for the first time saw how ani- 
 mals, and everything else for that matter, are 
 packed on board troop-ships. 
 
 " Oh, this is nothing," said Major Lunney; 
 " wait until there is a storm and you will think 
 bedlam is loose down here, and many of them 
 may have to go overboard, kicked and trampled 
 to death. War abroad usually means war 
 from the time steam is up." 
 
 The following morning the formidable for- 
 tress of Gibraltar loomed up to view, and the 
 man-of-war was anchored in the bay. 
 
 After a signal-gun was fired, several tenders 
 put out from the entrance to the Mediterranean 
 and took up their position at the vessel's side; 
 and immediately the debarkation of the soldiers 
 commenced. 
 
 152
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " It is useless to talk to you about the scen- 
 ery," said Major Lunney, " for I know you 
 have only one object in view." 
 
 Nevertheless, Robert stood watching the im- 
 pregnable rock before him. ' There is some- 
 thing awe-inspiring about it," Robert re- 
 marked. 
 
 ' Wait until we go within," said the Major, 
 " and you will say there is a great deal about it 
 that is insuperable." 
 
 "Do we land also? " Robert inquired. 
 
 "Sit down on this Quaker," said Major 
 Lunney, " and we will talk. There is some- 
 thing in the wind, but what, is mere conjecture 
 at present. The Admiralty directed us to pro- 
 ceed to Gibraltar and land the troops, put them 
 through a rigid and constant series of drills 
 and target practice, and to be in readiness at a 
 moment's notice to depart. There may be 
 trouble anticipated further down among the 
 Zulus and Makatus ; there is no telling. They 
 are supposed to be loyal to Britishers, although 
 only a short time ago Sikukuni, a Kaffir chief 
 of the Northeast territory, attacked the Boers 
 in the Transvaal, who are entitled to British 
 protection." 
 
 153
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 "I observe the horses are being landed," 
 Robert remarked. 
 
 " Yes, they are raw recruits also, and must 
 have a certain amount of training. Are you 
 still determined? Remember, it is not too late 
 to return." 
 
 " I must win a title, somehow," Robert 
 replied. 
 
 " Poor fellow," remarked the Major; " I am 
 truly sorry for you. Well, come along and 
 select a good mount." 
 
 They entered one of the tenders, and in a 
 few minutes were deposited on a landing, 
 every inch of which was watched over night 
 and day by gunners behind mighty cannon 
 loaded for defence. 
 
 On a plateau behind the fortress the cap- 
 tains were already drilling the recruits, cries 
 of " quick march " " present arms " " aim " 
 " fire," being heard in every direction. The 
 veterans were stationed on target ranges, prac- 
 ticing with rifles ; and on the more open ground 
 beyond the plateau horses were being trained to 
 the sounds of martial music, the firing of rifles 
 and field guns ; soldiers on foot would explode 
 their rifles beneath the horses' bodies and be- 
 
 154
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 fore their eyes, and the animals reared and 
 snorted and kicked, but to no avail, their riders 
 clinging tenaciously to them. 
 
 " Take this animal, Mr. Coleshill," said 
 Major Lunney, " and let me see how you 
 sit." 
 
 Robert grasped the animal a large raw- 
 boned beast by the mane, and sprang into the 
 saddle; and instantly he did so, the animal 
 reared, plunged, and backed with lowered 
 haunches, in its maddened efforts to rid itself 
 of the burden on its back; finally it reared so 
 desperately it lost its balance and fell back- 
 wards, its rider happily falling on the sward 
 beside. As the animal was regaining its feet, 
 Robert again leaped into the saddle, and bear- 
 ing down upon the reins he drove the rowels 
 deep into its sides, and away horse and rider 
 went in a furious gallop, leaping a field cannon 
 in their path. 
 
 The captains stopped their drills to look 
 after the flying horseman, and many envied 
 the newcomer who rode so well. 
 
 The horse continued its maddened flight, and 
 still the rowels drummed and spurred its sides ; 
 and when at last its rider brought him back 
 
 155
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 completely conquered, the crimson foam be- 
 streaking its heaving sides, the soldiers hailed 
 Robert with a shout, " Well done! " 
 
 "Well done, but cruel," Robert responded. 
 
 The veterans laughed at this, and one re- 
 marked, " This is the small ' a ' of it; wait un- 
 til you get to the big ' Z.' " 
 
 Major Lunney patted the animal's neck, 
 saying to Robert: " He is yours, Mr. Coles- 
 hill. A part of your duty is to stable and 
 groom him, from this time forth; and" he 
 added significantly " I can see the big letter 
 " S " of your title looming up before me." 
 
 ' That is encouraging," Robert replied. 
 
 The next day was spent in a similar manner, 
 with the addition of undergoing the more 
 dangerous exercise of facing the guns, through 
 which ordeal Robert passed unflinchingly. 
 
 * You are adding on the letters," Major 
 Lunney said to him. 
 
 Robert bowed in response. 
 
 1 To-morrow I will try you at the ranges, 
 or perhaps you shoot on wing? Here, Captain 
 Dorsey, bring hither a rifle." 
 
 Robert took the rifle and fired at a half- 
 penny twirled in the air, and Major Lunney, 
 
 156
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 taking it up and examining it, remarked: 
 " Your title is ' Subaltern ' from to-day. I 
 will give you your diploma later." 
 
 " Can I return home now? " Robert laugh- 
 ingly asked. 
 
 " Devil-a-bit," replied the Major; "my 
 niece would be too easily won." 
 
 " She is won already," Robert replied. 
 
 " Sir Joseph will not be satisfied with a 
 lesser title than Colonel, or I mistake his as- 
 pirations," said the Major. 
 
 " So be it, Major; with you to reward me I 
 feel the title is already won." 
 
 " I have not won that degree yet," answered 
 the Major; "it requires bravery, where cour- 
 age leads to recklessness of life, and often- 
 times death is the reward." 
 
 Robert had now assumed the position of 
 drilling the recruits, and teaching them how to 
 hug the saddle so as to avoid a fall. Likewise 
 he introduced drills in guerrilla warfare which 
 he had learned from his books; and the latter 
 were highly applauded by the officers, so much 
 so that they became a daily feature among 
 them. 
 
 Three weeks had passed in this strenuous 
 
 157
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 employment when a despatch-steamer arrived 
 convoyed by two men-of-war. 
 
 The despatches were no sooner read than the 
 bugle sounded the roll call, and the men and 
 horses were restored to the Invincible^ and 
 steamed away. 
 
 " We are bound for Delagoa," said Major 
 Lunney privately to Robert. " It means 
 fight, but who with is yet a secret. We are 
 under sealed orders to the Governor of Natal, 
 Sir George Colley." 
 
 158
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 THE Christmas festivities in England had 
 been spent unabated in its happy associations, 
 unmindful of the rumors of war floating 
 through the atmosphere. Indeed it is surpris- 
 ing how unconcerned the majority of mankind 
 are concerning these direful events in the his- 
 tory of the world's progress. Even royalty 
 itself, which is supposed to be more deeply 
 affected by such grave undertakings, tempo- 
 rarily cast aside the gloom naturally attend- 
 ing it. 
 
 What was not known to those who were 
 destined to engage in the strife, was talked 
 about openly by the merchant; not in the vein 
 of a peaceful solution, but as to how it would 
 affect his profits. 
 
 The inhabitants of Trewhiddle were not 
 backward in their enjoyment of the holidays; 
 their homes were decorated with wreaths of 
 holly, and the mistletoe hung from the ceilings. 
 The pillars of the old church were, as usual 
 
 159
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 at Christmas-time, festooned with ropes of 
 evergreen. 
 
 There were two houses, however, in the 
 vicinity in which those indispensable emblems 
 were absent. Squire John Coleshill and his 
 wife had never ceased to mourn their absent 
 son, and as the day approached they directed 
 that the usual festive ceremonies be omitted. 
 Gifts to the poor were bestowed through the 
 medium of the vicar instead of at the hall of 
 the mansion, as theretofore, and the butler dis- 
 tributed the presents to the servants. 
 
 Bitter were the tears that flowed down the 
 cheeks of the old couple as the day dawned, 
 and they conversed sorrowfully of him who 
 had been so noble and devoted to them from 
 his boyhood. 
 
 " Not a day during his life," said the old 
 Squire, " had he given me one pang of regret 
 up to the day he left us." 
 
 " Never mind, my dear," said his wife; " per- 
 haps he may be spared to return to us, and the 
 happiness in meeting him again will help com- 
 pensate for his present loss." 
 
 " It will not ease our present grief," replied 
 the old gentleman. 
 
 160
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Let us hope and pray, John," his wife said 
 soothingly. 
 
 " I do, my dear, I pray until my poor old 
 knees seem always in the act of falling." 
 
 " Dear, dear me," said the old lady, " who 
 would have thought such sorrow could come 
 upon us? " 
 
 " It is all owing to that cursed Tower, wife ; 
 if it hadn't been there staring everybody in the 
 face all these years, that event pictured in the 
 hall would have been forgotten long ago. I 
 would have it torn down even now, but Robert 
 wanted it to remain to gratify Margaret. I 
 wish that stork-legged creature who was 
 after her had bowled the bottom out of it, 
 instead of making a hole to let in the day- 
 light." 
 
 " Never mind, John; don't let us refer to it 
 to-day." 
 
 At the castle, where Christmas-time had al- 
 ways been observed with lavish hospitality, 
 quietness prevailed. Margaret had begged to 
 be excused from appearing after dinner, and 
 retired to her room, where she sat in deep rev- 
 erie. She had visited the poorer families of 
 the village several days before, and attended 
 
 161
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 to their needs, and had sent a present to Jane 
 Valtort. 
 
 Margaret was disturbed from her reverie by 
 her maid handing her a letter. It was sent 
 from Gibraltar, and she opened it instantly 
 and eagerly read it. It was full of hope, love, 
 and tenderness. Robert referred to his good 
 fortune in falling in with her uncle, Major 
 Lunney, of his early appointment as subaltern, 
 and his determination to win laurels sufficient 
 to gratify her father. He added, " I know, 
 my dear Margaret, you would take me as I 
 am." 
 
 Margaret kissed the letter; she read and re- 
 read it, and pressing it to her heart a while, 
 as though to quiet its quick pulsations, she 
 finally placed it in her bosom. Leaning back 
 in her chair, her thoughts drifted away to the 
 fortress, of which she had often read at school, 
 and she tried to picture the doings of him who 
 was so dear to her, and in this mood she fell 
 asleep to dream of him. 
 
 Her dream was so vivid and so impressed 
 her that she wrote it down and referred to it 
 in after years, and this is what she wrote : 
 
 162
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " I dreamt I was walking beside Robert in a strange 
 world, for so the surroundings indicated. The sky was 
 of a leaden hue, and the sun appeared like a huge blue 
 ball just above the horizon, from which it never rose nor 
 sank, but seemed immovable. It shed no brightness like 
 is known to us, but cast a purple shade on everything. 
 The sward, bush, and tree were clothed alike in color 
 resembling the Copper-Fagus tree. No birds sang to 
 gladden us, no flower bloomed by the way. No gentle 
 breezes wafted o'er us the breath of life, and we breathed 
 not in respirations as mortals do; our bosoms remained 
 calm like unto the chiseled marble. We walked along 
 in silence until we came to a formidable rock, and look- 
 ing back, the path by which we came was lost to us. As 
 we approached the barrier, a figure clad in purple stood 
 in the entrance of a cave, and beckoned to us, and we 
 entered following him. The cave within was visible as 
 the scenes without, and we followed our leader until we 
 reached its end, which opened unto an ocean of water. 
 The waves exhibited their purple crests, but were im- 
 movable; there was no sound of mighty waters. The 
 rocky barrier skirting its shore was hollowed at its base 
 by action of the sea in times long past, and extended in 
 perspective to the horizon. I turned my eyes from the 
 desolate scene before me, and when I turned them back 
 again, I found myself alone. I hunted for the cave, but 
 it was likewise lost to view, and I walked the strand of 
 that rock-bound, silent sea, alone, for what semed in- 
 terminable ages. My longing for Robert increased from 
 age to age, until my heart burst the bonds which held it, 
 
 163
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 and my bosom heaved, and then I found my voice; and 
 I cried out of my heart's despair, ' Robert, come back to 
 me ' ; and his voice came from the horizon, in response, 
 ' Margaret, I am coming to you ' ; and as I ran swiftly 
 in the direction of his voice, I saw his form approaching; 
 and as we met, he took me joyously in his arms, and in- 
 stantly the sun shone with its wonted luster, the waves 
 rolled noisily upon the beach, and we retraced our steps 
 along a golden strand, until we reached the sward, where 
 flowers bedecked our path and birds greeted us on our 
 way." 
 
 Robert's parents also received a letter from 
 him, which helped to assuage their grief, al- 
 though their fears were not relieved. The old 
 Squire walked in the direction of the tower, 
 and standing at a distance from it, shook his 
 fist at it, exclaiming : " Robert may yet suc- 
 ceed in counteracting your evil influence." 
 
 164
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 TOWARDS the end of September, 1880, an 
 English officer secretly left Pretoria, and pro- 
 ceeding cautiously around the outskirts of the 
 thickly settled districts, succeeded in reaching 
 the veldt unobserved; then putting spurs to 
 his horse, sped across the plains in the direction 
 of Natal. A few days earlier and the event 
 would have been looked upon as of ordinary 
 occurrence, as nothing had openly transpired 
 to create suspicion of any contemplated upris- 
 ing among the inhabitants of the Transvaal; 
 although it was known to prominent English- 
 men at the capital who had been stationed 
 there since the year 1877, by virtue of a proc- 
 lamation making the Transvaal part of the 
 British Empire that although a majority of 
 the inhabitants of Pretoria had agreed to the 
 terms submitted by the English, as the only 
 means of preventing themselves from being 
 swept off the face of the earth by a combina- 
 
 165
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 tion of Zulus and Makatus, who were con- 
 stantly threatening them, yet the President, S. 
 J. Paul Kriiger, had from the outset protested 
 against it, and had recently been holding secret 
 interviews with two prominent Boers, General 
 J. P. Joubert and M. W. Pretorius. 
 
 It was not at first deemed of sufficient im- 
 portance to suspect them of intriguing to over- 
 throw existing conditions, but at last other 
 prominent Boers having been invited to the 
 meetings, it was thought advisable to notify 
 the Governor of Natal to be in readiness with 
 his forces. 
 
 Sir George Colley deemed the matter suffi- 
 ciently grave to notify the Home Government 
 to be prepared in case of emergency, and the 
 Admiralty took the precaution to send the 
 Invincible to Gibraltar to await developments. 
 
 Subsequent revelations made it necessary to 
 order the Invincible to proceed to her des- 
 tination, and in the latter part of January, 
 1881, the man-of-war landed the consignment 
 of soldiers, horses, and accouterments at the 
 port of Natal. 
 
 The Boers had already entered into a solemn 
 league and covenant at Paardekraal or Kru- 
 
 166
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 gersdorp, and a proclamation was issued once 
 more, proclaiming the Republic. They pro- 
 ceeded to exhibit their independence by defy- 
 ing and attacking the small detachments of 
 British troops scattered over the large terri- 
 tory. 
 
 Information concerning these depredations 
 was brought to Natal, and Sir George Colley 
 instantly mustered the new forces with those 
 stationed at Natal, making a force of nine hun- 
 dred men, and marched in a northeasterly di- 
 rection. 
 
 Before he could reach the Transvaal border 
 a strong contingent of Boers took up a posi- 
 tion at Laing's Nek a ridge some five thou- 
 sand feet above the level of the plain, over 
 which runs the principal road from Natal into 
 the Transvaal and encamped just behind the 
 top of the ridge, commanding a sweep of the 
 road in both directions. 
 
 As soon as the outriders brought word of 
 the Boer position, the British forces, compris- 
 ing parts of the Fifty-eighth Regiment, the 
 Sixtieth Rifles, and the Naval Brigade, with 
 six guns and two gatlings, set out from New- 
 castle under Sir George Colley; and on the 
 
 167
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 afternoon of January 27, 1881, pitched their 
 tents on a hillside about one hour's journey 
 south of the Nek. 
 
 Soon after daybreak on the following morn- 
 ing they marched across the ridge in the di- 
 rection of the Boer encampment. 
 
 The Boers had discovered the presence of 
 the British forces and, nothing daunted, many 
 of them descended the ridge and lay concealed 
 behind the kopjes, to await their approach. 
 
 The British no sooner commenced to climb 
 the slope of isolated hill on their right than 
 they came under fire of the Boers. The 
 troops charged up the hill, notwithstanding the 
 Boer rifles picked them off man by man. 
 They were courageously led by Major Brown- 
 low and Troop Sergeant-Ma j or Lunney, who 
 were the first to gain the ridge, accompanied 
 by their battalions. The Boers were so scat- 
 tered and hidden behind the kopjes that there 
 was no opportunity to discover them until the 
 fatal discharge of their rifles. Many of the 
 soldiers fell without having fired a shot. 
 Major Brownlow's horse was shot under him, 
 and Sergeant-Ma j or Lunney was instantly 
 killed. Robert Coleshill, who rode close beside 
 
 168
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 him, sprang from his horse, and finding his 
 devoted friend was dead, sorrowfully re- 
 mounted his charger and spurred it viciously 
 forward. Major Brownlow shot the Boer 
 leader, and continued to lead his men, who, 
 with Robert Coleshill, now crowned the 
 ridge. 
 
 If the other regiments had promptly sup- 
 ported him, the hill had been won; for the 
 Boers had already begun to retire, and many 
 were running to their horses, although scores 
 of them who were hidden in rocky defiles kept 
 up a withering fire; and the hill was so steep 
 many of the horses of the mounted troops, be- 
 ing insufficiently trained to fire, refused to as- 
 cend. Consequently the support troops were 
 checked; the leading troops, fatigued and 
 broken by the charge, could not push on, and 
 the whole gave way down the hill. 
 
 The main attack having failed, it became 
 necessary to withdraw the advanced troops. 
 The Boers, on the watch, signaled to their 
 escaping companions, and they began to show 
 in increasing numbers, going in the direction 
 of the left flank. Robert Coleshill divined 
 their intention and riding rapidly in that direc- 
 
 169
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 tion, led the troops to a place of safety behind 
 the opposite ridge. 
 
 Later in the day an armistice was declared, 
 and all the wounded and dead were brought 
 into camp that evening, the dead being buried 
 under a flag of truce. 
 
 Robert sorrowfully escorted the body of 
 Major Lunney from the field, and had a sepa- 
 rate grave dug for him, and marked the spot 
 where he lay buried. 
 
 There is little time for grief in warfare, and 
 after Sir George Colley had made a list of the 
 dead and wounded, he made preparations for 
 continuing his expedition. He was compelled 
 to elevate many of the men from the ranks to 
 fill the positions of officers who had been killed 
 and wounded; and Robert, on account of his 
 bravery in rescuing the left wing from its 
 treacherous position, was elevated to the rank 
 of captain. 
 
 Some days later the British troops had an- 
 other engagement at S chain Hooghte, where 
 the position held by the Boers was so impreg- 
 nable, and their mode of guerrilla warfare so 
 disastrous, without giving the soldiers an 
 opportunity even to sight the enemy, it was 
 
 170
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 found advisable to retire, after receiving 
 another reverse. 
 
 Finally there came the last and greatest dis- 
 aster Majuba Hill. The British troops, led 
 by their officers, again and again stepped for- 
 ward over the dead bodies of their comrades as 
 the rifles of the Boers shot down those before 
 them; the height they tried to reach was 
 guarded by a range of deadly rifles which 
 poured unceasingly upon them. At last Rob- 
 ert Coleshill saw his opportunity, and spurring 
 his steed, reached a height commanding the 
 Boer position, and being immediately sup- 
 ported by his men, succeeded in dislodging the 
 enemy; but alas! the terrible discovery was 
 soon made that the ammunition had given out, 
 and the devoted handful of men were reduced 
 to the degrading extremity of throwing stones 
 at their fleeing enemies. 
 
 Discovering the awful predicament the 
 British soldiers were in, the Boers amassed and 
 rushed down upon the main body. General 
 Sir George Colley, together with nearly all his 
 officers and ninety-one of his men, was killed, 
 and fifty-nine were taken prisoners. 
 
 This terrible disaster was reported by the 
 171
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 surviving officer in charge, to the Home Gov- 
 ernment, and the newspapers of the day in giv- 
 ing an account of the dead and missing 
 included the name of Robert Coleshill among 
 the latter, recounting his great courage and 
 bravery. 
 
 172
 
 CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 BEFORE leaving Gibraltar, Robert wrote a few 
 hurried lines to his father notifying him of 
 his destination, and begging his parents not to 
 worry over him, as he hoped soon to return 
 to them. He likewise sent a letter to Mar- 
 garet, full of longing to see her, concluding 
 with the words : ;< Wait for me, my darling, 
 I will soon be back to the old tower and to 
 you." 
 
 The letter to his parents only tended to in- 
 crease their discomfort, for they could imagine 
 nothing but disaster to their son. 
 
 Margaret retired to her room with Robert's 
 letter, as was her wont to do, and after read- 
 ing it she fell on her knees and remained in 
 that attitude so long that her maid was con- 
 strained to arouse her; thereupon Margaret 
 looked at the girl with a dazed countenance, 
 and as she staggered to her feet, the maid as- 
 sisted her to a chair. 
 
 " I have been far away in my thoughts," 
 173
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Margaret remarked, and then she again re- 
 sumed a pensive attitude. 
 
 About this time the daily newspapers com- 
 menced to teem with news regarding a possible 
 war with the Boers, and long before there was 
 any conflict prophesied the latter's downfall 
 after the first attack; not deeming it possible 
 that such an insignificant enemy, compara- 
 tively, could prove so formidable. 
 
 Margaret anxiously scanned the papers 
 from day to day. The battle of Laing's Nek 
 and the killing of her uncle was supplemented 
 with the bravery of Robert Coleshill, and Mar- 
 garet's regret at the death of the former was 
 modified in her anxiety for her lover. 
 
 At last the disastrous event of Majuba Hill 
 created a profound sensation throughout Eng- 
 land; they had mistaken the fighting qualities 
 of their enemies, and had suffered defeat. 
 
 Squire John read the unwelcome news, and 
 tearing away the page which contained it, hid 
 his sorrow from his wife by taking himself to 
 the woodlands, where he poured out his grief 
 unseen. 
 
 Sir Joseph watched his daughter scan the 
 page and hastily leave the drawing-room with 
 
 174
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 agony depicted on her countenance; and fear- 
 ing a repetition of her former grief, he awaited 
 with dreadful suspense, and finally went to 
 her room, where he found her seated with her 
 head bowed in her hands. 
 
 Placing his hand affectionately on his 
 daughter's head, he said: " I wouldn't take it 
 too much to heart, Margaret." 
 
 " I might have been saved all this sorrow, 
 papa," was all she answered; and Sir Joseph 
 returned to the drawing-room, dejected over 
 the unhappiness that had come to his favorite 
 daughter, and the gloom which had spread over 
 his household. 
 
 175
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 THE fight at Majuba Hill was conducted in 
 such a sanguinary manner no opportunity was 
 afforded the officers to look about them to dis- 
 cover the havoc the Boer rifles had committed 
 among their regiments. Each officer strived to 
 gain the ascent in order to obtain a better view 
 of the enemy, who, hidden behind the hills and 
 numerous kopjes, could only be located from 
 below by the smoke following the incessant 
 ping, ping of their rifles. 
 
 It is impossible to conceive what motive in- 
 spired General Sir George Colley and his of- 
 ficers to lead their devoted regiments up a steep 
 stony embankment, in the face of a withering 
 discharge of rifles, whose effectiveness had 
 been already experienced in the two previous 
 battles of Laing's Nek and Schain Hooghte, 
 and which now, early in the fight, was proving 
 fatal to so many of them. Even the sense of 
 duty, and the abnormal courage superinduced 
 in the effort to suppress an outbreak in its in- 
 
 176
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 cipiency, are insufficient to explain the deadly 
 mistake. 
 
 As soon as Robert Coleshill succeeded in 
 reaching the summit of Majuba Hill, and 
 made the horrible discovery that his faithful 
 followers were without ammunition, he glanced 
 eagerly down the slope which he had traversed ; 
 and as soon as he saw the heaps of dead, and 
 the broken regiments without a leader, he real- 
 ized the hopelessness of the undertaking; and 
 for a brief moment his heart sank within him, 
 as he reflected that what he had striven and 
 risked his life for was lost to him. 
 
 There was no time for reflection, however, 
 for already the Boers had taken advantage of 
 the discomfiture of the troops, to amass and 
 make them prisoners. 
 
 Seeing this, Robert called to his men to fol- 
 low him, and with sword in hand rushed down 
 the hill, calling to the fleeing soldiers to halt, 
 but it was in vain; they were panic-stricken 
 and could not be restrained in their flight. 
 
 At this juncture a Boer commando swooped 
 down upon Robert's little band and demanded 
 its surrender. 
 
 " You take us unarmed," said Robert. 
 177
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " So much the better, Rooinek," replied the 
 leader, " for opposition would cause your 
 death. Form in line and march after me," 
 then turning his horse up the slope, the pris- 
 oners followed in silence, urged on by the Boer 
 horsemen who rode close to their heels. 
 
 Reaching the ridge, they took the road lead- 
 ing into the Transvaal, and after proceeding 
 a short distance halted behind the shelter of a 
 rock, where a store of provisions had been laid 
 up in a rough structure of stones. A few 
 strips of bilting and some mealies were distrib- 
 uted to each man, both Boers and prisoners, 
 and after being joined by other groups of 
 Boers, each accompanied by a few prisoners, 
 they again proceeded on their journey, the 
 Boers on horseback and the prisoners on foot. 
 
 Towards nightfall they camped in a kloop 
 or ravine, posting sentries to guard against 
 surprise. 
 
 Robert Coleshill had already accustomed 
 himself to the hardships of war, and bore them 
 with an uncomplaining grace unequaled by 
 the veterans; indeed he seemed to be oblivious 
 to all the inconveniences attending camp-life. 
 The first night in the Boer camp he lay prone 
 
 178
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 on the ground, his head resting on his arm ; the 
 fatigue resulting from the forced journey of 
 several miles over the uneven road had pro- 
 duced a lethargy which the excitement of the 
 morning's battle was unable to overcome; and 
 he sank into a profound sleep which lasted un- 
 til the stir about camp at dawn awoke him. 
 
 Following the example of the rest, Robert 
 sat on a rock and began to breakfast by cut- 
 ting off pieces of bilting with a clasp-knife. 
 Some of the prisoners had prepared a warm 
 repast out of the Boer provender, and one of 
 them seeing Robert thus engaged, took him a 
 cup of the broth, which he eagerly swallowed, 
 saying to the soldier: "I must not faint by 
 the wayside, for I have much to live for." 
 
 " I wish I could say as much, sir," the soldier 
 replied; " I entered the army because hope was 
 lost to me." 
 
 "She married another? " queried Robert. 
 
 " Her parents thought I was not good 
 enough," replied the soldier, "and they pre- 
 vented her from seeing me, and she died." 
 
 " Poor fellow," ejaculated Robert, as the 
 soldier strode back to his companions. " He 
 seeks repose, yet cannot find it even here where 
 
 179
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 so many of his comrades have found eternal 
 rest." 
 
 There was little time for meditation, for in a 
 short time they were again on the march. The 
 cavalcade moved forward as rapidly as the 
 stony nature of the road would admit, and fre- 
 quently stopped for a few minutes to give the 
 prisoners an opportunity to rest. Some of 
 the latter varied the monotony of the jour- 
 ney by repeating stories of their experiences in 
 former battles. In this manner they jour- 
 neyed for five successive days, and were pro- 
 ceeding on the Rand Berg, intending to cross 
 the veldt towards Heidelburg, when just after 
 entering a rocky defile a discharge of bullets 
 greeted them from the rocks above, accom- 
 panied by fearful yells. Several of the Boers 
 fell from their horses and a panic ensued. 
 The Boers immediately recognizing their in- 
 veterate enemies, the Zulus, and realizing the 
 futility of giving them battle, put spurs to 
 their horses, and the prisoners fearing to fall 
 into the hands of the savages, took to their 
 heels, following their captors and leaving their 
 dead behind them. 
 
 Robert Coleshill, hoping to make his escape 
 
 180
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 in the confusion that followed, threw himself 
 on the ground and lay as if dead. 
 
 The savages after discharging their rifles 
 sprang from behind the rocks and began to 
 strip the dead. Coming to Robert, they 
 turned him over and proceeded to unbutton 
 his coat, and a dusky hand grasped the minia- 
 ture which he carried suspended from his neck. 
 Immediately Robert seized the hand and, 
 springing to his feet, commenced to rebutton 
 his coat, glaring at the savages surrounding 
 him, who after the first moment of their sur- 
 prise at his sudden resurrection began to dance 
 in a circle about him. 
 
 " A Rooinek," exclaimed one of the savages, 
 and they took him by the arms and led him out 
 of the defile back in the direction he had jour- 
 neyed with the Boers, and after crossing the 
 berg at a point less difficult of ascent, descended 
 into the opposite valley. 
 
 They journeyed until nightfall, when they 
 encamped in the open, placing their prisoner 
 in the center; sentinels being posted to keep 
 watch upon him and to guard against sur- 
 prises. 
 
 Soon after daybreak they resumed their 
 
 181
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 journey, and after proceeding some distance, 
 encamped by the side of a stream, and catch- 
 ing a few barbers and yellow fish therein, they 
 prepared a meal. 
 
 On the third day they reached the banks of 
 the White Umvolos River at a spot where sev- 
 eral canoes were in waiting; and embarking 
 they paddled down the river, stopping fre- 
 quently to carry the canoes over the falls with 
 which the river abounded, and on the fifth day 
 they reached Uhlundi, the Zulu capital. 
 
 Robert was taken at once before King Cete- 
 wayo, who had learned sufficient of the English 
 language to welcome him with a few guttural 
 sounds. 
 
 Towards night Cetewayo addressed one of 
 his attendants, and Robert was consigned to a 
 hut on the outskirts of the kraal, and a female 
 Zulu attendant was appointed to wait upon 
 him. 
 
 Completely tired out with his constant 
 traveling, Robert lay down on some skins 
 which the woman had spread inside the hut, and 
 placing his hand on the miniature, let his 
 thoughts dwell upon her for whom he had 
 risked his happiness. 
 
 182
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 He had not remained thus very long before 
 he was disturbed by a hideous noise proceeding 
 from the beating of tom-toms and blaring of 
 bullock's horns outside his hut, and arising, he 
 motioned the assembly away. Failing to de- 
 sist, he pelted them with stones, at which his 
 attendant, who sat outside the hut, clapped her 
 hands and laughed with great glee. 
 
 Having been disturbed from his reverie, the 
 sleep which was stealing over him likewise van- 
 ished, so he walked up and down in the vicinity 
 of his hut, gazing at the moon, which shone 
 brightly upon the kraal and revealed sentinels 
 posted here and there about the settlement, 
 one of whom was intent upon watching him. 
 His thoughts again reverted to his love for 
 never since his departure, not even in active 
 warfare, had he forgotten her and he won- 
 dered if she, too, were thinking of him. 
 
 At last he stopped at the entrance of his hut, 
 and, peering in, discovered the woman had 
 taken possession of his couch; and being too 
 disgusted to remonstrate, he lay himself on the 
 ground in the open, as he had done many times 
 on the battlefield, and fixing his gaze on the 
 heavens, finally fell asleep. 
 
 183
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 When he awoke in the early morning he was 
 disgusted to find the woman lying beside him, 
 with her arm encircling him. He seized her 
 arm and thrust it from him in his anger, thus 
 awakening her ; at the same time, springing to 
 his feet, he shook his fist at her. She in re- 
 turn arose and made a hideous face at him, 
 shutting her eyes and sticking out her tongue ; 
 and for the remainder of that day, and 
 for a considerable time afterwards, whenever 
 Robert came across her path, she assumed the 
 same attitude towards him; yet notwithstand- 
 ing these outward signs of rebellion, she 
 brought him gourds filled with salmagundi, 
 prepared for the King, and it was not until 
 long afterwards that Robert discovered that 
 Cetewayo had bestowed a daughter of his 
 household upon him to wait upon him, as a 
 mark of royal favor. 
 
 184
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 ALTHOUGH a peace settlement was arrived at 
 between the English and the Boers shortly 
 after the disastrous fight at Majuba Hill, the 
 newspapers for some time thereafter gave ac- 
 counts of the arrival at Natal of soldiers re- 
 ported as missing. 
 
 Margaret eagerly scanned these reports, but 
 no mention was made of the discovery of Rob- 
 ert Coleshill. 
 
 The Admiralty Office had replied to letters 
 both from Squire Coleshill and Margaret that 
 the name of Robert Coleshill had not been re- 
 ported among the dead, and encouraged them 
 to hope that he might be discovered among one 
 or other of the tribes friendly to the British. 
 
 For a few days after the announcement of 
 the disaster Margaret secluded herself; but 
 finally she resumed her walks about the estate, 
 and was observed to make frequent trips to the 
 tower, where she remained for hours at a time. 
 
 She kept up a weekly correspondence with 
 
 185
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Jane Valtort, and in one letter gave her a brief 
 account of the mystery attending her sweet- 
 heart. 
 
 Later on Jane Valtort wrote that her wed- 
 ding day had been fixed, and sent a pressing 
 invitation. Margaret sent a wedding present, 
 but excused herself, however, as being entirely 
 too unhappy to participate in the ceremony. 
 
 As the weeks and months rolled by she 
 seemed to have fully recoverd from her grief, 
 and, followed by a groom, took long rides al- 
 most daily through the country. 
 
 186
 
 'At sight of Lillipopo the Zulu threw himself 
 on the floor of the veranda."
 
 CHAPTER XXVI 
 
 IN the month of August, 1882, a small band 
 of Zulu warriors rode into the courtyard sur- 
 rounding the Governor's residence at Natal, 
 and one of them dismounted and taking a 
 large horn of the Koodoo, on which was en- 
 graved a number of hieroglyphics, proceeded 
 to the mansion, where he was met by Colonel 
 Ridgway, who was in charge during the ab- 
 sence of the Governor. 
 
 The Zulu salaamed and handed Colonel 
 Ridgway the horn, saying in tolerably good 
 English: "For Princess Lillipopo Isand- 
 lana." 
 
 Colonel Ridgway took the horn and, re- 
 questing the warrior to remain, entered the 
 building, from which he presently emerged ac- 
 companied by Lillipopo, bearing the horn in 
 her hands. 
 
 At sight of Lillipopo the Zulu threw him- 
 self on the floor of the veranda at her feet. 
 Lillipopo addressed him in his own language, 
 and as he failed to respond, she exclaimed: 
 
 187
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Stand up, man; I don't require such servil- 
 ity; " then addressing Colonel Ridgway, she 
 said: " King Cetewayo desires me to visit 
 him, and I have no desire to do so; on the con- 
 trary, I abhor the very thought of going 
 among those savages." 
 
 "You forget, Miss Isandlana," he replied, 
 " that King Cetewayo has a claim upon you, 
 which this request might be considered a part 
 of your obligation to gratify." 
 
 " You must pardon me, Colonel Ridgway, 
 for saying it is a matter of diplomacy for you 
 to support King Cetewayo's claim; but I have 
 not a particle of respect for the old savage. I 
 consider the English Government very lax in 
 not avenging the murder of my father; possi- 
 bly I may construe their non-action as another 
 act of diplomacy? " 
 
 " In warfare, Miss Isandlana," answered 
 Colonel Ridgway, "horrible deeds are com- 
 mitted which the contestants are anxious to 
 forget as soon as hostilities cease." 
 
 " I am not disposed to be subjected to a law 
 which shirks its duties," replied Lillipopo. 
 
 '* We are all subject to some form of gov- 
 ernment," retorted the Colonel; "and Cete- 
 
 188
 
 OWL 1 TOWER 
 
 wayo, notwithstanding he is permitted to gov- 
 ern his own people, is likewise subject to the 
 authority of the British." 
 
 " It is well known I am not a native of Zulu- 
 land," Lillipopo replied ; " therefore I am not 
 subject to the ruling of Cetewayo." 
 
 " It is unfortunate you are a woman," 
 replied Colonel Ridgway ; "if you were a man, 
 the importance of your position might be made 
 clear to you. A man would grasp the oppor- 
 tunity and become great ; as it is, I fear I must 
 report to the Home Government that you are 
 a failure and a " 
 
 "Fraud," exclaimed Lillipopo angrily; 
 " you might as well say it out, for you military 
 men have a vulgar way of expressing your- 
 selves." 
 
 " Miss Isandlana, martial law, which for- 
 gets the dead, is ever mindful of the living, 
 in seeing they perform their duty; therefore 
 your reproof comes ill-advised, especially as 
 you have been fostered and a careful educa- 
 tion given to you by my government." 
 
 " That does not entitle you to enslave my 
 thoughts, sir," answered Lillipopo. 
 
 " I had no desire to treat you otherwise than 
 189
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 as a parent would his child," answered the Col- 
 onel, " and were you my daughter I would re- 
 joice at the opportunity open to you." 
 
 " Will you kindly reveal to me what that 
 opportunity is? " 
 
 " Nothing more nor less than that you might 
 become reigning queen over the Zulus," replied 
 the Colonel. 
 
 " It is too ridiculous to contemplate," re- 
 plied Lillipopo, laughing loudly. " The idea 
 of a girl educated among young English 
 ladies being destined to reign over a lot of 
 blood-thirsty savages! And supposing I de- 
 cline the honor, Colonel Ridgway? " 
 
 " I will guarantee," replied the Colonel, 
 somewhat warmly, " if I were to advertise in 
 the English papers for a young lady educated 
 in one of the seminaries to go to Zululand and 
 become a maid-of -honor at King Cetewayo's 
 palace, thousands would answer it." 
 
 " I daresay they would," replied Lillipopo 
 sarcastically; "but if you were to substitute 
 the words ' Cetewayo's Kraal ' instead of 
 ' palace,' and further state that clothing is at 
 a premium, you might get just the kind of 
 answers you deserved." 
 
 190
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Colonel Ridgway looked at Lillipopo in- 
 tently for a few moments, as though ponder- 
 ing over her words, and finally said: 
 
 " Well, you can suit yourself. Cetewayo 
 sent you here several years ago, giving your 
 name as Lillipopo Isandlana, stating you had 
 been saved by one of his warriors from the 
 massacre at Isandlana, and that he desired you 
 to be educated in the best manner possible and 
 returned to him, with the object in view of 
 adopting you as his daughter, and thus having 
 you to preside at his court, and teach his peo- 
 ple. The ultimate good your influence might 
 bring about among the natives so appealed to 
 the Home Government they immediately pro- 
 ceeded to carry out Cetewayo's wishes, not 
 dreaming, I suppose, that they were dealing 
 with another kind of savage in you." 
 ' Thank you," said Lillipopo. 
 
 " You are quite welcome, I'm sure," 
 answered Colonel Ridgway ; " and now we un- 
 derstand each other, let me suggest, without 
 meaning any affront, that as the Home Gov- 
 ernment has kindly taken such a selfish inter- 
 est in you, would it not be well for you to 
 continue in its good graces, particularly as a,
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 substantial pension is paid by it for your sup- 
 port, conditional on your good behavior? 
 Likewise, Cetewayo sends a small fortune in 
 ivory every year for your benefit. May I ask 
 what his message is? " 
 
 " He writes to this effect : * Cetewayo longs 
 to see his lost daughter, his white queen. The 
 moon is paling with him, and the sun goes to 
 sleep without warming him. Come to him be- 
 fore the sun ceases to rise. A beautiful youth 
 awaits you.' ' 
 
 " How can you withstand such an appeal as 
 that? " asked the Colonel. 
 
 " I can't help the sun not warming him," 
 answered Lillipopo. 
 
 " No, ' but the beautiful youth '? Don't you 
 see how anxious he is to provide for your 
 happiness? " 
 
 " Another poor child stolen, and possibly 
 his parents butchered," responded Lillipopo. 
 
 At last Colonel Ridgway adopted a more 
 serious mood and said: 
 
 ' You might do a signal service to the gov- 
 ernment, Miss Isandlana, and at the same time 
 put an extra feather in your hat, by paying a 
 visit to Cetewayo ; for it is quite possible some 
 
 192
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 of our soldiers who are missing may be among 
 the Zulus, unable to free themselves, which by 
 your instrumentality can be effected." 
 
 " I will go," Lillipopo replied with evident 
 unwillingness, " but I will return after a few 
 days." 
 
 " I trust you will," replied the Colonel, " or 
 I will send you a message which will eclipse 
 Cetewayo's in total obscurity." 
 
 193
 
 CHAPTER XXVII 
 
 THE following day Lillipopo left Natal with 
 the Zulu warriors and accompanied by a 
 Kaffir woman as attendant. 
 
 The journey was accomplished without any 
 difficulty, aside from the usual hardships, and 
 on the eighth day she reached Uhlundi. 
 
 As Lillipopo rode up to Cetewayo's Kraal 
 the old king rushed towards her, and lifting 
 her from the saddle embraced her, and led her 
 to the door of his hut, where he spread a mat 
 with his own hands and sat her down; then 
 squatting himself opposite to her, he gazed 
 upon her long and intently, at intervals ques- 
 tioning her in Zulu concerning her education 
 and her treatment at Natal. Evidently sat- 
 isfied with her answers, he clapped his hands, 
 and two women appeared and spread matting 
 on the ground, on which they arrayed a repast. 
 
 As soon as the meal was dispensed with 
 Cetewayo conversed with her in Zulu to the 
 following effect : 
 
 " Lillipopo, I have been planning for your 
 194
 
 welfare, so that you will be content to live 
 among us ; and in pursuit thereof I sent a band 
 of warriors to reconnoitre around the camp at 
 Natal, to steal an English officer for you. 
 They succeeded in getting one whom I think 
 will please you." 
 
 " King Cetewayo," replied Lillipopo, some- 
 what alarmed, " civilized woman does not ob- 
 tain her husband by stealing him; she first 
 takes a liking to him, and then must have an 
 opportunity to test his affections; and it 
 usually takes several months, sometimes a year 
 or more, to make the discovery." 
 
 " We do it differently," said Cetewayo ; " we 
 take them first, and they learn to like us at 
 their leisure." 
 
 " That would not suit me at all, King Cete- 
 wayo; I must have my own choice of a hus- 
 band, and plenty of time to study his disposi- 
 tion." 
 
 " Let me call him," said Cetewayo ; " I know 
 he will please you;" and notwithstanding 
 Lillipopo remonstrated, Cetewayo clapped his 
 hands, and uttering a few guttural sounds to 
 the warrior who presented himself, Robert 
 Coleshill was ushered into their presence. 
 
 195
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Robert's forced manner of living among the 
 Zulus for eighteen months had not added to 
 his personal appearance; indeed it would have 
 been difficult to recognize in him the gentle- 
 man student of the ancient barony of Trew- 
 hiddle, or the gallant military officer of more 
 recent date; although there were unmistakable 
 signs of his good-breeding apparent to the 
 penetrating eyes of Lillipopo, who gazed upon 
 his stalwart form with curiosity akin to amaze- 
 ment as she acknowledged the bow he made to 
 her. 
 
 Robert stood before Cetewayo in the atti- 
 tude of a man who knew himself to be superior 
 in intellectual capacity, and looked inquiringly 
 at him as he sat before his hut, as though to 
 discover in his features the object of his sum- 
 mons. 
 
 " Ugh! " grunted Cetewayo, returning Rob- 
 ert's gaze and at the same time pointing to- 
 wards Lillipopo. 
 
 There was the least vestige of a smile on 
 Lillipopo's countenance as Robert turned to 
 her. 
 
 ' I suppose he means we must converse to- 
 gether," said Robert; "it is certainly a novel 
 
 196
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 way of introduction, but I am so glad to have 
 an opportunity to hear and speak my native 
 language again, I am thankful to be rid of 
 the preliminaries." 
 
 She answered him in the Zulu language. 
 
 Robert was so disappointed and disgusted 
 he exclaimed in a loud voice: 
 
 " Bah ! to the devil with your lumdums ; I 
 so detest the name and sight of you Zulus I 
 could see you all wiped off the map." 
 
 At this outbreak, Cetewayo evidently 
 shrewd enough to detect the ruse played by 
 Lillipopo broke into a fit of laughter, evi- 
 denced by several guttural sounds of " ugh, 
 ugh," followed by rolling of the eyes and 
 opening of the jaws. 
 
 " Grunt away, you old savage," said Robert, 
 looking at him scornfully. 
 
 Lillipopo was so amused at the result of her 
 mischievous deception she broke into such a 
 fit of laughter that Robert was compelled to 
 join; and the trio indulged in uncontrollable 
 mirth, prolonged by the actions of Cete- 
 wayo, who, unable to sustain his merriment in 
 a sitting posture, had rolled over on the ground 
 and was kicking in unison with his ugh, ughs. 
 
 197
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 As soon as Lillipopo's merriment had suffi- 
 ciently ceased to admit of her speaking, she 
 placed her hand winningly on Robert's arm, 
 saying, " Forgive me, sir ; I could not resist 
 the temptation of trying your patience, and at 
 the same time discovering your temper. I will 
 now know what to expect from you." 
 
 " I can pardon you anything, so long as it is 
 in English," Robert replied. " Shall I relate 
 who I am, and how I came here? " 
 
 " Just give me your name at this time ; you 
 will have more leisure by and by to make 
 known the rest." 
 
 " My name is Robert Coleshill." 
 
 " And I am known as Lillipopo Isandlana," 
 she said, " although my rightful English name 
 is Lillian Buzby. My father was Colonel 
 Buzby of the English regiment encamped at 
 Isandlana, which was massacred to a man by 
 the Zulus. I alone was spared and adopted 
 by Cetewayo. The Home Government sees 
 fit to use the Zulu appellation, and has edu- 
 cated me and pensioned me, with the ultimate 
 expectation of having me elevate the Zulu 
 savages to civilization, so the authorities at 
 Natal inform me. I am so well known at 
 
 198
 
 OWL TOWEK 
 
 Natal, and likewise by my classmates in Eng- 
 land, by my Zulu name, it is now too late to 
 retreat from it." 
 
 " Miss Isandlana, you can be my salvation, 
 if you will. I am dying to see my parents 
 and " 
 
 At this point Robert stopped and watched 
 the effect of his words on her. 
 
 " Do you understand why you were made 
 captive? and what Cetewayo destines you to 
 be?" inquired Lillipopo; "but of course you 
 do not. That also can be better discussed 
 later. Shall we walk around the settlement? 
 or have you had enough of my company for 
 the present? " 
 
 " By all means, let us walk and talk," 
 answered Robert. 
 
 Lillipopo conversed with Cetewayo for a 
 few moments, then she informed Robert that 
 she was permitted to accompany him anywhere 
 within a half day's journey; " And that 
 means," she continued, " that you are not to 
 attempt to escape. Cetewayo does not fear 
 my disappearance, for he feels that the authori- 
 ties at Natal are responsible to him for my 
 presence whenever desired." 
 
 199
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 "It's a queer arrangement," said Robert; 
 " I can conceive, though, that your presence 
 here, applied in a given direction, would do 
 more good in converting these savages than 
 all the men in creation, unless indeed it was to 
 totally annihilate them." 
 
 " I have no intention of spending my life 
 among these savages," Lillipopo replied, " al- 
 though it is necessary to use diplomacy; for 
 the authorities at Natal are bent upon my do- 
 ing so, and indeed for the present there is no 
 way of escape." 
 
 The couple had reached the outskirts of the 
 kraal, and continued their walks to the banks 
 of the White Umvolos River, which was a half 
 mile distant, and there they sat down on its 
 banks and watched the waters gliding swiftly 
 towards the sea. 
 
 " I came here one night in an effort to es- 
 cape," said Robert, " and I had paddled down 
 the stream several miles, when a band of war- 
 riors sent by Cetewayo intercepted me and 
 brought me back." 
 
 ' It would be quite useless to attempt to 
 elude the vigilance of Cetewayo," Lillipopo 
 replied. 
 
 200
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " I must get away from here at once or I 
 will surely die," said Robert sorrowfully. 
 
 " Even poor me would be no inducement to 
 have you keep alive, I suppose? " ventured 
 Lillipopo. 
 
 " If you knew the condition of my heart, 
 Miss Isandlana, you would pity me and help 
 me to escape." 
 
 " Oh, please call me Lillian." 
 
 " I will do anything you desire if you will 
 only help me," Robert replied. 
 
 " And may I call you Robert? " 
 
 " It will be highly gratifying to me, Lillian; 
 besides, ceremony is a ridiculous attribute in 
 these wilds." 
 
 ' Then I will relate my brief history to you, 
 Robert, for I am anxious to hear yours. 
 
 " My parents lived at Plymouth garrison 
 until I was about seven years of age, when my 
 father, being Colonel in the army, was ordered 
 with his regiment to Natal. My mother, who 
 insisted upon accompanying him, died of fever 
 at Natal, and her body was consigned to Ply- 
 mouth for burial. 
 
 "After this sad event I was my father's 
 constant companion, and when the troops 
 
 201
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 under the command of Lord Chelmsford took 
 up camp at Isandlana, in their expedition 
 against the Zulus, young as I was I insisted 
 upon accompanying him, much against his 
 wishes. The troops did not realize what the 
 Zulu fighter was, and were not particular in 
 the choosing of their camping ground, or in 
 the force of sentries. The Zulus saw their op- 
 portunity, and descended on the camp like a 
 whirlwind, and in such overwhelming num- 
 bers they destroyed every soul in it, saving 
 myself. I was taken by a Zulu warrior to 
 King Cetewayo, under whose protection I re- 
 mained a few years, after which I was sent by 
 him to Natal, and from there to a ladies' 
 seminary in England, where I received my 
 education at the expense of the government, 
 although Cetewayo is lavish with his gifts to 
 me. I left school and reached Natal just at 
 the outbreak of the war with the Boers, and of 
 course learned of the repeated disasters the 
 British troops suffered, and particularly that 
 of Majuba Hill, although that of Laing's Nek 
 affected me most, for in that engagement my 
 uncle, Major Lunney, was killed." 
 
 "Major Lunney your uncle?" exclaimed 
 
 202
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Robert; " but let me not interrupt you; " and 
 Robert bowed his head and rested it in his 
 hands as he called to mind his gallant friend. 
 
 Lillipopo continued: " I remained at 
 Natal under the hospitality of the Governor 
 until a few days ago, when a message from 
 Cetewayo brought me hither. That is all I 
 can relate about my unimportant self." 
 
 Then Robert related his early life and the 
 desire for a title which led him to join the 
 army, carefully omitting any reference to Mar- 
 garet; and when he came to speak of Major 
 Lunney's friendship for him, and the great 
 sorrow he still retained at his death, Lillipopo 
 took him by the hand and rested her head on 
 his shoulder. 
 
 It took a very little longer for him to relate 
 the circumstances of his being taken prisoner 
 by the Boers at Majuba Hill, and his subse- 
 quent capture and retention by the Zulus. 
 
 For a while the couple gazed in silence at the 
 Umvolos rushing by; finally Lillipopo re- 
 marked : " It is strange that my Uncle Lun- 
 ney did not introduce you to me at Natal, for 
 I met him several times before he left for the 
 battlefield." 
 
 203
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Robert made no reply, for he realized the 
 reason why the gallant Major refrained from 
 introducing him. 
 
 Again the two remained silent. 
 
 At last Lillipopo said: 
 
 " I know nothing will induce you to remain 
 here, Robert, and yet on this short acquaintance 
 I feel I have known you all my life. And 
 that leads me to revert to what you said about 
 dying, unless you saw your parents, and but 
 you did not finish the sentence. Forgive me 
 if I act too bold and overstep the bonds of 
 modest womanhood. My life has been so lone- 
 some, and I need someone so much to love 
 me, that I feel I will die, too, unless you remain 
 with me. I will love you morning, noon, and 
 night ; and we will walk along the banks of this 
 river free from the snares of civilization and 
 live happily all our lives." 
 
 Lillian nestled her head on his shoulder; her 
 dark hair fell in wavy masses round about him, 
 and her bosom rose and fell against his own, 
 and their hearts beat in unison. 
 
 Robert fondly stroked her hair and said: 
 '' Lillian, it is well that honor lies within my 
 breast, or wrecked indeed would be that im- 
 
 204
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 petuous love of yours. My heart is firmly 
 fixed upon one whom I know as eagerly awaits 
 my coming as I long to fly to her. You can 
 ease her heart and mine by aiding my escape, 
 and we will ever pray for your happiness, 
 sweet Lillian." 
 
 " Do not think of leaving me," she expos- 
 tulated. " You must be mine! Cetewayo made 
 you captive for me, and intends you for my 
 husband. Escape you cannot ! " Then burst- 
 ing into tears, she arose and left him. 
 
 205
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 ROBERT remained for a moment, stunned at 
 the sudden turn in Lillian's character, then 
 realizing that all hope of being released from 
 captivity by her was lost, he buried his head 
 in his hands and a fit of despondency came 
 over him which entered into the depths of his 
 soul. He remained in this mood until the 
 twilight hours stole upon him, then arising, he 
 walked leisurely up and down the banks of the 
 river. 
 
 His thoughts went back to his first meeting 
 with Margaret in the tower, and the subsequent 
 walk in her father's forest when the stag at- 
 tacked him, and he began to wonder if after 
 all, there was not something in such omens that 
 portended good or bad events. 
 
 He was interrupted in his reverie by hearing 
 Lillian's voice close at hand, singing : " My 
 love has gone to battle," and instantly she 
 emerged from behind a kopje which had hidden 
 her from view and came towards him, sweetly 
 chanting the remainder of the song. 
 
 As she reached him Robert stood still, won- 
 206
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 dering what this phenomenal young woman 
 would do next. 
 
 With the frank impetuosity of the noble and 
 affectionate girl she was, she placed both her 
 hands on his shoulders, and looking in his face, 
 said: "Mr. Coleshill, I beg your forgiveness 
 for my ungracious remarks, and trust you will 
 believe I was never guilty of making love to a 
 gentlemen before; and that in this instance it 
 was brought about by the personal magnetism 
 you possess, and an uncontrollable longing to 
 be under your protection. I am truly ashamed 
 of my conduct." 
 
 Robert drew her to him and kissed her, and 
 holding her in his arms, said: 
 
 " Lillian, you need not stoop to ask forgive- 
 ness; if my heart was not already so firmly 
 fixed that there is no shaking it, I would learn 
 to bestow it upon you." 
 
 " I will try to be happy with even that poor 
 consolation," Lillian replied, " but let us walk, 
 sir, for I fear to trust my rebellious spirit 
 whilst you hold me thus; if you cannot be 
 wholly mine, I have no desire to be petted." 
 
 Notwithstanding this appeal, Robert still 
 held her to his bosom and replied : 
 
 207
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " We can love each other as friends who met 
 in the land of savages, Lillian; indeed it would 
 be impossible to forget it." 
 
 " That is easy for you to say, Mr. Coleshill; 
 your heart is happily fixed, but mine is not; 
 and love with me is not a thing to be trifled 
 with; you must not by endearments encourage 
 me to hope that you might learn to love me, 
 for I have already surprised myself to a de- 
 gree of mortification in the display of 
 womanly tenderness." 
 
 Robert, however, was anxious to gain his 
 freedom, and hoped by a moderate display of 
 affection towards Lillian to persuade her to 
 assist in his escape ; so pressing her more closely 
 to him, he whispered : 
 
 *' Sweet Lillian, have pity on me. I am 
 longing to leave this savage country and re- 
 turn to her whom I know is anxiously awaiting 
 me. You can procure my release." And for- 
 getful of Lillian's injunction not to encourage 
 her to love him, he pressed his lips to her 
 cheeks as he held her firmly in his arms, add- 
 ing: 
 
 " Will you save me, Lillian? " 
 
 "Let me go or I will hate you/' she ex- 
 
 208
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 claimed, at the same time drawing herself 
 away from him. 
 
 They stood a few feet apart, Robert with 
 bowed head and Lillian looking intently at 
 him, although in the uncertain light the 
 anguish his face displayed could not be dis- 
 cerned. Lillian knew, however, by his attitude 
 that he was distressed, and again her impetuous 
 spirit betrayed itself. 
 
 " Mr. Coleshill," she said, " I am desperate. 
 I never experienced such overwhelming forces 
 of opposites ; one moment I am loving you and 
 the next I could kill you on account of that 
 love. Will you please escort me back to the 
 kraal? " 
 
 " You are as much a savage as Cetewayo," 
 Robert angrily replied ; " if you were not, you 
 would have pity in your breast for a man who 
 has been so grossly abused. I don't care any 
 more what happens to me ; I am determined to 
 make my escape; and if any attempt is made 
 to recapture me, I will fight to the death." 
 
 " It would mean death to you," Lillian 
 coldly replied. 
 
 " I will risk it nevertheless," responded 
 Robert. 
 
 209
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Will you escort me back? " 
 
 " I will have nothing further to do with 
 you." 
 
 " You hate me, then," said Lillian. 
 
 " You have forced that bitter expedient 
 upon me," Robert replied. 
 
 " Ha! ha! " laughed Lillian, and before the 
 merry ripple ceased she took him by the hand 
 and Robert reluctantly walked beside her. 
 
 " Tell me the name of your sweetheart," 
 Lillian said in a persuasive voice; " for I know 
 she is handsome and good, or you wouldn't be 
 so dreadfully in love with her." 
 
 " Miss Isandlana," replied Robert somewhat 
 reluctantly, " she is your cousin." 
 
 " My cousin! " ejaculated Lillian, releasing 
 his hand and stopping in her walk. 
 
 ' Your cousin, Margaret Trevisick." 
 
 " Margaret Trevisick, my cousin ! " ex- 
 claimed Lillian with considerable mortification 
 in her voice; and she repeated " Margaret Trev- 
 isick, my cousin ! " as though she could not rid 
 herself of her surprise. 
 
 " Her mother is a sister of the late Major 
 Lunney, and married Sir Joseph Trevisick." 
 
 " I am too surprised to express myself," said 
 210
 
 Lillian. " I became acquainted with Miss 
 Trevisick at school in Exeter, and although she 
 was my dearest friend, I had no idea there was 
 any relationship." 
 
 " I had no knowledge you ever met," Rob- 
 ert answered. 
 
 For a few moments Lillian remained silent 
 in contemplation ; finally she said : " I don't 
 wonder at your loving her, for she is a delight- 
 ful girl. So Margaret Trevisick is my cousin. 
 I am proud of it." Then with a demure voice 
 she said: " Tell me, Mr. Coleshill, have I be- 
 haved so rudely towards you that Margaret, 
 learning of it, would despise me? Don't 
 answer, for I fear it. Say you forgive me, 
 and will forget it." 
 
 " Come here, my dear," said Robert, taking 
 her again in his arms; " I am not afraid to tell 
 you that I love you for Margaret's sake, for I 
 know she will appreciate it." 
 
 " I am happy to feel you do," Lillian replied 
 as she nestled in his arms. " I fear you not 
 now, for I know it will not impress you if I 
 make overmuch love to you." 
 
 " How soon may I expect to go back to her, 
 Lillian?" 
 
 211
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " At once, Robert; I will make an effort to 
 secure your release immediately; and you will 
 let me accompany you, won't you, for I long 
 to see my Cousin Margaret? " 
 
 " Yes, yes, dear Lillian, with pleasure, any- 
 thing; let us away." 
 
 Robert placed Lillian's arm in his, and they 
 walked back towards the kraal, Lillian re- 
 maining silent on the way, while Robert in 
 his ecstacy at the prospect of seeing Margaret 
 again related his youthful experiences to her 
 attentive ear. 
 
 As Robert reached his hut he asked: 
 " Where will I escort you, Lillian? " 
 
 " Cetewayo considers we are married ac- 
 cording to the Zulu fashion," Lillian replied; 
 " and we must support that belief in order to 
 further our escape. If you will spare me a 
 leopard's skin I will rest here beside your 
 slave, and plan what is to be done." 
 
 " And I will also rest under the blue vault 
 of heaven, sweet Lillian, and dream of Mar- 
 garet." 
 
 " Sweet dreams attend you, Mr. Coleshill," 
 Lillian laughingly replied. 
 
 212
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 IN every village of England the memory of its 
 dead is long cherished by the inhabitants. 
 Long years after the sod has hidden the mortal 
 remains from view some trait of the departed 
 will be fondly resurrected and furnish matter 
 for discussion. 
 
 The village of Trewhiddle was proverbially 
 slow in contributing to the list of mortality. 
 Old men and women long past the age of three- 
 score years and ten tottered about the shady 
 lanes in summer-time, or sat before the hearth 
 during the bleak days of winter, mumbling to 
 themselves in a vernacular unintelligible to 
 their grandchildren. 
 
 It was many years since old Toby Kestle, 
 the tailor, had died, and his memory had been 
 so often revived in the recapitulation of his 
 many peculiar traits that at last it resolved it- 
 self in his son, whose traits were so identical 
 it was no longer necessary to revert to the past. 
 
 No longer able to prolong their discussions 
 
 213
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 when conversation lagged by reference to 
 the dead Toby, the villagers' remarks natu- 
 rally reverted to him, who though no certain 
 proof had been adduced might to all intents 
 and purposes be considered as dead. 
 
 The memory of Robert Coleshill, therefore, 
 had been discussed time and time again among 
 the villagers, and particularly among the 
 group who nightly assembled at the inn kept 
 in good cheer and morality by Widow Hodge. 
 
 Even Squire John Coleshill at last had rec- 
 onciled himself to the belief that his son had 
 passed into the land of dreams, hard as it was 
 for the old gentleman to thus consign to fate 
 his only son. 
 
 Three persons only in the locality retained 
 faith in Robert Coleshill's existence. His 
 mother, though bearing the constant traces of 
 grief, prayed daily for the safe return of her 
 darling boy. Old Ben Judd insisted that a 
 young man so desperately in love as Robert 
 was sure to come around ; and as he welded the 
 glowing iron into shape would emphasize his 
 remarks thus: 
 
 ' Young Master Robert is alive I know, and 
 Miss Margaret feels just as I do, and some fine 
 
 214
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 day he will return to her, and then I must have 
 a celebration of my golden wedding with Mary 
 Ann." Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link. 
 
 Margaret, from the day she recovered from 
 the shock of the fatal news of Majuba Hill, 
 continued to act in a manner wholly incon- 
 sistent with a young lady whose sweetheart, 
 according to reasonable conjecture, was killed 
 on the battle-field. She took long rides through 
 the country, and her walks around the estate 
 were more frequent than they had ever been 
 when her heart was free from misgivings. The 
 old tower was almost a daily rendezvous; and 
 with book in hand she occupied the seat which 
 Robert had considerately placed there for her. 
 
 Oftentimes Margaret would stop reading 
 and gaze vacantly before her, and at such mo- 
 ments her thoughts wandered to that land of 
 which she had read and reread so often, in the 
 desperate hope of locating him in her mind. 
 
 It is strange that Lillipopo, who so often 
 arose to her vision, and who she knew resided 
 somewhere near the scene of battle, was not 
 appealed to by her; but certain it is, she was 
 not. 
 
 Sir Joseph Trevisick had observed his daugh- 
 
 215
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ter's apparent indifference to Robert Coles- 
 hill's fate, and was secretly glad; for although 
 he might have become reconciled to the inevita- 
 ble, he had no desire to voluntarily accede to 
 his daughter's choice of him for her husband. 
 Therefore when a little over twelve months had 
 elapsed, and no tidings of Robert were re- 
 ceived, he decided to make another effort to 
 interest his daughter in a gentleman of his own 
 selection. 
 
 A decision arrived at by Sir Joseph was 
 usually attended with immediate execution of 
 his purpose, and he forthwith invited to the 
 castle Arthur Tredinham, son of Sir John 
 Tredinham, after having had a conference 
 with the latter gentleman. 
 
 Arthur Tredinham was a young gentleman 
 of studious habits and unassuming character. 
 In the matter of location he had the advantage 
 over his predecessor, Richard Trubody, for his 
 ancestral home was within a day's ride of the 
 castle. 
 
 Margaret received his introduction very 
 graciously, and even invited him to accompany 
 her in her rides and walks on certain occasions ; 
 but one day as he followed her to the tower 
 
 216
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 she requested him politely not to encroach upon 
 that sacred domain again. 
 
 Matters had proceeded so pleasantly be- 
 tween the young couple that Sir Joseph, 
 taking advantage of an unusually agreeable 
 conversation with his daughter, introduced 
 the subject of accepting Arthur Tredinham 
 as a suitor to her hand. 
 
 Margaret answered: "Dear papa, I have 
 resolved to remain single; please don't press 
 Mr. Tredinham's attentions upon me beyond 
 the present friendly relations." 
 
 " It is impossible for me to grant your re- 
 quest," replied Sir Joseph gently but firmly; 
 " it is time I should see you settled down as the 
 ultimate possessor of my estate. I will give 
 you two months to consider my proposal, and 
 if after that time no reasonable objection can 
 be raised by you against Mr. Tredinham, I 
 will proceed to publish your banns in the village 
 church, according to the rule adopted by my 
 ancestors." 
 
 Strange to relate, Margaret deviated not 
 from the course she had previously pursued; 
 and finally the time elapsed in which she was 
 to make answer to her father. 
 
 217
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Sir Joseph waited a few weeks longer, and 
 finally, believing Margaret had concluded to 
 carry out his wishes, called upon the Vicar and 
 requested him to announce to his congregation 
 the banns of matrimony of Arthur Tredinham 
 and Margaret Trevisick. 
 
 Margaret, having been notified by her 
 father, abstained from attending church. 
 
 Squire John Coleshill was so surprised at 
 hearing the banns called, that he likewise 
 absented himself after the first Sunday ; and old 
 Ben Judd was so angry, he remained outside 
 the church for the purpose of remonstrating 
 with Sir Joseph; but at the last moment his 
 heart failed him, and instead, he repaired to his 
 shop, and soon the anvil resounded clearly 
 through the Sunday calm, much to the indigna- 
 tion of Sir Joseph as he passed the spot. 
 
 218
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 THE sun had long risen and was shedding its 
 almost perpendicular rays over Zululand. 
 
 The inhabitants of Cetewayo's kraal had 
 deserted their huts, and were mostly scattered 
 about the banks of the Umvolos and in the 
 neighboring jungles, in pursuit of fish and 
 game to supply their daily needs. 
 
 Cetewayo, who was proud of imitating the 
 English, had ceased to be an early riser; and 
 it was some time after his subjects had de- 
 parted on their daily vocations before he 
 descended on his hands and knees from his 
 two-story bungalow, for he had never been 
 able to learn the art of walking upright in 
 ascending or descending the stairway of his 
 habitation, although he insisted upon having 
 that appendage to his home, in imitation of 
 the dwellings he had seen at Delagoa. For 
 some time he sat in silence, his gaze compre- 
 hending the vista before him. At last, sud- 
 denly recalling something to mind, he clapped 
 
 219
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 his hands, and a warrior appeared, whom he 
 addressed. 
 
 Immediately the warrior departed on a run, 
 and reaching the hut where Robert Coleshill 
 was domiciled, was stopped in his utterances 
 by Cetewayo's daughter, who sat at the en- 
 trance of the hut, and who, by mute signs 
 and pointing at the sleepers in the open, 
 conveyed the information the warrior was in 
 quest of. 
 
 On the warrior converting this mute intelli- 
 gence into words and imparting same to Cete- 
 wayo, the old king gave several grunts of 
 satisfaction, and rubbed his hands together 
 indicative of the pleasure the words conveyed. 
 
 Lillipopo and Robert slept on unmindful of 
 the sun's rays, and of the noise and commotion 
 always prevalent among the women and chil- 
 dren of the settlement. Their discourse had 
 been prolonged into the early hours of the 
 morning, and the happy revelations had su- 
 perinduced a sleep almost unknown to Rob- 
 ert during his captivity, for his rest was 
 usually disturbed by fitful dreams arising 
 from his thoughts constantly dwelling upon 
 his unhappy fate. 
 
 220
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 The woman sat guard over them, every now 
 and again contemplating their sleeping atti- 
 tudes and sticking out her tongue at them in 
 derision. 
 
 Lillipopo was the first to awaken, and 
 arising, she stepped quietly over to where 
 Robert lay, and after gazing earnestly upon 
 him, she could not resist the temptation of 
 kneeling and kissing his brow; then espying 
 the gold chain which dangled from his neck, 
 she withdrew the locket which contained the 
 miniature, and gazing fondly on Margaret's 
 picture, pressed it to her lips, and restored it 
 to his bosom, giving a sigh as she walked to 
 where the woman sat. 
 
 The latter at first stuck out her tongue at 
 her, but a few words in Zulu quickly spoken by 
 Lillipopo caused the woman to kneel before 
 her in an appealing attitude. 
 
 Shortly afterwards Robert awoke, and in- 
 stantly remembering the changed conditions 
 of his captivity, he sprang to his feet, and 
 rushing eagerly to Lillipopo, bade her good- 
 morning, and even kissed her; for his heart 
 was overflowing at the prospect of seeing his 
 loved ones again. 
 
 221
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Have you planned anything towards our 
 escape? " he asked. 
 
 " I have only this moment realized the mag- 
 nitude of my generosity," replied Lillian, who 
 was in a tantalizing mood; "there is no way 
 of retracting, I suppose? " 
 
 " It is too late now, Lillian," Robert an- 
 swered in a manner calculated to bring her to 
 a more serious mood ; " my heart beats with 
 impatience to be on my journey homewards." 
 
 " Then let us go before Cetewayo at once, 
 Mr. Coleshill, for I long to re-enter civilization 
 also; I am not myself among these savages; " 
 saying which, she placed her hand in Robert's 
 arm, and they walked along conversing as 
 they went. 
 
 " We must deceive Cetewayo by allowing 
 him to suppose we are very much in love with 
 each other," said Lillian. 
 
 " Anything, Lillian ; I don't care what you 
 ask me to do, provided it leads me home." 
 
 " Then trust me implicitly, for whilst you 
 slept I stole a glimpse at Margaret's minia- 
 ture, and I long to meet my dear cousin. We 
 were always so fond of each other." 
 
 As they approached Cetewayo's bungalow 
 
 222
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Lillian said : " Now, Mr. Coleshill, Cetewayo 
 knows something about English customs. 
 Kindly place your arm around my waist 
 don't clasp me too tight and place your other 
 hand in mine, and we will appear before him 
 in that manner." 
 
 " I wonder what Margaret would say if she 
 saw us?" Lillian asked, looking wickedly in 
 Robert's face. 
 
 "I'm afraid her patience would not extend 
 so far as to congratulate either of us," Robert 
 replied. 
 
 " Poor, dear Margaret, she must have felt 
 very lonesome without you. Supposing she 
 has gotten tired at last, and another encircles 
 his arm about her, as you do me " 
 
 " Oh, for heaven's sake, Lillian, don't talk 
 so; you will drive me frantic. I never knew 
 what it was to be jealous of her before you 
 compelled me to do this." 
 
 " Ha ! ha ! " laughed Lillian, and her merri- 
 ment had not ceased when, in turning the 
 corner of the kraal, they walked against Cete- 
 wayo, who was standing with his body resting 
 against the fence surrounding his bungalow. 
 
 " Good-morning," said Cetewayo in Eng- 
 223
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 lish; and as those words comprised the extent 
 of Cetewayo's venture in that language al- 
 though he had studied hard in the hope of one 
 day being able to converse with Lillipopo in 
 her native tongue he finished what he had to 
 say in Zulu. 
 
 Lillipopo conversed with him for several 
 minutes, at the end of which Cetewayo cast 
 his eyes on the ground and walked to and fro 
 as though his thoughts troubled him. Finally 
 he stopped suddenly in front of the couple, 
 who stood in the attitude they had assumed on 
 first meeting him Robert with his arm around 
 Lillipopo's waist and again addressed Lilli- 
 popo. 
 
 Lillipopo turned her face to Robert, say- 
 ing, " I have informed Cetewayo we want to 
 visit Natal to get married; he is afraid, how- 
 ever, we intend leaving him for good, and asks 
 for some token to prove we love each other. 
 This is our only chance. We must allay his sus- 
 picions, or we are destined to remain captives 
 until the authorities at Natal feel disposed to 
 investigate." 
 
 ' What can we do to assure him? " Robert 
 asked, looking desperately at Lillian. 
 
 224
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Don't look so wildly, Mr. Coleshill; it will 
 only increase Cetewayo's fears. Please con- 
 sider that I am Margaret, and that you have 
 just met her after all your long separation. 
 Put both arms around me and draw me closely 
 to you, and kiss me. Oh! you are a regular 
 bear, you squeeze the breath out of me ; if that 
 is the welcome you intend for Margaret, I can 
 sympathize with her; " and Lillian broke into 
 such an uproarious laugh that Cetewayo 
 joined, and after insisting upon their repeat- 
 ing the embrace, gave his consent to their 
 journeying to Natal. 
 
 The trio breakfasted together, and after 
 spending the greater part of the day in ex- 
 ploiting their affection for Cetewayo's grati- 
 fication and delusion, they started on their 
 journey, escorted by the same band of warriors 
 who had previously accompanied Lillipopo, 
 and after the usual inconveniences reached 
 Natal. 
 
 Lillipopo first took Robert to the Gov- 
 ernor's residence and introduced him to Col- 
 onel Ridgway, who was still in charge of 
 affairs. 
 
 The Colonel hesitated about giving his con-
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 sent to Lillipopo's leaving Natal, but she 
 stamped her foot and declared she would go 
 without it; so, finally, upon Captain Coleshill 
 as he was addressed by Colonel Ridgway 
 giving his assurance that he would be re- 
 sponsible for her reappearance, should the 
 English Government demand it which Rob- 
 ert thought was wholly improbable they pro- 
 ceeded on their way to Delagoa. 
 
 Lillipopo had drawn largely from her bank 
 account at Natal, and Robert fitted himself 
 out with new regimentals, which so trans- 
 formed his personal appearance that Lilli- 
 popo remarked : " Mr. Coleshill, unless you 
 treat me with severe coldness during the voy- 
 age, I will be compelled to make siege to your 
 heart again." 
 
 Nevertheless, Robert did not follow her 
 advice, and he acted in a way towards her 
 which would have gone sorely against him in 
 a breach of promise suit. 
 
 Day after day he led her up and down the 
 deck, and waited upon her, indeed, as a devoted 
 lover would have done. 
 
 ' You are my rescuer, Lillian," he would 
 say time and time again as he pressed her to 
 
 226
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 him; " I will never know how to do enough 
 for you in return." He would kiss her in the 
 presence of the sailors, and indeed acted in 
 such an affectionate manner towards her that 
 had Margaret witnessed it, it is doubtful if an 
 explanation would have appeased her jealousy. 
 
 At last the steamship entered the English 
 Channel and anchored in Plymouth harbor. 
 
 The couple proceeded to the barracks, and 
 Robert applied to the brigadier-general in 
 person for his certificate as " Captain of the 
 King's Dragoon Guards," and an honorable 
 discharge from further service, saving at his 
 own free will. 
 
 The General declined to accord the latter 
 at first, but on visiting the recruiting station 
 and discovering that the late Major Lunney 
 had made a clause after Robert Coleshill's 
 name, " Specially volunteers his services upon 
 the assurance given by me that he may honor- 
 ably retire upon the conclusion of the first 
 battle in which he may be engaged," the Gen- 
 eral readily acquiesced, not without stating 
 however, " The assurance given by the late 
 Major Lunney is granted only in remote cases, 
 and usually to persons connected with the 
 
 227
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Crown. Out of respect to the gallant Ma- 
 jor's memory, however, I gladly indorse it," 
 and as he passed the documents to Robert he 
 extended his hand familiarly, saying, " I am 
 sorry the army loses such a worthy officer." 
 
 228
 
 CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 THE advent of the Sabbath once more brought 
 about the opportunity among Christian people 
 for enjoying a temporary rest from the carp- 
 ing cares of life. 
 
 Many of the inhabitants of the little village 
 of Trevisick, however, refused to be com- 
 forted. It was the third Sunday on which the 
 banns of matrimony of Arthur Tredinham and 
 Margaret Trevisick were to be called, which 
 sealed the fate of him whose memory had 
 always remained dear to them. 
 
 Hope, which had clung so tenaciously up 
 to this day, had vanished with the dawn; and 
 many wept in secret as they realized that Mar- 
 garet Trevisick must at last accede to Sir 
 Joseph's wishes and marry him whose name 
 had been united with hers in the preliminary 
 ceremony. 
 
 Squire John Coleshill arose early, and after 
 pacing up and down his ancestral hall and 
 shaking his fist at the pictures, strode down 
 
 229
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 to the old tower and broke the rules of the 
 Sabbath by repeating his menaces at that ivy- 
 covered structure, actually going to the ex- 
 treme of throwing stones at it. ' You have 
 ever been the curse of my house," he said 
 vehemently, addressing it as though it were a 
 thing of life; then sadly retracing his steps, 
 he retired to his son's room and poured out 
 his lamentations in fitful gusts of anger and 
 sorrow. 
 
 Old Ben Judd avoided his companions at 
 the inn on the previous evening^ and as the 
 morning broke, arrayed himself in his best, 
 and proceeded to the Tower ; thence he entered 
 the woodland, and reaching a spot where he 
 could view the castle undiscovered, gazed ear- 
 nestly at the windows, in hopes of catching a 
 glimpse of Margaret and thus satisfy his mind 
 thereby if she still retained her love for Robert. 
 
 It was the middle of November, and al- 
 though the morning was bright, the winter 
 winds came whistling through the denuded 
 trees and tossed the old man's silvered locks 
 about his shoulders as he stood patiently 
 watching. 
 
 Margaret espied him from her room, and her 
 
 230
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 heart beat eagerly as she thought of the old 
 man's fondness for her and Robert, and with 
 a sigh she proceeded to array herself in the 
 richest garments she possessed. 
 
 At the breakfast-table she evinced no grief, 
 and returned her father's kiss, and Arthur 
 Tredinham's salutation, with her usual good 
 graces; she positively declined her father's 
 earnest solicitation to attend church, however, 
 for the purpose of giving acquiescence by her 
 presence to the reading of the banns. 
 
 The chimes rang dolefully through the air 
 as they summoned the villagers to the services, 
 and they struck upon the ear of one who had 
 just alighted from the train. The sound 
 seemed strange to him; and taking his com- 
 panion by the arm, he said: "Let us hasten, 
 Lillian ; my heart beats ominously at the sound 
 of those bells; I know not what it means, but 
 it seems like a knell to my soul." 
 
 As they reached the entrance to Trewhiddle 
 mansion the barking of a dog greeted them, 
 and instantly Robert's spaniel sprang upon 
 him, and fawned and cried in its joy at meet- 
 ing its long-lost master; and then bounding 
 back towards the house, making whining cries, 
 
 231
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 it attracted Squire John, who, emerging from 
 the hall and espying his son, rushed into his 
 arms, crying : " The great, good Jehovah has 
 heard me at last. Robert, my boy, do mine 
 old eyes behold you again? " and the father 
 embraced the son, and the flood-gates were 
 opened, and he cried for joy. Then looking 
 at Lillian, he put his hand to his brow, ex- 
 claiming : " You have not forgotten her, 
 Robert?" 
 
 " No, indeed, father. Is she well and safe? 
 Is she still waiting for me? " 
 
 The old gentleman took him by the arm and 
 turned him about, exclaiming : " Tarry not a 
 second, Robert, or it will be too late. Mar- 
 garet's banns will be called to-day for the last 
 time and against her wishes. Hasten to the 
 church and declare your prior right to her 
 hand." 
 
 Without stopping to introduce his com- 
 panion, Robert started as he listened to his 
 father's words, and before his father had con- 
 cluded was on a run to the village church ; nor 
 stopped he when he reached the portal, but 
 taking off his cap, he entered just as the Vicar 
 was reading from a slip of paper : 
 
 232
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " I publish the banns of matrimony between Arthur 
 Tredinham, of Lostwithiel, and Margaret Trevisick, of 
 this parish. If any of you know of any just cause or 
 impediment why these two persons should not be joined 
 together in holy matrimony, ye are to declare it. This 
 is the third and last time of asking." 
 
 No lightning-bolt discharged in their midst 
 could have affected the congregation as did 
 the apparition of the soldier as he strode up 
 the aisle to the reading desk, his red coat 
 attacting all eyes to him. 
 
 Placing his hand in his bosom he withdrew 
 the miniature, and holding it aloft, exclaimed 
 in a loud voice which echoed throughout the 
 old church: 
 
 " By this pledge, I, Robert Coleshill, claim 
 a prior right to the hand and heart of Mar- 
 garet Trevisick." Then returning the precious 
 token to his bosom, he turned to leave the 
 church, and as he passed the pew in which Sir 
 Joseph and his family sat, he bowed, and Sir 
 Joseph looked in amazement after his manly 
 form. 
 
 On his way from the church he met his 
 father and Lillian, who eagerly awaited his re- 
 turn. He stopped not to converse with them, 
 
 233
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 but in passing said: " I go to the Tower; await 
 me at its base." 
 
 Reaching the Tower, he bounded up the 
 steps; and as he neared the summit he trod 
 silently lest the shock to her at meeting him so 
 suddenly would be too great. 
 
 He thus arrived at the opening leading to 
 the roof, and there a sight met his anxious gaze 
 which, for a moment, made his heart cease to 
 beat as he reflected that after all he might be 
 intruding upon one who, growing weary of 
 his long absence, had thought him dead and 
 transferred her love to another. 
 
 Before him knelt the beautiful form of her 
 whom he had loved without wavering from the 
 day he first met her on that selfsame spot. 
 Her head was bowed over unto the seat and 
 rested in her hands. She was sobbing, and her 
 body trembled with spasms of grief. 
 
 As Robert stood in his hesitation, he heard 
 Margaret exclaim between her sobs : " Merciful 
 Father, if he is dead, take me to him; if he is 
 alive, send him back to me before it is too 
 late." 
 
 The words no sooner passed her lips than 
 he could restrain himself no longer, and kneel- 
 
 234,
 
 "As Robert stood in his hesitation. 1
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ing softly by her side, and placing his arm 
 tenderly about her waist, he whispered: 
 
 " Margaret, my darling, I have come back 
 to you." 
 
 At the first sound of his voice she quickly 
 raised . her head and stared in amazement 
 through her tears; then realizing he was 
 indeed her lost lover, she cried : " Robert ! " and 
 entwining her arms about his neck, she looked 
 into his face with her marvelous eyes, exclaim- 
 ing, "My dearest Robert!" and then she 
 nestled her head on his shoulder, and a sigh 
 and sob escaped her, and her bosom swelled 
 like ocean billows in her effort to restrain her 
 emotions. 
 
 " Calm yourself, my darling," Robert whis- 
 pered as he pressed his lips to hers; and 
 Margaret, nothing loath, returned the kiss and 
 replied : 
 
 ' You appeared so suddenly, Robert, in 
 answer to my fervent prayer, that the instant 
 change from grief to happiness is too great 
 to control ; perhaps I will recover more quickly 
 by being seated." 
 
 Robert assisted her to arise from her kneel- 
 ing position, and seating himself beside her, 
 
 235
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 drew her closely to him, so that her head again 
 rested on his shoulder. 
 
 " I was so afraid I had lost you, Margaret," 
 he said. 
 
 " I never once felt so concerning you until 
 to-day," Margaret answered; then, as the sud- 
 den recollection came to her, she sprang from 
 her seat, exclaiming: " The banns, Robert, the 
 banns! I fear it is too late! My great joy at 
 meeting you made me forget that my father 
 has pledged me to another." 
 
 " Do you want me to release you, Mar- 
 garet? " Robert asked, arising and enfolding 
 her in his arms. 
 
 "Are you willing to withdraw your claim 
 to me?" she said, looking with ineffable 
 sweetness in his face. 
 
 " I have been with the savages too long, 
 my dear," he responded, " to allow such love 
 and beauty to be stolen from me without a 
 desperate fight." 
 
 " What shall we do, then, Robert? " 
 
 :< I have already done it, Margaret. With- 
 out stopping to think whether you might 
 prefer this other man, I hastened to the church 
 and declared my prior right to your hand by 
 
 236
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 virtue of this token," and as he spoke he with- 
 drew the locket from his bosom. " Then I 
 came hither, and upon discovering you, the 
 thought flashed in my mind for the first time 
 since leaving home that your love might have 
 been transferred to another." 
 
 "Robert! could you think so ill of me?" 
 Margaret asked with a choking voice ; " I 
 never forgot you, nor allowed my affection 
 to wander from your memory for one 
 moment." 
 
 " I am sure of it, my love," Robert replied, 
 as he pressed her fondly to him, " and the hap- 
 piness it gives me is supreme." 
 
 " It is not right for me to keep you from 
 your parents so long, Robert; they must be 
 very happy, likewise, at seeing you again." 
 
 " I have not seen my dear mother yet," he 
 replied. " I did not stop a moment when I 
 discovered from my father that I was likely to 
 lose you." 
 
 " Oh, Robert! hasten to her. How could I 
 be so unmindful? " and taking him by the arm, 
 she led him to the steps. 
 
 " One moment, my darling. Are you pre- 
 pared for another surprise? If not, I will 
 
 237
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 apprise you, although it might spoil the 
 effect." 
 
 " I am so happy, Robert, at your being 
 restored to me, I will place myself under your 
 judgment." 
 
 " Too many surprises in one day may not 
 be good for you, Margaret; you will meet one 
 of your old schoolmates." 
 
 " Is it my dearest Jane Valtort Jane Tru- 
 body? " 
 
 " No, I must make another suggestion ; she 
 is something of a Zulu." 
 
 " Is it Lillipopo? " and as she mentioned 
 the name her face turned crimson, and she 
 glanced at Robert, then at her feet. 
 
 Robert observed her discomfiture, although 
 he wrongly divined the cause, and said: " Lilli- 
 popo is the means of my being restored to 
 you, Margaret." 
 
 At these words Margaret hid her head on 
 Robert's shoulder, saying : "I fear I have 
 been unjust in my sentiments concerning her, 
 and thus contributed to your misery." 
 
 Robert kissed her fears away, adding : " Lil- 
 lian nor no one else will ever take your place 
 in my affections." 
 
 238
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 They then descended the tower, and at its 
 base stood Lillian. Margaret embraced her, 
 exclaiming: "Why, Lillian! I am so glad 
 to meet you." 
 
 Lillian laughingly replied : " I will warrant 
 you are more glad to meet Mr. Coleshill. I 
 am surprised to find there is anything left of 
 you, he is so awfully devoted to you. I tried 
 to steal him, but it was useless; he treated me 
 like a savage." Then Squire John approached 
 from around the tower and stood watching 
 the trio, and by dint of increasing courage 
 came nearer and nearer, until Margaret turned 
 to him and remarked : " Mr. Coleshill, I wish 
 you would scold me for allowing Robert to 
 remain so long from his mother, although I 
 was not aware until a moment ago that he had 
 slighted her." 
 
 " I am sure, my dear, I would be guilty of 
 the same offense," replied the old gentleman, 
 " if offense it is. The man who could keep 
 away from such steady devotion and loveliness 
 must have a different heart from what a Coles- 
 hill possesses. Let me kiss you, my dear, as 
 a tribute of an old man's regard for you." 
 And Squire John gallantly kissed the blush- 
 
 239
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ing girl, and then betook himself slowly 
 towards home. 
 
 Robert then informed Margaret of the re- 
 lationship that existed between Lillian and 
 her; and after accompanying them to the 
 woodland, and promising to call at the Castle 
 on the morrow, hastened his steps towards 
 Trewhiddle. 
 
 As he entered the hall his mother extended 
 her arms, exclaiming: " My boy, my dear Rob- 
 ert! I knew you would come back to us." 
 Robert clasped her in his strong arms, saying, 
 " My dearest mother, I never forgot my home, 
 nor her who ever made it bright to me." 
 
 The balance of that day he spent with his 
 parents, recounting his bitter experiences in 
 search of a title. 
 
 240
 
 CHAPTER XXXII 
 
 THE church services might as well have heen 
 suspended for the balance of the day, so 
 far as they influenced the minds of the 
 congregation. 
 
 The return of Robert Coleshill in the guise 
 of a soldier, publicly claiming in the sacred 
 edifice the hand of Margaret Trevisick, was 
 the whole engrossing topic. 
 
 Such an occurrence might have passed in a 
 large city with little or no comment, but in 
 the little village of Trevisick where everyone 
 was known to each other, and whose secrets 
 the walls were unable to hide, the event was 
 looked upon as the most momentous of its 
 limited though extended history. Moreover, 
 both parties were prime favorites with the vil- 
 lagers, partly on account of their hereditary 
 prominence, but more particularly for the 
 benefits received from them; and the discovery 
 that the young couple were in love increased 
 their fondness for them, and the hope that 
 
 241
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 their attachment might happily end in matri- 
 mony. 
 
 During the reading of the banns Sir Joseph 
 bent his head, as though he felt he was the 
 observed of all observers; besides, he did not 
 feel altogether satisfied that the pledging of 
 his daughter's hand without her consent was 
 in strict accordance with the natural love he 
 possessed for her. Therefore, when he heard 
 the voice which declared the prior right to his 
 daughter's hand, he quickly raised his head 
 and fixed his astonished gaze upon the young 
 soldier; and as the latter passed the pew in 
 which he sat with Lady Trevisick and the im- 
 provised suitor, and he saw the manly bearing 
 of Robert Coleshill as he bowed in passing, 
 his heart fluttered as he called to mind the 
 flattering words said about him in the news- 
 papers concerning his bravery on the field of 
 battle; and when he further remembered it 
 was all done for the great love the youth bore 
 his daughter, he was not sorry Margaret had 
 clung so tenaciously to his memory. So, on 
 the way homewards, his heart softened towards 
 his daughter, if it did not altogether favor 
 Robert Coleshill; for in passing the neighbor- 
 
 242
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 hood of the tower, one glance at it was suf- 
 ficient to call to mind the long-standing feud 
 between the two families. 
 
 Arthur Tredinham walked along conversing 
 with Lady Trevisick and seemed unconscious 
 of his fate. That he loved Margaret was not 
 to be doubted, but he had never received from 
 her the slightest encouragement to hope that 
 her affections would be bestowed on him by 
 her own free will. 
 
 Reaching the castle, Sir Joseph went di- 
 rectly to the butler and inquired after Mar- 
 garet, and on being informed she had gone 
 to the tower, he walked conscience-smitten 
 through the woodland leading to it; for he 
 recollected how frequently his beloved child 
 had wandered to that dismal place to pour out 
 her grief in secret, without receiving a kind 
 word from him to relieve the sorrow of her 
 heart. 
 
 If Sir Joseph's astonishment at what took 
 place in the church was not sufficient for one 
 day, that which met his gaze on reaching the 
 vicinity of the tower was likely to impress it- 
 self upon his memory for the balance of his 
 life. 
 
 243
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 He fully expected to find his daughter in 
 company with Robert Coleshill, but was not 
 prepared to see an old gentleman like Squire 
 Coleshill hiding among the bushes surround- 
 ing the tower, in earnest conversation with a 
 young lady, and actually implanting a kiss 
 on her cheek. The apparition so astonished 
 Sir Joseph that he stretched forward his head 
 in his earnestness to obtain a clearer vision of 
 the couple. 
 
 " The old reprobate ! " he exclaimed as he 
 saw Squire John bend his head and kiss the 
 girl. " The House of Trevisick shall not be 
 contaminated by intermarrying with such 
 depravity." 
 
 At last Margaret and Robert appeared upon 
 the scene; and Sir Joseph witnessed his daugh- 
 ter embrace Lillipopo, and lastly to his horror 
 and utter consternation Squire John kissed 
 his beautiful daughter. 
 
 From staring, Sir Joseph's lower jaw 
 dropped, and he was so surprised that he was 
 unaware of the imbecile look his usually dig- 
 nified countenance had assumed; and when he 
 did recover himself his teeth came together 
 like castenets. 
 
 244
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " It is the most diabolical thing I ever wit- 
 nessed," he exclaimed. " Old Coleshill kiss- 
 ing my daughter! they are all in league against 
 me. Sunday or not, I will fight him with 
 bare fists." 
 
 Before Sir Joseph, however, could work 
 himself into a fighting attitude, Margaret and 
 Lillian, accompanied by Robert, came walk- 
 ing towards him; and as the immediate cause 
 of his ire had removed itself in another direc- 
 tion, Sir Joseph made an undignified and 
 rapid retreat, bumping his shins against the 
 trunks of the forest trees and finally landing 
 himself headlong into a group of Margaret's 
 favorite rhododendrons at the edge of the 
 lawn. 
 
 Arising and putting his monocle in his eye, 
 Sir Joseph assumed his usually dignified air; 
 although there was a lingering sign of hauteur 
 which had not become quite subdued, out of 
 his desire to encounter Squire John. 
 
 Walking up and down the lawn, he ner- 
 vously awaited the coming of events, and he 
 was not altogether pleased when the two girls 
 appeared unaccompanied, for he desired to end 
 his suspense then and there. 
 
 245
 
 Margaret walked up to her father and in- 
 troduced Lillian, saying: " Dear papa, I know 
 you well welcome an old schoolmate of mine, 
 Lillipopo Isandlana, who is likewise my 
 cousin." 
 
 Sir Joseph instantly assumed the courteous 
 gentleman, and extending his hand to Lillian, 
 said: "Welcome indeed, my dear," and as he 
 took her hand the upturned smiling face of 
 the beautiful girl invited him to kiss her, and 
 Sir Joseph did so cheerfully, and felt all the 
 better for it, for he instantly felt young again. 
 
 "Lillipopo Isandlana," he repeated; "I 
 don't remember any relations of that name; 
 kindly enlighten me, my dear." 
 
 Lillian replied: "Lady Trevisick is my 
 mother's sister, Sir Joseph. My real name is 
 Lillian Buzby, but King Cetewayo, who cap- 
 tured me, re-named me ; and the authorities at 
 Natal having adopted it, I endure the bar- 
 barous appellation through motives of policy; 
 in other words, J derive my income from it." 
 
 ' The name sounds very charming to me, 
 my dear, but let me escort you to your aunt." 
 
 After introducing Lillian to Lady Tre- 
 visick, who joyfully welcomed her, Sir Joseph 
 
 246
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 took his daughter by the arm, saying: " Come 
 with me, Margaret, to the library," and lead- 
 ing her to a chair he sat beside her. 
 
 Taking her by the hand, he said: "I fear, 
 my dear daughter, we have waned in our af- 
 fection towards each other in consequence of 
 the pressure I have brought to bear upon you 
 concerning your marriage. Let us fully un- 
 derstand each other. Have you fixed your 
 heart on Robert Coleshill? " 
 
 " He has never been removed from me in 
 thought since I first became secretly attached 
 to him." 
 
 " Is he in your opinion qualified as a gentle- 
 man to be received as my son? " 
 
 " I will leave that entirely to your judgment 
 and decision, dear papa; if you discover any- 
 thing in Mr. Coleshill unworthy of you or me, 
 I am willing to abandon him." 
 
 " I have no desire to prolong your unhappi- 
 ness, Margaret, nor my own, and I will accept 
 your proposal. To-morrow I will give Mr. 
 Coleshill an opportunity to plead his cause." 
 
 " Oh, you dear papa! " exclaimed Margaret, 
 throwing her arms about her father's neck. 
 " I am made doubly happy this day; it will be 
 
 247
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 so nice to visit those with whom we have been 
 at variance for so long." 
 
 "What do you know about them?" asked 
 Sir Joseph, watching his daughter keenly. 
 
 " I spoke to Squire Coleshill to-day for the 
 first time, and he is such an affectionate old 
 gentleman." 
 
 " He is, is he? " and Sir Joseph lowered his 
 brows ; but Margaret smoothed out the wrinkles 
 on his forehead with her delicate fingers, say- 
 ing the while, " Wrinkles don't become you a 
 bit, papa dear." 
 
 Sir Joseph took his daughter in his arms and 
 kissed her, saying: " Now go to Lillian and see 
 she is properly welcomed and cared for." 
 
 After Margaret left the library Sir Joseph 
 paced up and down the room deep in thought ; 
 finally he muttered, " I hope Robert will prove 
 worthy of her." 
 
 248
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 THE following morning Robert Coleshill, at- 
 tired in civilian's dress, appeared at the porch 
 entrance to the castle and plied the huge 
 knocker. It was the first time he had entered 
 the grounds from the driveway, or indeed, that 
 he had put his foot on any part of the estate 
 saving in escorting Margaret through the 
 woodland contiguous to the tower, on the 
 memorable occasion of the stag attacking him. 
 As he lowered the knocker that event flashed 
 through his mind, and he wondered if his 
 present reception would fare any better. 
 
 The door was opened by Margaret, who had 
 been on the watch, and who forestalled the 
 butler, whom she directed to retire to his sanc- 
 tuary. Without hesitation Margaret threw her 
 arms about her lover's neck and whispered: 
 " Take courage, Robert, and do your best to 
 ingratiate yourself," then she escorted him to 
 the library, and opening the door, said: 
 " Papa, Mr. Robert Coleshill has come to beg 
 
 249
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 an interview with you;" then she withdrew, 
 closing the door. 
 
 Sir Joseph was seated in an arm-chair occu- 
 pied in reading. Placing the book on the 
 table beside him, he arose, and taking Robert 
 by the hand, at the same time looking intently 
 at him, said: " Mr. Coleshill, I have consented 
 to this interview on my daughter's account. If 
 you are not welcomed by me at first with evi- 
 dence of pleasure, it is not intended to discour- 
 age you. I am naturally anxious that my 
 daughter be allied in marriage only to a gen- 
 tleman worthy of her and of my house. The 
 unfortunate tension existing between the two 
 families has prevented me from becoming ac- 
 quainted with you earlier, although it seems to 
 have been no obstacle to my daughter doing 
 so. From private observation I have every 
 reason to believe you worthy of my daughter's 
 attachment, and my consent or refusal will de- 
 pend upon the result of this interview." 
 
 " I am very grateful to you, Sir Joseph," 
 Robert replied, " for encouraging me to feel 
 that my plea will not be without hope. I; 
 came here feeling you were my father's enemy, 
 and that my first effort would be to convince 
 
 250
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 you that the hereditary animosity, if it really 
 does exist outside of the imagination, had at 
 least never entered into my heart. I must 
 admit that my father had explained, upon my 
 earnest inquiry, the reasons for reticence be- 
 tween the two families; and young as I was, 
 I thought it a great injustice that the sins of 
 our ancestors should be visited upon the chil- 
 dren for so many generations. I had never 
 taken advantage of this feeling, however, to 
 seek a reconcilement, nor in any manner to 
 force myself upon your daughter's acquaint- 
 ance, although for many years I took the 
 liberty of loving her in secret. 
 
 " Our acquaintance was brought about by 
 the fear on my part that an accident had be- 
 fallen her in the tower; and in going to her 
 assistance, the mutual discovery was made that 
 honorable hearts are not deterred from noble 
 actions by ancestral whims. From this desire 
 to protect her sprang our avowed attachment, 
 although I rarely met your daughter, for fear 
 of bringing your displeasure upon her. 
 
 " Learning of your determination to marry 
 your daughter only to a gentleman of title, 
 and having been robbed of mine through the 
 
 251
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 actions of an ancestor, I resolved upon win- 
 ning a title, or death, to prove my worthiness 
 of her hand. I have gained a title although 
 it is naught to me and escaped death's hand 
 so many times I felt at last I was immune 
 from it, and that Margaret surely would be 
 mine. 
 
 " In considering my plea you need not ask 
 where honor dwells, nor seek in vain affection's 
 proof; the mountain's crest upholds the one, the 
 ocean's depth my love denotes. The spring- 
 time of our love shall be sweet as the sound of 
 minstrelsy. The summer's sun will shed less 
 warmth, than mutual love will to us yield. 
 Autumn will find us hand in hand, gathering 
 fruits of choicest brand. The winter of our 
 lives shall be marred by no solemn litany." 
 
 Sir Joseph was not prepared for this kind 
 of pleading. He had expected the interview 
 would render it necessary to cross-question 
 Robert, to discover the depth if his character, 
 and give him an opportunity to test his affec- 
 tion for his daughter; but there was no open- 
 ing left to him. Even the matter of a title 
 had been so adroitly, though unintentionally, 
 relegated by Robert to the depths of oblivion 
 
 252
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 as of such little value in his eyes, that Sir 
 Joseph was ashamed to exhibit his worldliness 
 by resurrecting it. 
 
 For a moment he sat nonplussed, fumbling 
 the book which lay beside him and casting fur- 
 tive glances at Robert, as though studying 
 upon a way to close the interview gracefully. 
 
 Finally he changed the subject by reverting 
 to the disaster at Majuba Hill, and having 
 heard Robert's version of the battle, said: 
 
 " Mr. Coleshill, before deciding this all-im- 
 portant matter for my daughter, I will first 
 give her an opportunity to be present. Will 
 you be good enough to touch the bell? " 
 
 The butler having appeared in response, 
 Margaret, who was lingering near, was quickly 
 notified that her presence was desired. 
 
 Margaret blushed deeply as she entered the 
 library, for she instinctively felt the crisis had 
 arrived which was to decide her fate. For one 
 moment she stood as she passed the threshold 
 and glanced from her father to her lover; and 
 as the latter arose and bowed to her, she cour- 
 tesied deeply in acknowledgment; then she 
 stepped forward to where her father sat and 
 stood beside him. 
 
 253
 
 OWL TOWEB 
 
 " Margaret, my dear," said Sir Joseph, 
 " matrimony is the most serious engagement 
 that can be entered into, more momentous even 
 than battle. Are you sure you have had suffi- 
 cient opportunity to discover if your affections 
 are rightly placed? " 
 
 From a deep blush, Margaret's face turned 
 to crimson. She put forward one dainty little 
 foot, gazed upon it, and replied : 
 
 " Papa, my attachment for Mr. Coleshill is 
 not the result of opportunity; it has been a 
 gradual growth dating back many years, al- 
 though it was not manifested until a compara- 
 tively recent date, and it has remained smol- 
 dering ever since in consequence of the re- 
 straints put upon us." 
 
 Sir Joseph was again answered in a man- 
 ner which left no room for argument, and he 
 commented: "After conversing with Mr. 
 Coleshill, my dear, I must admit I can discover 
 no objection to him. It is due to Mr. Tredin- 
 ham, however, that a proper explanation be 
 made to him, and I think he should be invited 
 hither, now Mr. Coleshill is present." 
 
 ' I think, papa, it would be less embarrass- 
 ing to Mr. Tredinham if you were to explain 
 
 254
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 matters to him apart from our presence, inas- 
 much as I never by word or deed encouraged 
 him to hope." 
 
 " Possibly so, my dear," answered Sir 
 Joseph, " and as I alone am responsible for the 
 unhappy mistake, I will undertake to pacify 
 him. I think that is all." 
 
 " And do you give your consent, papa? " 
 
 " I may as well be gracious about it," replied 
 Sir Joseph, fumbling the book in his evident 
 desire to rid himself of the subject. 
 
 " Oh, I am so happy," returned Margaret, 
 throwing her arms about her father's neck and 
 kissing him. 
 
 " And I likewise, Sir Joseph," said Robert ; 
 " I was never so happy unless it was on that 
 day when I made the discovery that Margaret 
 was not infused with the unholy feud which 
 had separated the two families, and that she 
 might possibly be the means of uniting the two 
 houses in the friendship that formerly existed." 
 
 " The more I think upon the sentiments the 
 two houses have held towards each other for 
 so many generations, the more ashamed I am," 
 replied Sir Joseph; and after meditating for 
 a few moments, he continued : " As those 
 
 255
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 sentiments apparently never existed as between 
 you two, it will be none the less necessary that 
 a reconciliation be brought about between 
 Squire Coleshill and myself, and I must leave 
 you to pave the way for it; so far as I am 
 concerned, I will submit to any honorable 
 retraction." 
 
 " You are very gracious, Sir Joseph," said 
 Robert, " and I am sure no retraction or ex- 
 planation will be required ; all that is necessary 
 is to forget the past, and remember that the 
 present representatives of the two houses are 
 in no wise responsible." 
 
 " Capital," coincided Sir Joseph; " why was 
 not such an easy way out of it thought of 
 sooner? " 
 
 " I suppose it was lack of disposition," 
 answered Robert. 
 
 " And the sight of the old tower was a con- 
 stant reminder of the cause of the feud," added 
 Sir Joseph. 
 
 " Any other object might have produced the 
 same result, Sir Joseph," replied Robert, 
 anxious to protect the old structure which had 
 contributed so much to his happiness. 
 
 ' Well, we must be reconciled now, at all 
 
 256
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 events," said Sir Joseph, and having taken his 
 book as though to close the interview, the happy 
 couple bowed and proceeded to leave the room. 
 ' You will join us at luncheon, Mr. Coles- 
 hill," Sir Joseph called after them. 
 
 Immediately after the young couple quitted 
 the library Sir Joseph was no longer interested 
 in his book, for he immediately closed it, and 
 rising, paced up and down the room for several 
 minutes stroking his beard. Finally he mut- 
 tered: " I am glad of it. I am very favor- 
 ably impressed with Robert Coleshill, and I 
 can't say I was particularly attracted towards 
 Mr. Tredinham, although his presence here 
 brought about what seemed to be the inevi- 
 table. I will hunt him up and end his sus- 
 pense, for I daresay he is deploring his fate." 
 
 257
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 LILLIAN was very graciously received by Lady 
 Trevisick, so much so that the latter kept her 
 in conversation for several hours to the exclu- 
 sion of the other members of the family. 
 
 On the following day Lillian was at liberty 
 to follow her own inclinations, and having dis- 
 covered from Margaret in the course of their 
 conversation that Arthur Tredinham had 
 never even addressed her as a suitor, and that 
 his attachment for her had never been recipro- 
 cated or encouraged, Lillian decided to take a 
 walk, and if possible fall in with Mr. Tredin- 
 ham, so she might satisfy her curiosity as to the 
 qualifications of that young gentleman. 
 
 She had been requested by Margaret to shun 
 the neighborhood of the tower as a spot sacred 
 to Robert and herself, and Lillian laughingly 
 consented, on the understanding that if she 
 was ever fortunate enough to secure a lover, 
 her claims to sacredness would likewise be 
 observed. 
 
 Lillian tripped across the lawn, and the 
 
 258
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 shrubbery being mostly deciduous and afford- 
 ing no adequate hiding place, she was visible 
 for some time flitting among the bushes ; finally 
 she entered the forest and was lost to view. 
 
 She proceeded some distance into the inte- 
 rior and had reached a dense cluster of hemlock 
 trees underneath which the deer were wont to 
 assemble on stormy days. On this occasion, 
 however, no sign of life was visible. The wind 
 sighed through the dense branches, and its 
 sound reminded her of the White Umvolos 
 River as it swept through its rush-covered 
 banks on that starlight night when she tried 
 in vain to win Robert to her. 
 
 Gazing for some minutes at the majestic 
 evergreen trees, she at last parted the lower 
 branches and entered. For a moment she 
 stared in apparent astonishment, for before her 
 stood the object of her solicitation. He had 
 been seated on a fallen tree, and having wit- 
 nessed Lillian's approach, he arose as she en- 
 tered and saluted her with a bow. 
 
 " I fear I have intruded upon your secret 
 retreat, Mr. Tredinham," she ventured. 
 
 "Not at all, Miss Isandlana; I am truly 
 glad at the prospect of having you to condole 
 
 259
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 with me, if you will condescend to assist me 
 that much, for I am grievously disappointed." 
 
 " I am made acquainted with the cause of 
 your grief, Mr. Tredinham; and perhaps my 
 explanation will help you to bear it more philo- 
 sophically. Shall we sit on this fallen tree? " 
 
 " You are very gracious, Miss Isandlana," 
 said Mr. Tredinham, as he spread his handker- 
 chief on the trunk for her and sat beside her. 
 
 " You are grieving over the loss of Mar- 
 garet, Mr. Tredinham. Had you any assur- 
 ance from her that she loved you, or that she 
 was willing to be betrothed to you? " 
 
 " None whatever; I was simply invited to 
 the castle by Sir Joseph, and naturally fell in 
 love with Miss Trevisick. She was always 
 very kind to me, although she avoided all ref- 
 erence to matters of love; still, I felt as I 
 loved her that she would naturally be reconciled 
 to me after marriage." 
 
 " That might be, too, Mr. Tredinham, but it 
 is best to understand each other fully before 
 that important event takes place. Were you 
 not acquainted with the fact that her love was 
 pledged to another? " 
 
 " I can hardly plead ignorance of it, al- 
 
 260
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 though there was every reason to believe Mr. 
 Coleshill was dead; besides, my great love for 
 Margaret would not allow me to admit of 
 obstacles." 
 
 " In that also you were at fault; you should 
 have made provision for Mr. Coleshill's possi- 
 ble return, and in that case Margaret might 
 in time have learned to reciprocate your love; 
 as it is, she has had his memory constantly be- 
 fore her, with your apparent selfishness to 
 oppose." 
 
 " I see it all, Miss Isandlana, now it is too 
 late." 
 
 " I fear it would have been in vain had you 
 made the discovery earlier, for loves like theirs 
 are not easily beguiled." 
 
 " I wish I had known you, Miss Isandlana, 
 before I got to love her so deeply ; it is hard to 
 relinquish her." 
 
 " But you never had the slightest hold on 
 her, Mr. Tredinham. If you will forget her 
 for a moment, and reason that, after all, your 
 love was misplaced and that it still remains 
 with you unimpaired to bestow on another 
 who may reciprocate, you will immediately dis- 
 miss her from your thoughts, other than as a 
 
 261
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 beautiful woman deserving your respect, and 
 thus derive pleasure at her good fortune in re- 
 covering her lost lover." 
 
 " I feel I will never meet another who will 
 make such an impression upon me," he replied 
 mournfully. 
 
 " I will relate something to you, Mr. Tredin- 
 ham, to illustrate you are not the only one who 
 has suffered. I met Mr. Coleshill in Zululand, 
 where he was held captive by King Cetewayo, 
 as my intended husband. Being an orphan, I 
 was not educated under that strict surveillance 
 governing the affections, and taking a liking 
 to Mr. Coleshill at sight, I naturally felt he 
 belonged to me, without once thinking the state 
 of his heart might not allow him to reciprocate. 
 I was consequently bitterly disappointed when 
 I discovered his affections were already fixed 
 on Margaret, and had not the further dis- 
 closure been made that Margaret was my 
 cousin, there is no telling where my chagrin 
 would have ended; as it is, I love him just as 
 much, possibly, for his firm attachment, and I 
 readily gave up all hope of ever weaning him 
 from his first love." 
 
 ' You quite surprise me, Miss Isandlana, 
 262
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 and I already feel the good effects of your re- 
 marks, although they do not take the form of 
 the condolence I expected. I have decided in 
 this short space of time to graciously acknowl- 
 edge Robert Coleshill's prior right to Mar- 
 garet's hand; but I will be very wary how I 
 allow myself to fall in love again." 
 
 " I think it is a grave mistake for one to do 
 all the wooing, Mr. Tredinham ; it should be as 
 nearly as possible equally divided." 
 
 " A capital suggestion, Miss Isandlana ; and 
 I will certainly see that the next girl I fall in 
 love with contributes her share." 
 
 Lillian sighed as she discovered the easy sus- 
 ceptibility of the youth beside her, and com- 
 pared it with her own impetuous yearning to 
 be loved. 
 
 The sigh did not escape the ears of the youth, 
 and as he turned his face to look upon her he 
 involuntarily sighed in response. 
 
 Lillian blushed under his continued gaze, 
 and after casting a furtive glance at him, 
 turned her eyes to the ground and beat a 
 tattoo on the dead leaves with her foot. 
 
 The constant movement of her eyelashes 
 indicated the embarrassment she felt; and an 
 
 263
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 indescribable longing the result of unrequited 
 love seized the youth to possess her affec- 
 tions. 
 
 " Miss Isandlana," he said tremulously, 
 " may I ask you if your heart is already fixed 
 upon another? " 
 
 She raised her head quickly, looked at him in 
 apparent astonishment, and replied: 
 
 " My heart is still my own, Mr. Tredinham; 
 why do you ask? " 
 
 " Because I must find someone to love me," 
 he answered; and falling on his knees before 
 her, he exclaimed in a voice of emotion: 
 " Don't think ill of me, Miss Isandlana; don't 
 condemn me as inconstant; give me one little 
 sign of encouragement; one word to hope that 
 you will think favorably of me ; and out of the 
 depth of my heart's despair I will love you 
 with a devotion surpassing earthly under- 
 standing." 
 
 Lillian replied somewhat sternly: "Will 
 you accompany me back to the castle, Mr. 
 Tredinham, or allow me to proceed thither 
 without further reference to love affairs? " 
 
 "Oh! forgive me, Miss Isandlana," the 
 youth exclaimed; " you do not understand me, 
 
 264
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 nobody ever did," and arising, he walked away 
 with bowed head, into the hemlock gloom. 
 
 Lillian's bosom swelled as she gazed after 
 his retreating figure, and realizing she had 
 deeply wounded him, she called his name; but 
 the youth continued on unmindful of her 
 voice. Then she ran after him, and placing 
 her hand upon his arm, spoke in a pleading 
 voice : 
 
 " Forgive my unkindness, Mr. Tredinham. 
 I am willing to listen to your plea. I, too, am 
 longing for someone to understand me, some- 
 one to love me." 
 
 They stood face to face under the frowning 
 heights of the hemlock trees and gazed lovingly 
 in each other's eyes. 
 
 "I will strive to understand you, Miss 
 Isandlana," replied the youth. " I already 
 love you devotedly," and he drew her to him 
 and kissed her. 
 
 And so they stood in love's embrace under 
 the forest trees, dwelling upon that old, old 
 story which has never lost its sweetness since 
 the day it started in the Garden of Eden, 
 totally oblivious of the fact that other foot- 
 steps crackled the dead leaves, and that other 
 eyes had witnessed their affection. 
 
 265
 
 CHAPTER XXXV 
 
 SIR JOSEPH having delivered his soliloquy con- 
 cerning the relative merits of Robert Coles- 
 hill and Arthur Tredinham, left the library 
 for the purpose of making a conciliatory ex- 
 planation to the latter regarding the with- 
 drawal of his daughter's hand. 
 
 His first step was to ascertain from his 
 butler the whereabouts of that young gentle- 
 man, and that worthy individual whose most 
 arduous duty consisted in studying the out- 
 going and incoming of everybody connected 
 with the establishment reported he was last 
 seen entering the forest. 
 
 Sir Joseph thereupon betook himself in that 
 direction, and feeling that the young man 
 would be likely to select a sequestered spot in 
 which to brood over his disappointment, un- 
 molested, proceeded straight to the cluster of 
 hemlocks. 
 
 As he neared the spot he walked slowly, 
 stopping now and again to gaze about him, as 
 
 266
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 though loath to intrude upon the sorrows of -his 
 young guest. 
 
 He had thus reached the hemlocks, and was 
 about to enter, when the sound of Arthur's 
 voice fell upon his ear, and parting the 
 branches, he espied him in the act of kneeling 
 to Lillipopo. 
 
 Sir Joseph stared in wonderment at the 
 spectacle, and when Arthur's pleading reached 
 his ear his amazement was so great he could 
 not withdraw his eyes from them ; but when the 
 climax came and Arthur drew her to him and 
 Lillipopo suffered herself to be kissed without 
 any remonstrance, all kinds of imaginary evils 
 floated through his brain, and closing his eyes 
 to shut out the sight, he pushed aside the 
 branches and rushed upon the young couple, 
 shouting: "Halt! Halt!" 
 
 On seeing the apparition of Sir Joseph, 
 Lillipopo gave a little scream, and with a gasp 
 placed both hands over her heart. Arthur 
 Tredinham whose back was turned to Sir 
 Joseph not realizing for a moment the cause 
 of Lillipopo's horrified look, lifted his hands 
 above his head and shrugged his shoulders, 
 imagining something was about to fall and 
 
 267
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 crush him; then, turning round about, his 
 astonished gaze met the frowning look of Sir 
 Joseph. 
 
 For a moment Sir Joseph looked savagely 
 upon him, and as Arthur did not quail under 
 it, he cast an embittered look on Lillipopo. 
 
 Excited to rebel on account of the unchari- 
 table look Sir Joseph bestowed on her, she 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "You mean thing! you nearly frightened 
 the breath out of me." 
 
 "You hussy!" Sir Joseph fairly hissed; 
 and becoming more angry, he turned to Arthur 
 Tredinham, and ejaculated: 
 
 " How dare you abuse the hospitality of my 
 roof by such dishonorable actions?" 
 
 " I may be guilty of impropriety, Sir 
 Joseph," the young man replied, " but I will 
 never allow my name to be sullied with dis- 
 honor." 
 
 " I came here," said Sir Joseph, " expecting 
 to find you mourning over the loss of my 
 daughter's hand, and to explain my reason for 
 withdrawing it; and instead I find you deep 
 in intrigue with my niece. It is no longer in- 
 cumbent on me to make any explanation to 
 
 268
 
 you, and I insist upon your leaving Trevisick 
 at once." 
 
 "I am to blame, uncle," exclaimed Lilli- 
 popo. 
 
 " Silence, Miss! " shouted Sir Joseph. 
 
 " I am responsible for it all, Sir Joseph," 
 said Arthur, encouraged by Lillipopo's sym- 
 pathetic words. 
 
 " I want no explanation," exclaimed Sir 
 Joseph; " my eyes do not deceive me. Please 
 leave me so I can confer with my niece unin- 
 terrupted by your presence." 
 
 ' You have disappointed me regarding your 
 daughter's hand," responded Arthur bitterly; 
 "now you rob me of your niece. I will put 
 an end to it all," and he angrily left the spot. 
 
 Turing to Lillipopo, who was looking 
 anxiously after the departing figure of the 
 youth, Sir Joseph said: 
 
 " As for you, you have forfeited my regard 
 by your unladylike behavior. I would not 
 tolerate clandestine meetings by a servant of 
 mine, let alone a niece who is supposed to help 
 maintain the dignity of my house." 
 
 " There was nothing clandestine about our 
 meeting, Sir Joseph," Lillipopo fearlessly re- 
 
 269
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 plied. " Margaret explained to me that Mr. 
 Tredinham had never received the slightest en- 
 couragement from her as a suitor, and think- 
 ing as you considered him good enough for 
 her I had a right to become interested in him 
 on my own account, I came hither, never 
 dreaming it would result as it did. Poor 
 Arthur must have discovered a magnetism in 
 my words, for they had a strange effect upon 
 him, and you evidently witnessed all that 
 transpired." 
 
 " Ladies may commit such extravagances in 
 Zululand," Sir Joseph replied, " but they are 
 not tolerated in this country." 
 
 ' King Cetewayo would never have abused 
 me so," Lillipopo whimpered. 
 
 " He is a savage, a cannibal," Sir Joseph 
 replied. 
 
 " He was always good to me," Lillipopo 
 answered. 
 
 ' You will next be trying your magnetic in- 
 fluence on me," said Sir Joseph, " but I have 
 no intention to lower the dignity of my house 
 by condoning so grave an offense against the 
 proprieties. Will you please accompany me 
 to your aunt? " 
 
 270
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Lillipopo walked demurely by Sir Joseph's 
 side with her head bowed. After proceeding 
 some distance she remarked : 
 
 " I will save you any further annoyance, Sir 
 Joseph, by returning at once to Zululand. 
 Cetewayo selected Mr. Coleshill for my in- 
 tended husband, and he may be kind enough to 
 hunt up a good-looking savage for me." 
 
 Sir Joseph was evidently afraid of the mag- 
 netism, for he made no response. 
 
 After a few minutes' walk in silence Lilli- 
 popo placed her hand in Sir Joseph's arm, and 
 squeezing it slightly, again addressed him, 
 saying in silvery tones: 
 
 " Uncle dear, you have driven Mr. Tredin- 
 ham almost to suicide by your cruel words, and 
 as for myself I am so unhappy I will not 
 smile again unless you relent towards us." 
 
 Sir Joseph walked doggedly along in silence, 
 his niece's hand still resting on his arm. 
 
 " Uncle dear, I am innocent of any wrong 
 intentions. Won't you consider that I have 
 been without the guiding hand of parents from 
 the time I was a child, and that most of my 
 life has been spent among savages? I will 
 promise never to offend you again." 
 
 271
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Still no answer came from Sir Joseph, who 
 walked along, his gaze fixed sullenly on the 
 ground. 
 
 Finally Lillipopo could stand it no longer. 
 She stopped and stamped her foot, exclaiming : 
 
 " I hate civilization if this is the way I am 
 
 to be treated. I hate you. I hate " and 
 
 without finishing the sentence she burst into 
 tears. 
 
 This event was unlooked for by Sir Joseph. 
 He expected to guard against Lillipopo's 
 magnetism by being silent, although he hadn't 
 the slightest idea how that potent factor was to 
 take hold of him. For a moment he looked at 
 the beautiful young creature before him as her 
 bosom heaved with commingled anger and sor- 
 row, and his fatherly love could no longer be 
 restrained. Folding her in his arms, he said: 
 " My dear, forgive me. I am not so hard- 
 hearted as you think, although I am choleric 
 upon occasion. I don't want you to hate me. 
 Go and find Mr. Tredinham and escort him to 
 luncheon, and afterwards accompany him to 
 the library, where I will discuss the matter." 
 
 Lillipopo raised her face to his and kissed 
 him, saying: "Forgive me, dear uncle; I 
 
 272
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 could never hate you or even dislike you. I 
 will hasten to the castle, for I fear Mr. Tredin- 
 ham is desperate." 
 
 Sir Joseph looked affectionately after her 
 fleeting figure and exclaimed: "I would be 
 desperate, too ; by George ! she is full of mag- 
 netism; she beats Old Nick." 
 
 273
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI 
 
 HAVING been summarily dismissed by Sir 
 Joseph, and realizing that any opposition to 
 his will would be likely to increase his dis- 
 pleasure towards Lillipopo, Arthur Tredinham 
 betook himself at a rapid walk towards the 
 castle. 
 
 On reaching the lawn he avoided Margaret 
 and Robert, who were engaged in earnest con- 
 versation near the main entrance, and entering 
 the building by the courtyard door, hurried 
 through the labyrinth of passages and went 
 directly to his bed-chamber. 
 
 He immediately sat down and occupied him- 
 self for some time in writing letters, which he 
 afterwards placed on the dressing-table; then 
 taking a pistol from a satchel, he stood before 
 a mirror and deliberately raised the weapon 
 to his head. 
 
 At that instant the door was quickly thrown 
 open, a cry of horror rang through the room, 
 followed by a rustling of skirts, and the sound 
 
 274
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 of muffled footsteps as they sped over the 
 heavily carpeted floor, and in another moment 
 the image of Lillipopo was reflected in the mir- 
 ror throwing her arms about her lover's neck. 
 
 After leaving Sir Joseph, Lillipopo elated 
 over the happy news she was conveying to her 
 lover sped through the woodlands with the 
 fleetness of the fawn, and as she ran, the 
 thought of Arthur's words " that he would end 
 it all," flashed through her brain. She passed 
 Margaret and Robert, who anxiously ques- 
 tioned her as to the cause of her haste, but she 
 heeded them not, and flew to her lover's room. 
 
 She clung to his neck, her breathing coming 
 and going in fitful gasps as she strived to con- 
 trol her bosom's swell; but it was for a brief 
 moment only, and then her arms relaxed and 
 she fell unconscious to the floor. The exhaus- 
 tion caused by her rapid flight, the sudden 
 shock at seeing the glittering weapon, and 
 realizing that one second more and it would 
 have been too late, were too much for her sen- 
 sitive nerves. 
 
 With a strength born of love and despera- 
 tion, Arthur lifted the prostrate form bodily 
 in his arms as though she were a child, and took 
 
 275
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 her to a window that the cool air might revive 
 her. 
 
 As he gazed tenderly upon her the rapid 
 events and bitter disappointments of the past 
 few hours flitted through his brain, and he felt 
 that the beautiful creature in his arms had been 
 sent to him as a recompense, and not knowing 
 she had a message of love and hope to reveal to 
 him, he shouted : " She shall be mine ! " and 
 bending his head he pressed his lips to hers. 
 
 A deep sigh escaped her, and then she 
 opened her eyes and stared at him blankly for 
 an instant, ejaculating: "Arthur, what is 
 it?" 
 
 He bent over her and whispered, " You over- 
 taxed your strength, my darling." 
 
 " Oh, yes, I remember. You frightened me 
 so. Why did you attempt such a dreadful 
 thing? Am I of such little consequence to you 
 that you could leave me to mourn? " 
 
 " Forgive me," he said; " I was driven to 
 despair by the double disappointment. You 
 are more than all the world to me, now I have 
 proof of your affection." 
 
 " Supposing Sir Joseph persists in his ob- 
 jection? " Lillipopo asked. 
 
 276
 
 " No obstacle will hinder me, my darling," 
 Arthur replied, " if you only consent." 
 
 " Are you quite sure, Arthur, you have had 
 sufficient time to study my disposition, and will 
 not despise me later? " 
 
 ;< The answer you would make to that, Lilli- 
 popo, shall be mine." 
 
 " I consent," she whispered, as she encircled 
 her arms lovingly about his neck. " It may 
 not be the civilized fashion to fall in love so 
 readily, neither will you find my heart follow- 
 ing the fashions; as my love is to-day, so will 
 it be as long as you cherish it. Now, Arthur, 
 please drop me before your embrace drives 
 me into another swoon. I wonder what Mar- 
 garet would have done if you had treated 
 her so?" 
 
 " Margaret knows her own heart best, my 
 dear. I am supremely happy in the thought 
 that though the fates seemed hard, we have un- 
 wittingly brought about each other's happi- 
 ness." 
 
 At that moment a knock sounded on the 
 door and Margaret appeared on the threshold, 
 her face deeply suffused with blushes. 
 
 "Don't blush for shame, Margaret, my 
 277
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 dear," exclaimed Lillian, rushing up to her and 
 enfolding her in her arms. " I am not going to 
 lose your affection nor lower the dignity of 
 your father's house by proving myself un- 
 worthy. The fates compelled me to fly hither, 
 and Arthur will vindicate me." 
 
 " Margaret," the young man answered, 
 " Lillian by her explanation and condolement 
 reconciled me to your loss ; and my weary heart 
 sought refuge in her, when it was again ruth- 
 lessly torn by Sir Joseph, who discovered us 
 and naturally misconstrued the situation. 
 Feeling I was doomed to disappointment, I 
 oh! let it ever remain a secret, Margaret, for 
 the great love I once had for you. Your 
 cousin, Lillian, came opportunely and saved 
 me; one moment more and the horrible deed 
 would have been committed." 
 
 " It is very dreadful," Margaret sorrowfully 
 replied; " and I can't help feeling I have been 
 the innocent cause of it." 
 
 "It is over now, Margaret," Arthur con- 
 tinued ; " Lillian has consented to accept me 
 for better for worse." 
 
 " I am sure she will not be disappointed in 
 you, Arthur. But what will Sir Joseph say 
 
 278
 
 to it, Lillian dear? " Margaret inquired, turn- 
 ing to her with a doubtful look. 
 
 " He requested me to accompany Arthur 
 to the library after luncheon," Lillipopo 
 replied. 
 
 " Then I may as well congratulate you 
 both," Margaret responded, " for that dear 
 old library has never failed to bring joy to the 
 household. Come ! luncheon is awaiting us, and 
 the butler is getting gray over the temperature 
 of the soup." 
 
 The merry voices of the two girls as they 
 approached the dining-room warmed the heart 
 of Sir Joseph to a sympathetic pitch, and he 
 actually bowed to Arthur as the latter escorted 
 Lady Trevisick to her chair, and Sir Joseph 
 did something besides that he was never known 
 to do before or since something which the 
 dignity of his house never suffered, albeit his 
 ancestors looked down from their casements on 
 the wall and seemed to nod assent he winked 
 one eye at Lillian. 
 
 It was not without some anxiety that Arthur 
 Tredinham entered the library with Lillian, but 
 Sir Joseph instantly put the young couple at 
 their ease by asking them to overlook his un- 
 
 279
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 gracious manner towards them in the morn- 
 ing. " I have only a desire for your good, 
 and to protect the honor of my house," he said. 
 
 " The one will always be an incentive for me 
 to perpetuate the other, Sir Joseph," Arthur 
 replied. 
 
 " Naturally I have not the same right to 
 question you as I had my daughter on the same 
 subject. May I ask in my niece's behalf if 
 you are sure you have not arrived too suddenly 
 at a conclusion regarding your affection for 
 each other? It seems such an extraordinary 
 occurrence to me, that in a few minutes a 
 young couple can reconcile themselves to con- 
 ditions which are supposed to continue into old 
 age, and which usually take months as it did 
 in my case and oftentimes years, to deter- 
 mine." 
 
 " I will allow Miss Isandlana to satisfy you 
 on that all-important point, Sir Joseph," said 
 Arthur. 
 
 " I may be wrong, uncle," Lillian said in 
 response, " but I think if a young gentleman 
 considers a young lady nice enough to be 
 kissed, and falls in love with her at sight, and 
 pledges himself to be true to her, and the feel- 
 
 280
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ing is mutual, it is her fault if she does not 
 succeed in perpetuating that affection." 
 
 " Your answer is incontrovertible as to the 
 problem," replied Sir Joseph ; " but unfortu- 
 nately there is no way of anticipating the petty 
 misunderstandings that will intrude, and which 
 often cause the pendulum to work out of 
 equilibrium. Personally, I am a firm believer 
 in the old-fashioned way of courtship, but to 
 save you annoyance* and with it your dis- 
 pleasure which I have no desire to incur I 
 may as well accept the conditions. I would 
 suggest, however, that you allow yourselves a 
 period of courtship ; it is an event in one's life 
 which, if honorably conducted, is by far the 
 sweetest that befalls. I can qualify this state- 
 ment from my own experience." 
 
 "We will profit by your suggestion, Sir 
 Joseph," Arthur answered. 
 
 " One important duty you must perform, 
 Mr. Tredinham, before you become too much 
 infatuated with my niece, and I suppose it will 
 grow, it naturally does; you must communi- 
 cate with your father and inform him of the 
 cause which broke off your engagement with 
 my daughter, and likewise acquaint him of the 
 
 281
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 present conditions. I must communicate with 
 him on the former subject, and of course will 
 furnish my niece's qualifications. Those mat- 
 ters being attended to, you are at liberty to re- 
 main at Trevisick, a welcome guest." 
 
 Arthur thanked Sir Joseph, and Lillian 
 stooped over him as he sat in his chair and 
 kissed him, and did something else; what is 
 mere conjecture, for Sir Joseph never told; 
 but she evidently bit him, for Sir Joseph in- 
 stantly put his handkerchief to his face and 
 looked at it as though he expected to find 
 traces of blood; and looking after Lillian as 
 she swept out of the room, he muttered: " She 
 beats the witchery of Endor; she is not only 
 affectionate, she is half a cannibal at that."
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII 
 
 THE Sabbath-day had passed away among the 
 villagers in a manner wholly different from 
 their usual method of spending it. The village 
 was usually so quiet on that day from the rising 
 of the sun to the going down thereof that a 
 stranger unacquainted with its customs might 
 be pardoned for considering the place aban- 
 doned. The very dogs seemed to know the day 
 apart from the rest and ceased to roam, and the 
 chief chanticleer which was wont to crow its 
 challenge and strut with fire in its eye on secu- 
 lar days, was fain to stand on one leg and 
 reserve its clarion call. 
 
 On this particular day of Robert Coleshill's 
 reappearance no rule, no rote could control 
 the superabundant joy of the villagers, as they 
 went from house to house to gossip, although 
 they reserved all further demonstration till the 
 morrow. 
 
 On Monday they manifested their joy by 
 postponing the weekly clothes wash; and be it 
 
 283
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 said, with all charitable intent, many of them 
 made frequent visits to the village inn to give 
 greater zest to their exuberance, and kept 
 Widow Hodge in constant agitation, lest some 
 of them should overslip the bounds and bring 
 disgrace upon her reputation. 
 
 The church bells resounded throughout the 
 day, but sweeter than all was the merry ring 
 of the blacksmith's anvil as good old Ben saved 
 half the labor and made all the profit in con- 
 versing with the villagers who had assem- 
 bled in the smithy to discuss the important 
 events. 
 
 No sparks were ever so bright or flew so 
 lively from under the hammer as on this day 
 under the old man's energetic influence. He 
 had gone to the smithy to work because he was 
 so accustomed to hammer out his sentiments, as 
 it were, he could not trust his expression with- 
 out it; and it was necessary on this occasion to 
 hammer them out sparkling with enthu- 
 siasm. 
 
 As old Ben drew the glowing iron from 
 the fire it fairly curled around the tongs as 
 though it were a thing of life and strove to 
 escape the blows which were to enter into it. 
 
 284
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link, and 
 a beautiful cascade of minute meteors flew 
 from under the hammer at each successive blow 
 and became extinguished ere their goal was 
 reached, symbolic of those great spheres which, 
 forced from out the glow of Nature's furnace, 
 shine on and on for countless ages as they 
 speed through infinite space, and at last become 
 dead worlds before their journey is accom- 
 plished ; the time and space no greater by com- 
 parison to eternity than the sparks from the 
 anvil are to the span of life. 
 
 Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link, and 
 old Ben found his long-silent tongue: 
 
 " The secret is revealed at last, 
 
 And I am free to speak once more. 
 When others thought him surely dead, 
 I knew he would return some day; 
 For love like theirs can't live apart, 
 
 And when one dies the other dies, 
 Though one may rest on Arab plain, 
 And knowledge of it cometh not 
 Through reg'lar paths that knowledge comes. 
 The heart always the medium is, 
 Although the distance 's great between 
 The one that yearns the one that grieves. 
 285
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Each feels the joy the other hath 
 
 No Summer's Sun so quickly yields; 
 
 Each feels the grief the other knows 
 
 No winter's blast so keenly gives. 
 
 Of all the many years I've lived 
 
 No joy therein has been like this, 
 
 When love and beauty tear away 
 
 The darksome veil that hid the truth, 
 
 That back of hatred's ever been 
 
 A lingering hope of rectitude. 
 
 The skeleton born of passion's ire 
 
 Hath crumbled to dust in love's embrace. 
 
 The ghosts that haunted the ivied Tower 
 
 Have turned it into the lovers' bower 
 
 The feud which existed in status quo 
 
 Was broken in fact by Margaret's bow; 
 
 The arrow it sped with its message, ' Bang ! Bing ! ' 
 
 Has proved in effect a most wonderful thing. 
 Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link 
 Tink-a-link-a-link ! BANG ! BING .'BANG ! " 
 
 Old Ben having delivered this oration to his 
 open-mouthed companions, poised his hammer, 
 saying : " I am not a Samuel Wegg, there- 
 fore I did not expect to drop into poetry; 
 but my soul was in it, and I did so almost un- 
 consciously; but somehow the hammer brought 
 it out, as it has brought out the glow of many 
 
 286
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 things in times past, and put them into shape 
 without my seeming to be conscious of it ; albeit, 
 men, you have had my sentiments." 
 
 At that moment Robert Coleshill appeared 
 at the door, and bowing cheerfully to the as- 
 sembly as he entered, held out his hand to the 
 blacksmith, exclaiming in a voice of emotional 
 gladness, " My staunch old friend." 
 
 Old Ben dropped the hammer and looked at 
 his hand for a moment, then wiped it on his 
 leather apron, saying: " It is not over-cleanly, 
 young sir, but it must welcome you, and joy- 
 fully, too," and as he gazed upon Robert's 
 face two tears glistened in his eyes, to an- 
 nounce the unspeakable gladness he had at 
 heart in meeting him. 
 
 " I owe you much," Robert said, " and you 
 can only be repaid by a perpetual friendship 
 between us; you will never find me backward 
 in it." 
 
 " I am sure of it, sir," old Ben replied. " I'll 
 warrant you never lagged in battle, nor in any- 
 thing except returning to her. It was all I 
 could do sometimes to believe you were alive; 
 but when I caught a glimpse of Miss Mar- 
 garet, I made up my mind you were a prisoner 
 
 287
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 among the savages, somewhere ; and I kept the 
 hammer a-going." 
 
 " The welcome I have received compensates 
 for much of the sorrow I have undergone," 
 Robert replied; "although I have yet to dis- 
 cover what welcome Sir Joseph will accord 
 me. I am on my way to the castle." 
 
 " Something tells me it must come out to 
 your liking, sir; if not, Sir Joseph will drive 
 his horses bare-shod for one thing, for this arm 
 will never drive another nail for him if he 
 causes Miss Margaret more sorrow. But she 
 is worth pleading hard for, sir; open your 
 heart to Sir Joseph, and I feel he won't be able 
 to refuse you." 
 
 Robert laughed and proceeded on his way to 
 the castle. 
 
 During the day a few of the old villagers 
 who were wont to assemble in the special room 
 at the inn tried to gain an entrance thereto by 
 stealth, but Widow Hodge intercepted them. 
 " I don't intend to interrupt the gladness of 
 this day by giving you an opportunity to in- 
 dulge beyond your capacity," she said to 
 them; " come at your usual hour and you will 
 be admitted." 
 
 288
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 That evening they assembled as usual, and 
 being promptly supplied with their grog, the 
 village oracle gave a resume of the startling 
 events that had transpired since their Saturday 
 night's sitting, and each listener sat with eyes 
 riveted upon the speaker. They had already 
 heard every word that was about to be related, 
 but there was something about the repetition 
 of all the proceedings of the village, in that 
 room, which added gravity and importance to 
 them. 
 
 The little tailor, who was always greatly 
 interested in these recitals and who conse- 
 quently displayed a greater degree of demon- 
 stration in relation thereto knowing what was 
 to come, sat with his shoulders shrugged so that 
 his neck had already reconciled itself with his 
 body; and as Sam Tredinnick related the meet- 
 ing of the lovers and Squire Coleshill at the 
 haunted tower, his coat collar gradually rose 
 until his ears were obscured; but when the 
 oracle gave a description of the strange lady 
 darting like a deer through the woodlands fol- 
 lowed by Sir Joseph, the little man's head sank 
 completely out of sight, his coat collar lifted 
 his hat from off his head and at the same time 
 
 289
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 a feeble cry of "Murder! Fire! Thieves!" 
 escaped him; and when at last silence brought 
 him to the surface again, he looked around in 
 utter bewilderment, as though he expected to 
 find the realization of his expression. 
 
 290
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII 
 
 THE fates at last dealt kindly with the lovers. 
 Robert had taken Margaret to his home to in- 
 troduce her to his mother and sisters. His 
 mother folded Margaret in her arms, saying: 
 " It is a happy day for me, my dear, to see 
 both houses thus united in friendship, after 
 such a long siege of enmity." 
 
 Afterwards Squire John took her by the 
 arm and escorted her around to view the dif- 
 ferent rooms of the old mansion, purposely 
 omitting his own sleeping-room until the last, 
 on entering which, he said: 
 
 " And now, my dear, I must tell you how 
 near you got the righting blood of the Coles- 
 hills started again, and how the old feud was 
 nigh unto being resumed in its intensity." 
 
 "Do you mean me personally, Mr. Coles- 
 hill? " Margaret inquired. 
 
 " None other than you, my dear. One 
 morning I went to that identical window " 
 pointing thereto " to view the state of the 
 
 291
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 weather, as is my daily habit of doing, when 
 suddenly a crash came, scattering the glass 
 about me, and lo ! an arrow fell at my feet. I 
 felt of course it was a challenge from Sir 
 Joseph, and I was vowing vengeance that I 
 would retaliate with my ancestor's cross-bow, 
 when my attention was drawn to a slip of paper 
 affixed to the arrow, which upon close examina- 
 tion I found contained another sort of chal- 
 lenge." 
 
 "Oh! Mr. Coleshill," Margaret pleadingly 
 interrupted. 
 
 " No ! I can't spare you," he said, then con- 
 tinued : " and from that moment I learned to 
 love you, and the enmity towards your house 
 immediately disappeared." 
 
 The beautiful girl stood blushing deeply for 
 a moment, then replied: " It was very good 
 of you, Mr. Coleshill. I don't know what it 
 is to dislike anybody." 
 
 " I am quite sure of that, my dear, and I 
 trust you never will. It is a sentiment worthy 
 the angels." 
 
 As Margaret was about to take her leave 
 Squire Coleshill remarked to her : " It is in- 
 cumbent on me to visit your father, my dear. 
 
 292
 
 You must smooth the way between us, and if 
 there is likely to be any danger, just tie a red 
 ribbon on the latch of the front gate. I will 
 come alone to-morrow at ten o'clock." 
 
 " I will apprise my father, and sincerely 
 hope the meeting will be a happy one," Mar- 
 garet replied. 
 
 After dinner that evening, Margaret who 
 had assumed her old-time demeanor towards 
 her father bent over him as he sat in thought- 
 ful mood, saying: " Papa dear, may I inter- 
 rupt you? " 
 
 " What is it, my child? " he replied, placing 
 his arm about her waist. 
 
 " Squire Coleshill intends calling upon you 
 to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. Will you 
 receive him kindly for my sake? " 
 
 Sir Joseph remained silent longer than ac- 
 corded with Margaret's expectation, and she 
 laid her hand on his shoulder with a sigh. Then 
 a bright thought intruded itself and she said, 
 "Papa, let me tell you a little story, a true 
 one." 
 
 Sir Joseph remarked laughingly: ' Truth 
 is stranger than fiction; let me hear it; but no 
 love stories, mind; I am likely to have a surfeit 
 
 293
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 of the reality for some time to come. Your 
 cousin, Lillian, has already got Arthur Tre- 
 dinham in such an imbecile state he doesn't 
 know whether he walks on his head or his 
 heels." 
 
 " And what about Robert, papa, have you 
 noticed any change in him ? " 
 
 " It seems to have had a contrary effect," 
 Sir Joseph replied, " and you appear to be the 
 victim." 
 
 " Which way, papa? do tell me, for I blush 
 to think I may appear irrational." 
 
 " It has the effect of your wanting to bring 
 Squire Coleshill and me together; now do you 
 suppose " 
 
 " Oh! stop, papa dear, before you say some- 
 thing which I know you do not feel at heart. 
 Pray listen to my story. Promise you will not 
 interrupt me." 
 
 " I promise," said Sir Joseph. 
 
 " Once upon a time there lived in a delight- 
 ful part of the world I won't say where two 
 very learned gentlemen I won't say who 
 whose estates joined each other. They were 
 blessed with health and wealth, yet they were 
 at times very unhappy. A dark cloud had 
 
 294
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 hovered over their ancestors in ages past, whose 
 evil influence had descended to them; and al- 
 though the voice of wisdom was constantly 
 whispering in their ears, ' The cloud has van- 
 ished; it exists only in imagination,' they re- 
 fused to listen to her voice. Their children, 
 impregnated with the ban, passed each other 
 cheerlessly with drooping eyes, lest evil might 
 result; for those who had dared to look were 
 known to droop and die, not from the effects 
 of the portentous cloud, but of unrequited 
 love. One day a youth and maiden children 
 of these gentlemen met on the way ; the latter 
 drooped her eyes, the former bent his head in 
 reverence, and went by with a sigh. The 
 maiden laughed at her companion's guile in 
 innocence of affront, and was annoyed to find 
 the youth had turned with a reproachful look, 
 born less of anger than of sorrow. The feel- 
 ing grew upon the maid until it was irresistible, 
 that it was her duty to explain to the youth in 
 justice to herself; and thinking of no better 
 plan, she wrote a few words on a card in ex- 
 planation, and securing it to an arrow, shot it 
 through the air in the direction of his home, 
 trusting to the fates that it might fall into his 
 
 295
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 hands. The fates guided it aright. It crashed 
 through a window and fell at his father's feet. 
 The father was full of wrath; the ominous 
 cloud hovered over him in frowning blackness ; 
 he was about to retaliate in kind, when he 
 espied the card and read it ; and lo ! he loved the 
 maiden for the great good she had done, and 
 his enmity towards her father's house thence- 
 forth ceased." 
 
 " It is a very pretty story, my dear," Sir 
 Joseph said, and he drew his daughter to him 
 and kissed her, adding: " Squire Coleshill 
 will receive a kindly welcome, as he deserves." 
 
 296
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX 
 
 As the time drew near for the appearance of 
 Squire Coleshill at the castle, Sir Joseph be- 
 came ill at ease. Soon after breakfast there 
 was evidence that the approaching meeting be- 
 tween himself and his old enemy was giving 
 him unusual concern, for he walked in and out 
 the library and up and down the hall, to the 
 great discomfort of the butler, who was at his 
 wit's end to discover how to avoid him, and who 
 after sundry dives in dark corners strode away 
 disgusted to the kitchen, where he extended his 
 disaffection among the servants. 
 
 Finally Sir Joseph walked out on to the 
 lawn, where he paraded up and down with the 
 air of a man having weighty matters on his 
 mind. He frequently looked at his watch, and 
 at such times would go to the entrance gate 
 and peer anxiously down the road in the direc- 
 tion of Trewhiddle, and at last espying the 
 object of his solicitation, he went out into the 
 road and walked to meet him. 
 
 297
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 The two gentlemen with heads erect eyed 
 each other critically before they came within 
 speaking distance, and then with one accord, 
 as if they had been trained thereat for this 
 special occasion, they lifted their hands in the 
 air, and as they lowered them again to clasp, 
 Sir Joseph exclaimed : 
 
 " Call me Joseph, and I will you John. It 
 ought to have been done long years ago when 
 we were boys; I realize it now after we have 
 lost the golden days of youth." 
 
 " Bless me, it is not too late now, Sir Jo 
 Joseph it comes awkward at starting. I can 
 cast a fly as well as I ever could, and as for 
 shooting, two birds never rose before my gun 
 and had the opportunity to meet again." 
 
 " We will strike the streams, and tread the 
 copse together, John ; it will be choice sport for 
 us even now. There are some fine graylings 
 in yonder stream, and the pheasants have a 
 paradise, for they are rarely molested, the visi- 
 tors at the castle usually devoting their time to 
 books or to love affairs." 
 
 ' Times have changed wonderfully, Joseph, 
 in late years; it used to be field sports, now it 
 is effeminacy." 
 
 298
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " It is very deplorable," replied Sir Joseph. 
 
 By this time they had passed in at the gate, 
 and were walking towards the porch, when 
 Squire John espied Margaret, and v remarked: 
 
 "I don't blame them, though, Joseph; 
 there is something very lovable about your 
 daughter." 
 
 " By the way, you have met my niece," re- 
 marked Sir Joseph, desiring to turn the con- 
 versation. 
 
 'Your niece?" queried Squire John; then 
 realizing whom he meant, he exclaimed, " You 
 mean Miss Isandlana? Yes, I met her; she is 
 a remarkably charming girl." 
 
 ' Very much so," answered Sir Joseph. 
 
 " It is lucky we are not young men, Joseph, 
 or I fear swords would be drawn. Young 
 ladies of to-day have a desperate way of draw- 
 ing one out." 
 
 " It's magnetism," remarked Sir Joseph. 
 
 " A good name for it," replied Squire John ; 
 " it seems to operate very promptly." 
 
 " She is engaged to Mr. Tredinham," Sir 
 Joseph remarked. 
 
 " Bless my soul, already? They seem to un- 
 derstand each other nowadays wonderfully 
 
 299
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 sudden. It took me over a year to do the 
 courting, and six months afterwards before the 
 wedding took place." 
 
 " I have suggested to them that they enjoy 
 a few weeks' courtship, as one of the happiest 
 events of their lives," said Sir Joseph. 
 
 " Very proper indeed," replied Squire John. 
 
 Having reached the porch, they entered the 
 castle, and proceeding to the library, Sir 
 Joseph rang for the butler and directed him 
 to bring a bottle of port ; and the two old gen- 
 tlemen cemented their friendship over their 
 wine, a friendship all the more dear now that 
 the end of life was drawing near. 
 
 The meeting having set all scruples aside, 
 Sir Joseph next called at the vicarage. 
 
 On the following Sabbath the members of 
 both families attended church, and the villagers 
 were fully represented. 
 
 Before leaving the reading desk the vicar 
 announced the withdrawal of the banns of 
 marriage of Arthur Tredinham and Margaret 
 Trevisick, and then after allowing an interval 
 of a few moments to elapse, published those of 
 Robert Coleshill and Margaret Trevisick. 
 
 Margaret blushed as she instinctively felt 
 300
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 the eyes of the congregation were upon her, 
 but as the announcement was immediately fol- 
 lowed by a hymn, she soon recovered her 
 equanimity. 
 
 The joy of the villagers was unbounded, as 
 was demonstrated by their assembling in 
 groups on their return from the services. 
 
 801
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 IT was decided that Margaret's marriage 
 should be consummated on Christmas-day ; and 
 to carry out her particular wish in the matter it 
 was arranged that it take place on the summit 
 of the old tower; not only on account of the 
 happiness the structure was instrumental in 
 bringing about, but that the two houses might 
 become united on the spot which had contrib- 
 uted to the long feud existing between them. 
 
 The banns had been heralded for the third 
 time, and preparations for the coming event 
 were evidenced not only in and about the castle, 
 but also in the village. 
 
 At no time in their history did the villagers 
 take such an interest in decorating their homes. 
 The children's voices were heard from daylight 
 until dusk, as they merrily discussed the pros- 
 pect of plum-pudding on their way through 
 the lanes in quest of holly sprigs. 
 
 The grown-up children had already begun 
 to celebrate, and although it wanted one week 
 
 302
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 to the eventful day, Widow Hodge was com- 
 pelled to bury her reputation until after the 
 holidays, for as she remarked, " Christmas 
 comes but once a year, and my husband that's 
 dead always gave the villagers a free foot on 
 that occasion, and I will not go behind him in 
 that, and besides it is a custom all over." 
 
 Numerous invitations had been sent out by 
 Margaret and Sir Joseph, and the castle was 
 already showing the effects of a congested 
 aristocracy, and the old butler from being a 
 mediocre individual had sprung into a creature 
 of importance, for everywhere his services were 
 in demand. 
 
 The halls and corners were packed with 
 trunks and valises, and the bedrooms had be- 
 come veritable repositories. 
 
 It was well that the butler was able to revert 
 to such experiences in the past, or he never 
 could have succeeded in accomplishing the 
 numerous orders required of him. First an 
 old gentleman with a squeaky voice requested 
 that a certain portmanteau be sent to his room, 
 and just as the butler was in the act of direct- 
 ing one of the men servants to execute the 
 order, a silvery voice resounded through the 
 
 303
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 hall followed by the apparition of a beautiful 
 girl who came tripping up to him, exclaiming : 
 "Oh! Butler, can you help me? My maid 
 omitted to put buttons on a skirt I wish to wear. 
 Have you a needle and thread? " 
 
 " I can do anything but sew on buttons, 
 Miss," the old dunce replied ; " but I will send 
 Miss Margaret's maid to you." 
 
 The most serious perplexity the old butler 
 encountered, however, and which well-nigh 
 drove him to distraction, was when Sir Joseph 
 announced to him an important shooting en- 
 gagement he had with Squire Coleshill for the 
 following day, and requested that his shooting 
 equipment be placed at his disposal in com- 
 plete readiness. 
 
 What Sir Joseph's shooting garb had been 
 was a thing of the past, so much so, that outside 
 of a double-barreled muzzle-loader which stood 
 in a corner in close communication with a fish- 
 ing rod, nothing had remained intact. 
 
 In his distress the butler summoned the 
 gamekeeper, and ushered him into a den ad- 
 joining the library, in which those precious 
 relics appertaining to Sir Joseph's sporting 
 days were stored. 
 
 304
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " For mercy's sake, gamekeeper," exclaimed 
 the butler, " see what you can find here that 
 will make up a shooting rig. Needles and pins 
 are not in it with this demand of Sir Joseph's." 
 
 " It must be twenty years or more since Sir 
 Joseph handled this iron," said the gamekeeper, 
 taking the gun from the corner and putting 
 his fingers in the bores; "it's as rusty as an 
 old shovel. It will never answer even if it is 
 cleaned, a kick from it would be likely to 
 spoil his Christmas. I have a spare gun at 
 home, and I will let Sir Joseph carry mine; 
 if his sight is good, it will not miss the mark." 
 
 "Well said, gamekeeper! I will remember 
 you on Christmas eve. What else is there 
 here? He will need shoes and leggings, I sup- 
 pose?" 
 
 " Of course," answered the gamekeeper, " he 
 must be thoroughly equipped; I can't disgrace 
 myself by allowing him to appear on the pre- 
 serves otherwise ; besides, Squire Coleshill is an 
 old rounder at such things, and can stalk a deer 
 as well as I can." 
 
 " Are these good for anything? " asked the 
 butler, kicking out several dust-covered shoes 
 from a corner. 
 
 305
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Is anything amiss with Sir Joseph's feet? " 
 asked the gamekeeper; " these are all lefts; no, 
 here is a right, but it doesn't match; besides, 
 they are all so stiff it would be impossible to 
 get them pliable in time. I can't fix him in 
 shoes." 
 
 " Bless me," exclaimed the butler, " it is a 
 worse undertaking to fix him in shooting trim 
 than for a ball. What about leggings? " 
 
 "Does he wear cloth or leather?" queried 
 the gamekeeper. 
 
 " Don't ask me," ejaculated the butler; " I 
 am going to resign. I can't stand this worry." 
 
 "And a coat, and hat, and gloves; what 
 about those? He must be equipped as a gen- 
 tleman," voiced the gamekeeper. 
 
 At that moment Lillian entered the den, and 
 remarked sweetly: " I know I am intruding, 
 but I want to see every room in the old castle." 
 
 " I wish this one was not in it, Miss," ex- 
 claimed the old butler, thrusting his hand 
 through his scant hair ; " it has caused me more 
 worry this last hour than all the rest of the 
 house put together." 
 
 " What is the trouble, Butler? " asked Lillian 
 sympathetically. 
 
 306
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Sir Joseph goes shooting with Squire 
 Coleshill to-morrow, Miss, and he wants me to 
 find his shooting rig> and that " pointing at 
 the gun " is all there is left." 
 
 " It's a very good Zulu outfit," answered 
 Lillian with a mischievous smile; then quickly 
 recollecting herself, she said: "Mr. Robert 
 Coleshill has just entered the library; I will in- 
 quire if he can help you out of your predica- 
 ment." 
 
 The old butler bowed to her and thanked her. 
 
 Lillian knocked at the library door, and en- 
 tering, found Robert poring over a book. 
 
 " May I interrupt you for a moment, Mr. 
 Coleshill ? You are not likely to use your khaki 
 suit again ; will you kindly lend it to me for the 
 holidays? " 
 
 " Certainly, Miss Isandlana; I will see that 
 it is delivered to you." 
 
 " I need it at once," she said, and placing a 
 pencil and paper before him, continued; 
 " Please write out an order on your butler for 
 it, and I will send one of the servants." 
 
 Robert did as he was requested, and handing 
 the note to her, resumed his book. 
 
 Lillian immediately returned to the den, and 
 307
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 addressing the butler, said : " I have arranged 
 to have a shooting equipment sent here for Sir 
 Joseph; you need not trouble yourself further." 
 
 The butler again bowed his acknowledg- 
 ments and resumed the occupation he had 
 temporarily neglected, of looking after the 
 wants of the guests, rubbing his hands joy- 
 fully the while and muttering to himself, " I 
 wish I were a rich young man, and I would win 
 her or die in the attempt." 
 
 The servant who was dispatched by Lillian 
 with the note was directed to see that the hel- 
 met accompanied the khaki suit, and in due 
 time the equipment arrived and was deposited 
 by the butler in Sir Joseph's dressing-room. 
 
 308
 
 CHAPTER XLI 
 
 AFTER breakfast the following morning the 
 male guests occupied themselves according to 
 their own wills and inclinations. Some took 
 to the lawn, where they puffed their cigars and 
 discussed Margaret's wedding and kindred 
 topics. The ladies assembled in groups in the 
 hall, and while some planned for walks and 
 drives the weather being mild and the ground 
 free from snow others were content to re- 
 main within the castle. 
 
 Sir Joseph retired to his dressing-room to 
 prepare for his day's shooting with Squire 
 Coleshill, and the latter gentleman had already 
 put in an appearance on the lawn, accompanied 
 by his gamekeeper, for it was intended to shoot 
 over both estates. 
 
 Lady Trevisick stood in the hall surrounded 
 by several of her young guests, and was re- 
 marking to Margaret that she trusted Sir 
 Joseph would accustom himself to outdoor 
 sports, for he had not only disturbed her rest 
 
 309
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 by talking in his sleep, but she feared she was 
 covered with bruises from the kicks and thrusts 
 he had unconsciously given her, when Sir 
 Joseph strutted past them, clad in a khaki suit 
 and with a soldier's helmet on his head. 
 
 Lady Trevisick stared at him in amazement 
 for a moment as he bade her good-by, and his 
 strange accouterment might have passed fur- 
 ther unnoticed had not Lillian who had mo- 
 mentarily concealed herself reappeared just 
 as the hall door closed upon Sir Joseph's de- 
 parting figure, and assuming a stage attitude, 
 gave voice to the following impromptu 
 epigram : 
 
 " My love hath gone to battle 
 
 Against the lithesome Zulu; 
 When bullets fly and rattle, 
 
 Don't fear, he doesn't mean you; 
 His aim is not on common slaves 
 
 Who clothe in satins, live apart; 
 But on the dark-skinned savages, 
 
 Whose only dress is Nature's art." 
 
 Lady Trevisick had been puzzling herself 
 to account for Sir Joseph's odd appearance, 
 and now that Lillian had made it plain to her, 
 
 310
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 she sat on the stairway in an uncontrollable fit 
 of laughter. 
 
 Margaret's indignation only made Lady 
 Trevisick laugh the more, for she had a great 
 attachment for her niece, and liked her all the 
 more for the great contrast between her reck- 
 less disposition and the dignified bearing of 
 her daughter. 
 
 ' Your want of dignity puts us all to the 
 blush," Margaret exclaimed, looking daggers 
 at Lillian. 
 
 This occasioned a renewed burst of laughter 
 from Lady Trevisick. 
 
 " I don't thank you, Lillian, for making a 
 spectacle of my father." 
 
 Another and louder laugh greeted this re- 
 mark. 
 
 " I don't care, mamma," exclaimed Mar- 
 garet, " it is not a bit nice of her to send papa 
 out in the garb of a soldier." 
 
 " I don't know, my dear, that it hurts Sir 
 Joseph," said Lady Trevisick, " and if, as Lil- 
 lian says, ' he has gone to hunt the lithesome 
 Zulu,' he is clothed quite appropriately. I am 
 sure he looked quite charming, and I could 
 scarcely take my eyes off him." 
 
 311
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 At this they all laughed in chorus, although 
 Margaret was not reconciled. 
 
 " I feel quite proud of Lillian's effusion in 
 Sir Joseph's behalf," said Lady Trevisick, 
 " particularly that part which directs his aim 
 towards Eastern Africa, for I have little faith 
 in your father's markmanship." 
 
 " It is shameful," remarked Margaret, and 
 excusing herself, she walked away and entered 
 the drawing-room. She had not been seated 
 many minutes before a pair of arms encircled 
 her lovingly around the neck, and a voice 
 whispered : " You are not really angry at me, 
 Margaret? " 
 
 " Oh! you wicked, irrepressible " and as 
 
 she hesitated, Lillian added, " Zulu." 
 
 ' Yes," said Margaret, " that is just what 
 you are," and she arose and taking Lillian in 
 her arms, squeezed her in manifestation of that 
 strange combination of woman's love and 
 anger which ended in their hugging and kiss- 
 ing each other affectionately. 
 
 " Now promise you will not scold Robert 
 about this," said Lillian; "he is such a dear, 
 innocent man, he never dreamed what I in- 
 tended doing with his khaki suit." 
 
 312
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " He knows how wicked you are," Margaret 
 answered, " and he ought to have reflected. I 
 will at least put him on his guard for the 
 future." 
 
 Lillian joined the group she had left, and 
 Margaret hunted up the butler, and com- 
 manded him to return the khaki suit whence it 
 came immediately Sir Joseph had changed for 
 dinner. 
 
 ' Very well, Miss," answered the butler bow- 
 ing, and wondering what had befallen. 
 
 Shortly afterwards Robert put in an appear- 
 ance, and after exchanging greetings with 
 Lady Trevisick and her guests, he went to the 
 drawing-room, where he was shortly joined by 
 Margaret. 
 
 Going up to him and placing both hands on 
 his shoulders, she said: " Robert, I am going 
 to scold you." 
 
 " Scold me, Margaret," he replied, folding 
 his arms about her and looking fondly in her 
 eyes. 
 
 " You have granted a request of Lillian's, 
 enabling her to commit a practical joke on 
 papa, and likewise turn my resentment into 
 ridicule." 
 
 313
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " I am entirely ignorant, my darling, of 
 granting her anything," Robert replied, with 
 surprise depicted on his countenance. 
 
 " That results from your love of books, dear; 
 but nevertheless, you are guilty. Did she not 
 obtain your regimental suit with your con- 
 sent? " 
 
 " Oh! dear me, yes. I supposed she wanted 
 it for some special purpose during the Christ- 
 mas festivities; I never dreamed of her using 
 it in a manner to create unpleasantness." 
 
 " It is too late now, Robert, to remedy; but 
 I am sure you will be on your guard in future." 
 
 " Has Sir Joseph really gone out arrayed in 
 my khaki suit? " 
 
 " Helmet and all," Margaret replied. 
 
 " I am surprised Lillian should have taken 
 such a liberty, although I am aware she is ca- 
 pable of extremes. It is really too ridiculous 
 to treat seriously. What will be the outcome, 
 do you suppose ? " 
 
 " I have directed the butler to return the 
 suit the moment Sir Joseph changes for din- 
 ner," Margaret answered. 
 
 " That is the best way out of it," Robert 
 commented ; " and I will certainly not allow 
 
 314
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 myself to be ensnared by her again ; " then 
 drawing Margaret's arm through his, they 
 walked slowly around the room conversing in 
 an undertone as true lovers always will of 
 the happy thoughts and fancies which spring 
 from the heart's dictation. 
 
 On leaving the castle Sir Joseph was greeted 
 very heartily by Squire Coleshill, although not 
 without an indication of surprise, for his ap- 
 pearance was somewhat startling, to say the 
 least; however, Squire John was too well edu- 
 cated to allow his thoughts to dwell on the 
 trifling matter of dress, and the two old gentle- 
 men were soon expatiating on the glories of a 
 sporting life. 
 
 Notwithstanding Lady Trevisick's assertion 
 that she had very little faith in Sir Joseph's 
 markmanship, he succeeded in making some 
 difficult shots, much to the delight of Squire 
 John, who early discovered that he was out of 
 practice; and the result of the day's shooting 
 was so satisfactory that the larders of both 
 houses were well filled. 
 
 On returning to the castle Sir Joseph was so 
 well pleased with the success of his prowess, 
 and deeming it in a measure attributable to his 
 
 315
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 comfortable outfit, he directed the butler to see 
 that the suit was left in his dressing-room, for 
 his immediate accommodation whenever he re- 
 quired it. 
 
 When Margaret, therefore, reminded the 
 butler concerning the return of the suit, she 
 was amazed to discover that her father had al- 
 ready given such orders in relation to it, there 
 was no alternative left the butler but to obey 
 the injunction; and seeking Robert, who had 
 remained for dinner, she poured out her 
 lament. 
 
 " Robert, I don't know whether to laugh or 
 cry ; " and she burst into a hearty laugh, plac- 
 ing one hand on his shoulder and hiding her 
 face in his bosom. " Papa has directed that 
 his new shooting suit be kept in his dressing- 
 room for immediate use when the spirit moves 
 him. It is really too ridiculous for anything." 
 
 ' Will it matter so much to you, Margaret, 
 if he does wear it? " Robert asked, taking her 
 in his arms. 
 
 " It seems so absurd for papa to claim your 
 suit as his own; besides I have a fondness 
 for it, and might desire to see you wear it 
 again." 
 
 316
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Would you like me to wear it again, Mar- 
 garet, in quest of a higher title? " he asked. 
 
 " Oh! no, no ! my dear Robert, how could you 
 think that; " and she bent her head to hide the 
 deep blush the question engendered. At last, 
 lifting her face to his, she said : " I am glad 
 papa has got it, and I trust he will wear it out 
 so that you will never be tempted away from 
 me again." 
 
 " It would be a stronger temptation than 
 man can dream of, Margaret, to take me from 
 your side again." 
 
 " There are many lovely girls about the 
 castle, Robert," she replied, " and even I am 
 drawn to them by some strong magnetic influ- 
 ence." 
 
 " There is not one so beautiful in my eyes 
 as you, my darling, and the magnetism that has 
 held me a willing captive so long grows 
 stronger every day." 
 
 317
 
 CHAPTER XLII 
 
 WHERE youth and beauty assemble, the hours 
 speed happily by, and the guests at the castle 
 had learned to enjoy themselves so thoroughly 
 that the days passed almost unnoticed by 
 them; life indeed was one merry round of 
 pleasure. 
 
 It was the day before Christmas, and prep- 
 arations for Margaret's wedding were so far 
 advanced little remained to be done, although 
 there was naturally a great deal of confusion 
 and fluttering of gauzy garments as the young 
 ladies visited each other's apartments to discuss 
 the important matter of dress. Their merry 
 voices resounded throughout the old castle, and 
 awakened many an echo that had long lain 
 dormant. 
 
 One only among the guests was less jubilant 
 than was her wont to be. She had received a 
 telegram that morning, and retired to her bed- 
 room in a suspicious manner. If the walls of 
 her room had been transparent she could have 
 
 318
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 been seen with the open telegram in one hand 
 and the other pressed to her temples as though 
 some ill news troubled her. At times she would 
 go to a mirror and contemplate her reflection, 
 more with the object, apparently, of assisting 
 her thoughts than to satisfy her vanity. At 
 last she tossed the telegram on her bed and sat 
 down, folding her hands in her lap and fix- 
 ing her gaze upon the carpet. 
 
 She had not remained in this attitude many 
 minutes before a gentle tap came to her door, 
 and as she arose to open it, she took the tele- 
 gram and thrust it in her bosom. 
 
 On opening the door Lady Trevisick stood 
 for a moment on the threshold, then entering, 
 closed the door after her, and in a subdued 
 voice said: 
 
 " I have come to satisfy my curiosity, Lil- 
 lian; or do you desire to keep it a secret from 
 me?" 
 
 " No, dear aunt," exclaimed Lillian, clasp- 
 ing her affectionately; " I have no secret what- 
 ever, and I don't believe I could keep one if I 
 had, unless it was something too dreadful to 
 reveal. I have simply excelled myself, that's 
 all, and having done it, the surprise at my suc- 
 
 319
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 cess so astounds me I am in a quandary what 
 to do." 
 
 'What is it, dear?" asked Lady Trevisick 
 in a soothing voice. 
 
 Lillian's eyelashes drooped as she said: 
 " Before leaving Natal with Mr. Coleshill I 
 sent back word to King Cetewayo by his war- 
 riors who escorted us, inviting him to visit Eng- 
 land to be present at my wedding, not know- 
 ing, of course, that I was likely to be married, 
 and never dreaming that Cetewayo would 
 come, although I was careful to send him a 
 bill-of -lading, giving full directions for his 
 conveyance." 
 
 "A bill-of -lading?" queried Lady Tre- 
 visick. 
 
 " A sort of shipping tag," answered Lillian, 
 " so the transportation companies could dis- 
 cover his destination without an interpreter." 
 
 " Mercy, child! You do such strange things. 
 And has Cetewayo undertaken the journey? " 
 
 Lillian withdrew the telegram from its hid- 
 ing place, replying: ' This telegram is from 
 
 Plymouth Docks, stating that Oh ! please 
 
 read it aunt, dear, I am so mortified." 
 
 Lady Trevisick took the telegram and read 
 
 320
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 aloud: "Miss Lillipopo Isandlana: Your 
 nigger has been forwarded by rail." 
 
 Lady Trevisick looked at Lillian who stood 
 with downcast eyes, fumbling her bracelets 
 and then back at the telegram, and seemed to 
 be undecided; finally she exclaimed: "It is 
 too dreadful to contemplate. Let us be seated, 
 so we can discuss the matter more fully." 
 
 Lillian took a seat beside her aunt and 
 looked the very picture of despair. 
 
 " Cetewayo being a Zulu, is a cannibal, of 
 course? " queried Lady Trevisick. 
 
 " No, indeed, aunt." 
 
 " He is a savage, at all events? " 
 
 " He is not a barbarian." 
 
 " He is black? " 
 
 " Somewhat sombre, I'll admit." 
 
 " He is ugly? " 
 
 " He is not pretty." 
 
 " He is uneducated? " 
 
 " I taught him a few English words." 
 
 " His dress is not comme il faut? " 
 
 " I directed him to wear a silk hat." 
 
 " That will not cover his body, you goose," 
 said Lady Trevisick, laughing in spite of her 
 evident perplexity. 
 
 321
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " I directed him to call upon an English 
 tailor at Delagoa to become fitted out in a 
 dress suit complete." 
 
 ; ' That may mitigate matters if he adopts it, 
 but it is altogether too important a matter, my 
 dear, for me to decide. Personally I don't 
 fear Cetewayo ; in fact, I have a great desire to 
 see what a Zulu king looks like, particularly 
 this one, who has been so interested in your 
 affairs; but I cannot overlook the proprieties, 
 nor the moral protection due to our guests; 
 therefore I must refer you to Sir Joseph for 
 his consent to Cetewayo's presence here." 
 
 ' You do not object, provided I obtain Sir 
 Joseph's sanction? " 
 
 " Not in the least," answered Lady Tre- 
 visick as she swept out of the room. 
 
 If the walls had been transparent, an inquisi- 
 tive onlooker would have witnessed an action 
 on the part of Lillian very derogatory to that 
 estimable young lady's customary deportment, 
 and tending greatly to reduce man's faith in 
 the dignity of ladies in general ; for Lady Tre- 
 visick had no sooner left the room than Lilli- 
 popo went straight to a mirror, and putting a 
 finger of each dainty hand in the corners of her 
 
 322
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 pretty mouth, drew it out to very unseemly 
 proportions, at the same time flattening her 
 nose so that no semblance of its original shape 
 remained. 
 
 Having glared at this horrible contortion of 
 her countenance to her satisfaction, she re- 
 sumed her usual graceful demeanor, exclaim- 
 ing : ' You dreadful creature, why do you 
 come to shame me before all this elite as- 
 sembly? " 
 
 Her next step was to find Sir Joseph, and 
 as it was his usual hour for study, she had no 
 difficulty in tracing him to the library. 
 
 Going up to Sir Joseph, she stepped quickly 
 behind his chair and threw her arms about his 
 neck. The action forced back the lace from 
 her sleeves and exposed her bare arms, and Sir 
 Joseph no sooner felt her glowing flesh than 
 he threw up his hand to shield his face, ex- 
 claiming : 
 
 " Don't you bite me, you savage! " 
 
 " No, uncle dear, I don't intend being rude 
 at this time. I am sorely perplexed, and I will 
 not take my arms from your neck until you 
 have granted my petition." 
 
 "Forty devils!" ejaculated Sir Joseph. 
 
 323
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Hurry, girl, hurry! it is too serious a position 
 to be found in, I I I " 
 
 " I have locked the door, uncle dear." 
 
 ;< That's still worse ; unlock it for heaven's 
 sake before we are discovered," and Sir Joseph 
 struggled frantically to escape, but Lillian 
 clung to him. 
 
 " Merciful father ! you are cho choking 
 me," he gasped. 
 
 " Will you, uncle dear? " 
 
 " D n it, girl, can't you realize this thing 
 means a divorce; and what will John, Squire 
 John, think of me? " 
 
 At that moment a loud knock was heard at 
 the library door. 
 
 Lillian withdrew her arms from Sir Joseph's 
 neck and with the agility of a deer ran to the 
 door and unlocked it, admitting Lady Tre- 
 visick. 
 
 " I am innocent! " shouted Sir Joseph, tak- 
 ing the book he had been reading and in his 
 excitement throwing it so it whizzed past his 
 wife's head; he then paced up and down the 
 room like a maniac. 
 
 "Are you demented?" asked Lady Tre- 
 visick, looking keenly at her husband. Then 
 
 324
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 turning to Lillian, she asked : " What is the 
 meaning of this unseemly conduct on the part 
 of Sir Joseph?" 
 
 " It's Cetewayo, dear aunt," answered 
 Lillian. 
 
 "I am innocent!" again shouted Sir 
 Joseph. 
 
 " Hush ! you will alarm the guests," said 
 Lady Trevisick. " Have you made known 
 your request, Lillian? " 
 
 " I was about to do so when you knocked at 
 the door." 
 
 I am " 
 
 " Cease your absurd talk, Joseph ; do you 
 imagine for one moment Lillian wants to run 
 away with you? Listen to what she has to 
 communicate." 
 
 Sir Joseph ran his hand through his hair and 
 glared upon his wife and Lillian alternately; 
 and finally it dawned upon his overwrought 
 senses that he had made a spectacle of himself. 
 
 " What did you do to him, Lillian? " asked 
 Lady Trevisick. 
 
 " I began by making love to him, of course, 
 dear aunt, before I put the question to him; 
 and as it was such a serious matter, I hugged 
 
 325
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 him a trifle longer to make sure of his consent. 
 I locked the door for fear he would evade an 
 answer." 
 
 ' There is no fear of anybody evading you, 
 Lillian, but make known your request, or Cete- 
 wayo will be upon us." 
 
 Thereupon Lillian explained to Sir Joseph 
 in a few words that King Cetewayo was about 
 to appear at the castle. 
 
 " Am I dreaming? " exclaimed Sir Joseph, 
 " or has everybody about me gone stark mad? 
 King Cetewayo a savage of cannibalistic 
 propensities a creature without a language 
 who lives like a pig in a stye who has cross- 
 bones piercing his nose and rings on his 
 ankles and wrists as a compromise for the dress 
 of civilization who squats on the ground like 
 Solomon, and gloats over his greasy food, and 
 his thousand wives. It is presumptuous, it 
 is preposterous, I would not allow his pres- 
 ence here for a moment ! " 
 
 And Sir Joseph again ran his ringers 
 through his hair and glared at his wife and 
 Lillian. 
 
 The latter stood with downcast eyes, and Sir 
 Joseph felt a struggle in his breast as he gazed 
 
 326
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 upon the beautiful, emotional girl whose young 
 life had been spent without a mother's care or 
 father's guiding hand. 
 
 " Now, Joseph," said Lady Trevisick, " let 
 me say a few words in Cetewayo's behalf. Lil- 
 lian has taught him a few words of English, 
 and directed him to appear in dress suit. It is 
 possible you possess exaggerated ideas con- 
 cerning his savage condition." 
 
 " If he is going to appear clothed as a civil- 
 ized being, that mitigates the matter," replied 
 Sir Joseph, " but on no other condition must 
 he be permitted to enter the precincts of the 
 castle. Furthermore, I must insist upon a 
 guard accompanying him at all times, and 
 weapons must not be allowed on his person." 
 
 " And may he come here if he conforms to 
 those conditions? " inquired Lillian. 
 
 " I may as well be gracious towards you, see- 
 ing it is Christmas time," Sir Joseph replied 
 with an attempt at gruffness. 
 
 " Oh ! you are always such a dear, good 
 uncle to me," and Lillian threw herself on his 
 bosom and kissed him first on one cheek and 
 then on the other. 
 
 " After that, Sir Joseph," exclaimed Lady 
 
 327
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Trevisick, " I trust you will not be proclaiming 
 your innocence so that everybody will hear you 
 and wonder at you, for nobody seeing this out- 
 burst of affection will put any confidence in 
 
 you." 
 
 Sir Joseph looked very sheepish for a 
 moment, then seizing his wife in his arms, held 
 her a close prisoner until she was compelled to 
 retract her words in order to be released from 
 his embrace. 
 
 828
 
 CHAPTER XLIII 
 
 THE news spread rapidly among the guests 
 that a foreign potentate was about to pay a 
 visit to Lillian, and matters which had en- 
 grossed their earnest attention during the fore- 
 noon were at once neglected so they might catch 
 a glimpse of royalty; and to further this end, 
 they arranged themselves in groups at the 
 windows facing the driveway. 
 
 Lillian, accompanied by Arthur Tredinham, 
 was driven to the railway station in a brougham 
 so as to meet Cetewayo upon arrival. 
 
 No civilized greeting was half so generous 
 as that bestowed by Cetewayo on Lillian. On 
 stepping from the train his piercing eyes dis- 
 covered her in an instant, and rushing towards 
 her his " bill-of -lading " still dangling from 
 his neck, as a precious amulet in his eyes he 
 fell on his knees and taking both her hands, 
 kissed them and then pressed them to his 
 heart, looking in her face the while and 
 muttering: 
 
 329
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Dum lum, Lillipopo gone, Cetewayo sick ; 
 Lum dum, Lillipopo come, Cetewayo well." 
 
 Lillian and Arthur escorted him to the car- 
 riage, and entered after him. 
 
 When they arrived at the castle Sir Joseph 
 who after his adventure with Lady Tre- 
 visick had recovered his usual happy frame of 
 mind stood at the porch entrance to receive 
 them. 
 
 As soon as Cetewayo descended from the 
 carriage which he did with considerable diffi- 
 culty, and backwards, to the great amusement 
 of the onlookers at the windows Lillian ad- 
 dressed him in Zulu, and immediately he placed 
 both hands on Sir Joseph's shoulders and gave 
 him a kind of Comanche greeting by rubbing 
 his nose on that of Sir Joseph, much to the 
 latter's embarrassment. 
 
 Lillian stood beside Cetewayo, and her face 
 turned crimson as she detected the numerous 
 faces peering from the windows. Cetewayo, 
 on the other hand, was too much interested in 
 gazing at the outlines of the castle to discover 
 he was the observed of all observers; and as 
 he stood attired in immaculate linen, dress suit, 
 silk hat, gloves, and polished shoes, his per- 
 
 330
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 sonal appearance was not to be despised, not- 
 withstanding his facial expression was some- 
 what overdone as one romping young lady 
 described it by comparison with civilized 
 folk. 
 
 Having satisfied his curiosity as to the out- 
 ward delineation of the castle, Cetewayo placed 
 his hand in that of Lillian, and together they 
 entered, followed by Sir Joseph. 
 
 This proceeding was a signal for all the 
 guests to quit their watching places, and away 
 they went scampering like a flock of sheep, 
 following Lady Trevisick, who was their 
 leader, and who was likewise guilty of the im- 
 propriety of gazing from the windows. 
 
 The ladies assembled in a spacious room on 
 the second floor used as a sort of art gallery, 
 and there they secured themselves against in- 
 vasion by bolting the door and barricading it 
 with chairs. 
 
 " I could never stand to have my nose rubbed 
 in that manner," exclaimed one blue-eyed 
 beauty, whose very lips as she spoke would 
 provoke a saint into committing treasonable 
 acts. 
 
 " I wonder if it comes off in the rubbing? " 
 
 331
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 suggested another; "if it does, it will never 
 do to allow him to come near us when arrayed 
 in white." 
 
 Many expression of " Ugh " greeted this re- 
 mark, and many beautiful forms shuddered at 
 the thought. 
 
 Finally Lady Trevisick awakened to the 
 situation, and summoning the butler, directed 
 him to send Lillian to her at once. 
 
 Lillian left Cetewayo in company with Sir 
 Joseph and entered the room. The assembly, 
 excepting Lady Trevisick, stared at her as 
 though she were superhuman, and Lillian not 
 only felt their gaze, but was extremely 
 agitated, fearing that some of the guests 
 whose birthright bequeathed to them the claims 
 of lofty distinction might choose to demur at 
 Cetewayo's presence. 
 
 " Lillian, my dear," said Lady Trevisick, " I 
 desire to end at once the fears and suspense of 
 our guests concerning King Cetewayo, and in 
 order to do so, I will escort them to the draw- 
 ing-room. We will arrange ourselves so you 
 can enter with Cetewayo, and introduce him to 
 us in a bunch; there must be no rubbing of 
 noses, no hand-shaking. You must explain to 
 
 332
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 him beforehand how to perform the customary 
 observance, a simple bow is all that is necessary 
 under the extraordinary conditions." 
 
 Lillian's old-time vivacity immediately re- 
 turned to her, as indicated by the heightened 
 color which flew to her cheeks and the smile 
 which dimpled them. She answered not a 
 word, but giving a graceful courtesy, retired 
 to perform her errand. 
 
 Lady Trevisick immediately escorted her 
 young guests to the drawing-room, and they 
 arranged themselves in a semi-circle facing 
 the door, and as they stood their eyes spar- 
 kled in expectancy, not a jot less than the 
 gems concealed in the folds of their snowy 
 robes. 
 
 Lillian took Cetewayo by the hand and led 
 him through the spacious hall, followed by Sir 
 Joseph, who had an exalted idea that he was 
 acting as protector of some sort for somebody, 
 but whether to Cetewayo, or his guests, he 
 could not have answered on his life. 
 
 Advancing into the room, Lillian still hold- 
 ing Cetewayo by the hand addressed him in 
 Zulu, at the same time making a deep courtesy 
 to the assembly, and saying: "I have the 
 
 833
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 honor, ladies, of introducing King Cetewayo 
 of Zululand." 
 
 Cetewayo either not learning his lesson 
 well, or dazzled by the presence of so much 
 beauty and splendour withdrew his hand 
 from Lillian, and making a dash, prostrated 
 himself on his hands and knees with such pre- 
 cipitancy, that he bounded like a ball into their 
 midst. 
 
 The ladies instantly screamed in unison, and 
 stooping low, pressed their hands against their 
 skirts in excess of fright. " Take him away, 
 Lillian!" several screamed in chorus. 'The 
 brute! " screamed another. 
 
 Sir Joseph rushed forward and in his zeal 
 seized the docile and obeisant king by the col- 
 lar, and straddled his back, must to the merri- 
 ment of Lady Trevisick, who went into hyster- 
 ical fits of laughter, and finally rushed from 
 the room followed by her guests, who went pell 
 mell upstairs into the room they had recently 
 vacated, and there gave vent to their feelings 
 by a laughing extravaganza, accompanied by 
 motions and embraces in their efforts to control 
 their effusions, which no pantomime ever 
 equaled. 
 
 334
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 "I wonder ha! ha! ha! if Sir Joseph 
 ha ! ha ! ha ! is en j oying his ha ! ha ! 
 ha! ride?" interjected Lady Trevisick. 
 
 " I trust he will not direct his charger's head 
 this way," exclaimed the beauty with the blue 
 eyes; and again the echoes rang with merry 
 peals of laughter. 
 
 " Now, girls," said Lady Trevisick, " this is 
 too shameful for anything, although of course 
 neither of us could help it. Who could have 
 anticipated that Sir Joseph would have made 
 himself so ridiculous. The poor king cer- 
 tainly couldn't stand up with him on his back, 
 and I have no doubt he would have arisen more 
 gracefully than he fell. The best way out of 
 it is for you to imagine the introduction com- 
 plete although of course it was not half done 
 and to satisfy Cetewayo if he is at all 
 chagrined I will get Lillian to introduce him 
 to me." 
 
 Thereupon Lady Trevisick again descended 
 to the drawing-room, and discovered Cetewayo 
 seated in an arm-chair intently watching Lil- 
 lian and Sir Joseph as they paraded up and 
 down discussing plans for his accommodation. 
 
 "Please introduce King Cetewayo to me, 
 
 335
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Lillian," said Lady Trevisick, " so that there 
 need be no further ceremony." 
 
 Lillian went to Cetewayo, and after address- 
 ing him, led him to her aunt, and Cetewayo this 
 time acted his part well; he fell on one knee, 
 and taking Lady Trevisick's hand, kissed it and 
 arose. 
 
 Lillian then took hold of the card which 
 hung from Cetewayo's neck for the purpose of 
 removing it, but Cetewayo stayed her hand 
 and shook his head, repeating vehemently, 
 " No ! No ! " At last after considerable argu- 
 ment she pointed to the pictures on the wall, 
 and Cetewayo seemed satisfied to allow his 
 amulet for such he considered it to be sus- 
 pended thereon. It read: "Prince Lum- 
 wayo, passenger from Delagoa en route to 
 England via Red Sea route to Suez; thence 
 by Mediterranean boat to Gibraltar ; thence by 
 steamer to Plymouth; thence to be forwarded 
 by rail to Miss Lillipopo Isandlana, care of Sir 
 Joseph Trevisick, of Trevisick, Cornwall." 
 
 It is no wonder that Cetewayo, unused to the 
 ways of civilization, and whose limited jour- 
 neys had theretofore been executed with con- 
 siderable commotion among his warriors, 
 
 336
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 should attach mystical properties to the card 
 which enabled him to proceed to the nethermost 
 part of the earth at a glance thereat from those 
 in charge of him; and as a result Lillian had 
 risen to be the great Fe-fo-fi-fum in his eyes. 
 
 It had been arranged to give Cetewayo an 
 isolated room on the third floor, but when it 
 was discovered that he crawled up the stairway 
 on his hands and knees, and descended in like 
 manner, to the infinite amusement of the 
 guests, who were on the lookout for surprises, 
 a room on the ground floor which opened unto 
 the lawn was consigned to him. 
 
 At the dinner table he sat between Lillian 
 and Arthur Tredinham, and having been 
 prompted by Lillian, he watched the actions of 
 those about him, and succeeded in using his 
 fork with considerable dexterity in conveying 
 his food to his mouth ; so much so that the blue- 
 eyed beauty who reveled in mischief- 
 whispered to Lady Trevisick after the dinner 
 was ended that he made only one mistake, and 
 that was through Mr. Robert Coleshill passing 
 him a whole partridge, which of course the poor 
 man was unable to swallow. 
 
 SS7
 
 CHAPTER XLIV 
 
 THE revelries of the villagers had ceased; the 
 inmates of the castle had retired for the night 
 to dream over the events of the coming day; 
 and as the village clock chimed the midnight 
 hour, a sweet peace prevailed as a fitting tribute 
 to the advent of that day of days on which 
 peace and good-will towards men was pro- 
 claimed in ages past. 
 
 Margaret had left the drawing-room early 
 on Christmas Eve, and bidding Robert an af- 
 fectionate good-night, retired to her room. 
 She lay for some time listening to the merry 
 laughter of the guests which reverberated 
 throughout the old castle; then the past years 
 of her life from early childhood flitted before 
 her vision, and in them all there had been but 
 one cause for prolonged sorrow, and that was 
 the absence of her lover, and even that oc- 
 casioned a charm for her in the increased happi- 
 ness it brought* now he was so near and dear 
 to her.
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 At last she fell asleep and dreamt a dream 
 in which she was attracted by angelic strains 
 of music to a marble edifice, whose immensity 
 extended from the rising sun to the realm of 
 departing day. The foundation of the mirage 
 was lost in a wave of sky, and breathed like a 
 thing of life, as it rose and fell with the bil- 
 lowy motions of. the atmosphere. Myriads of 
 golden minarets blazoned in the sunshine. 
 
 The music drew her on towards the en- 
 chanted spot until she reached a golden gate 
 which opposed her progress; and as she was 
 drawn irresistibly against it she felt the bars 
 pressing against her bosom. 
 
 Before her vision, extending far into the 
 eternity of space, the minarets glistened and 
 twinkled like stars in the firmament of heaven ; 
 the domes on which they rested peered above 
 the clouds like mountain tops from out the 
 mist. 
 
 Suddenly the music ceased, and a voice from 
 out the clouds exclaimed: "Death alone re- 
 veals the glories of the Eternal City." 
 
 Then darkness blotted out the vision, and as 
 her spirit soared before, so now it fell until the 
 light of earth was again revealed to her. 
 
 339
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Her dream in its fanciful flight transported 
 her into a strange land beside a turbulent 
 stream; she heard the water lapping on its 
 banks as the miniature waves rippled among 
 their sedgy barrier. 
 
 Suddenly her lover appeared on the scene, 
 walking in thoughtful mood, and behind him 
 lurked a savage with spear in his hand; the 
 latter was in turn replaced by a beautiful 
 maiden, who joined her lover and placed her 
 arms about his neck and seemed to plead with 
 him. 
 
 Margaret strove to reach them, but an in- 
 visible force held her back, and at last in her 
 agony she screamed, " Lillian! " and awoke. 
 
 " Oh! " came the startled response. 
 
 For a moment Margaret lay with palpitat- 
 ing heart as she realized that a white-robed 
 figure stood beside her bed; but she quickly ex- 
 claimed : 
 
 " Who are you? " 
 
 " I am Lillian. How you frightened me; I 
 had no idea you were awake." 
 
 " I was not until this moment," Margaret 
 replied. " I think you might be generous 
 enough to inquire if you frightened me, for my 
 
 340
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 heart is almost at a standstill at your appari- 
 tion." 
 
 "Am I such a bug-a-boo, dear? And yet 
 you called my name as though you were in 
 distress." 
 
 " I was dreaming. Why came you here? " 
 
 " I was unable to sleep," Lillian replied, 
 " and hoping to find you also awake so I could 
 converse with you for a while, I tried your 
 door, and finding it unlocked a very careless 
 proceeding with a Zulu savage about I took 
 the liberty of entering." 
 
 Margaret was silent. 
 
 " I really think you have grown to dislike 
 me, Margaret ; tell me now, so you may not see 
 my grief." 
 
 " How can you talk so, Lillian? I love you 
 entirely too well, seeing you appreciate it so 
 highly." 
 
 Lillian's reply was given in the shape of an 
 embrace which she bestowed on Margaret by 
 bending over her as she lay, accompanying it 
 by a whisper: "May I remain with you to- 
 night? " 
 
 "Yes, if you promise to be particularly 
 good." 
 
 341
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Well, just imagine I am Robert," Lillian 
 exclaimed laughingly, " then I can't be other- 
 wise than good." 
 
 " You are simply incorrigible," exclaimed 
 Margaret ; " will you be serious for once and 
 answer me truly? " 
 
 ' Yes, dear, I want to be nice to you, now I 
 am going to lose you forever." 
 
 ' What nonsense. I am not going away." 
 
 " Ah ! but you are, dear. You will be Mar- 
 garet Trevisick no longer, and my dear, dear 
 schoolmate will merge from the beautiful 
 maiden into the stately wife, and from that 
 into the fond mother, and so on by degrees 
 until a great, great-grandmother appears on 
 the scene; and poor me will be forgotten long 
 before then." 
 
 " All those conditions may be realized, Lil- 
 lian, but there is no occasion for forgetting our 
 youthful friends. I have been dreaming 
 about you." 
 
 " I was doing something wicked of course, 
 and that is why you called my name so loudly, 
 is it not?" 
 
 " Did you ever make love to Robert, on the 
 banks of a river in Zululand or elsewhere? " 
 
 342
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 asked Margaret, ignoring a reply to Lillian's 
 question. 
 
 " Is that the purport of your dream? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I intended keeping it a secret from you, 
 dear. I have no need to remind you how 
 determined and self-willed I have always been, 
 for you have experienced it. I can't help it; 
 it is a part of my nature. You may remember 
 how I said at school although I had no idea 
 at the time I would ever attempt such a dread- 
 ful thing that I would steal the first man I 
 fell in love with? " 
 
 Margaret was deep in thought and did not 
 reply. 
 
 " You do not answer me, Margaret." 
 
 " Yes, please go on, I remember." 
 
 " Well, Cetewayo put it in my power to ac- 
 complish it; and I am so ashamed even now, 
 when I recall it, that I am blushing in the dark. 
 Cetewayo had held Mr. Coleshill prisoner, in- 
 tending him for my husband; and when he was 
 introduced to me my heart in its lonesomeness 
 went out to him in his captivity; not with a 
 wanton love, but with a heart that yearned for 
 love and protection. It was in this unguarded 
 
 343
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 moment that I forgot the modesty of woman- 
 hood and tried to win him." 
 
 " And what did Robert do and say? " Mar- 
 garet eagerly inquired. 
 
 " He gave me such a wholesome and gentle- 
 manly turn-down, and my vanity suffered so 
 very badly, I left him with the intention of 
 either compelling him to marry me or remain 
 captive; in fact I gave him that alternative, 
 for I was very angry at his refusal. Im- 
 mediately afterwards my heart went out to 
 him, and I decided to free him, although I 
 loved him so much I couldn't do that with- 
 out first making him feel very unhappy. 
 Later, when he explained he had a sweet- 
 heart at home, and that you were the 
 adored one, I realized how unladylike I had 
 been, and I suffered such remorse I hastened 
 his restoration to you. And now I have told 
 you, dear, I must also let you know that I still 
 love your Robert; why I can hardly say, un- 
 less it is that instead of treating me with con- 
 tempt, as I deserved to be, he acted in such 
 a dignified, though generous manner, that 
 I am compelled to admire his manly qual- 
 ities." 
 
 344
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 'You must center your affections on 
 Arthur, Lillian." 
 
 " I suppose I do, at least I love him well 
 enough; but I feel I could love him more if he 
 were not so considerate towards me. If he 
 would only disappoint me sometimes. I am 
 constantly committing outrageous actions to- 
 wards him to antagonize him, but he never re- 
 taliates. I kept him two whole days without 
 speaking to him, for no other reason than I 
 wanted him to become angry at me, but he was 
 more complacent and affectionate towards me 
 than ever." 
 
 ' You ought to be ashamed, Lillian." 
 
 " That is not all," Lillian continued; " I pre- 
 vailed upon * Blue Eyes ' to flirt with him, and 
 after a two hours' siege she reported his heart 
 to be bomb-proof." 
 
 "Oh! you wicked creature," Margaret ex- 
 claimed. "When will you learn to be less 
 frivolous? " 
 
 " I am going to begin this very day, dear, 
 for I have discovered at last that dignified 
 women are liked the best, because they are 
 more substantial, and that is partly why I love 
 you so much." 
 
 345
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " I never try to be dignified." 
 " It comes natural to you, Margaret." 
 The conversation ceased, and as the two 
 girls lay in each other's arms, the strains of an 
 anthem arose from beneath their windows; the 
 village choristers had assembled on the lawn, 
 as was their custom at Christmas-tide, and sang 
 in the stilly night sweet songs of " Hope, and 
 love, and peace, Hallelujah." 
 
 " How delightful! " exclaimed Lillian; " it is 
 no wonder you are so good, Margaret, brought 
 up amidst such peaceful surroundings. My 
 life has been made up of surprises from child- 
 hood." 
 
 346
 
 CHAPTER XLV 
 
 CHRISTMAS morning had no sooner dawned 
 than the inmates of the castle were astir, the 
 wedding having been arranged to take place 
 before the usual breakfast hour. 
 
 Not since the marriage of Sir Joseph's sister 
 some twenty years before had there been 
 such bustle and confusion at the castle. The 
 call-bells were in constant requisition, and al- 
 though the regular servants were reinforced 
 by those of Squire Coleshill, and many besides 
 improvised from the villagers for this special 
 occasion, there was such a commotion among 
 the younger guests that they went from room to 
 room hindering those who were placid enough 
 to help themselves. Many of them were so 
 excited they appeared on the lower floor ap- 
 parently oblivious to the fact that the eyes of 
 man ought not to behold them ; and it was only 
 by the extreme efforts of Lady Trevisick they 
 were finally rescued and restored to conscious- 
 ness. 
 
 347
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Chocolate was served in the dressing-rooms, 
 and the cooks were busy preparing the break- 
 fast which was to follow the wedding. 
 
 Seats had been arranged on the summit of 
 the Tower for the accommodation of those who 
 were to participate in the ceremony. 
 
 At last, everybody being in readiness, the 
 procession formed on the lawn, and, headed by 
 Sir Joseph and Margaret, took the path lead- 
 ing through the woodland to the division line 
 of the two estates. Passing through a breach 
 in the hedge, it wound its way around the brake 
 to the tower entrance, and after much effort in 
 lifting dainty skirts to avoid the steps, suc- 
 ceeded in reaching the summit. 
 
 Robert Coleshill was in waiting together 
 with his parents and sisters, and the vicar and 
 parish clerk were likewise in attendance, while 
 old Ben Judd stood in the background. 
 
 The ceremony was soon performed, and 
 Squire John and Lillipopo signed their names 
 to the register as witnesses. 
 
 These proceedings were no sooner concluded 
 than old Ben stepped forward in front of the 
 newly married couple, and addressing Robert, 
 said: 
 
 348
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Sir Robert, Lady Margaret Coleshill has 
 graciously selected me to perform the happiest 
 function of my life." 
 
 Sir Joseph bent his head to Squire John and 
 whispered : 
 
 " Old and demented." 
 
 Robert gazed upon his old friend in wonder- 
 ment and then at Margaret, whose veiled face, 
 however, did not help him out of his surprise. 
 
 Then unwrapping a package which he 
 carried, old Ben produced a minute iron casket 
 the cover of which had the letters " R. C. M. 
 T." intertwined in a monogram of silver, and 
 presenting it to Robert, continued: "This 
 box modeled by my hand in honor of this 
 occasion contains your hereditary title of 
 Knight Baronet, the renewal of which was pro- 
 cured by her beside you, at a time when a title 
 seemed more essential to your happiness than 
 it does to-day. It has remained with me from 
 the day you were fighting for that title which 
 we regard the most; a title which has unequivo- 
 cally brought you honor and fame, and, what is 
 better than all, the hand of one whose persistent 
 love has been potent enough to heal the wounds 
 of centuries. May this old tower abide for still 
 
 349
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 longer centuries and cast its ancient shadows 
 athwart the sod, to mark as doth a dial the ever- 
 fleeting time, and bid successive generations 
 revere the spot, which, after lying long in 
 superstition's grasp, succumbed at last to the 
 voice of love and wisdom." 
 
 Sir Joseph bent his head to Squire John 
 again and whispered, " He is old and wise." 
 
 As Robert took the package from the old 
 blacksmith, so he held it in his outstretched 
 hand and gazed upon it. There was the 
 slightest perception of a tremor of affection 
 in his voice as he responded: 
 
 " My good old friend, your words indeed 
 add to the bliss I already enjoy. The honor 
 this title confers may swell the pride of ances- 
 try in others, but to me the only pride it gives 
 is born of the love that prompted it," and he 
 bent over and kissed his bride, none the less 
 effectively because her veil lay between. 
 
 Old Ben bowed himself away, and as he de- 
 parted down the steps the old church bells, 
 at a signal given by the clerk from the tower, 
 rang out a merry peal. 
 
 Hastening to the forge, old Ben seized his 
 hammer, and in rhythmic correlation with the 
 
 350
 
 bells beat on the anvil a guerdon to his heart, 
 and this was his song : 
 
 I love the peal of old church bells, 
 Each one to me its story tells 
 The first it wakens songs of mirth 
 To parents at the time of birth. 
 The next it dwells on childhood's hour, 
 It lisps of sunshine, bird, and flower. 
 The third of boyhood's day is given, 
 Its song is nearest unto heaven. 
 The fourth of golden youth lays claim, 
 It swells the triumph of his fame. 
 The fifth one speaks of shady bowers, 
 A lady beguiles the fleeting hours. 
 The sixth of queenly graces won, 
 Man's best estate in life begun. 
 The seventh of life's reality, 
 It quaketh not at destiny. 
 The last of cherished happiness, 
 To be exchanged for heavenly bliss. 
 
 Having delivered himself of this piece of 
 poetical oratory, old Ben flung down his ham- 
 mer and was drawing the bolt of the door on 
 leaving the smithy, when he was accosted by a 
 serving-man from the castle. 
 
 " Miss Margaret, who is now Mrs. Coleshill, 
 351
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 sends word for you to come to the wedding 
 breakfast; and I am instructed not to take 
 ' No ' for an answer." 
 
 " In that case I may as well go peaceably," 
 answered Ben, " for I wouldn't quarrel with 
 any body on Christmas-day." 
 
 And so it transpired that the village black- 
 smith, who had never entered the castle on any 
 pretext whatever before, was a guest at Mar- 
 garet's wedding breakfast. 
 
 352
 
 CHAPTER XLVI 
 
 THE marriage of Margaret Trevisick with 
 Robert Coleshill was so propitious that it had 
 the effect of thoroughly cementing the friend- 
 ship of both houses. 
 
 Sir Joseph and Squire John, now a relation- 
 ship had been established between them, were 
 more frequently than ever in each other's com- 
 pany, particularly in connection with outdoor 
 sports. They could be seen almost daily arm- 
 in-arm, walking about some remote part of the 
 estate, where they had strayed in the eagerness 
 of their discussion, without realizing the ex- 
 tent of their peregrinations. 
 
 On one of their shooting excursions, a few 
 days after the wedding, the two inseparables 
 proposed that Cetewayo accompany them as a 
 matter of courtesy to Lillian's guest; and ac- 
 cordingly Lillian acted as interpreter to that 
 end, and Cetewayo, arrayed in a second-hand 
 suit, eagerly set out on the expedition, unpro- 
 vided, however, with any means of participat- 
 
 353
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 ing in the sport, saving as an onlooker, it being 
 feared his savage manner of hunting might not 
 be in accordance with the laws and customs of 
 the Medes and Persians, which as is generally 
 known altereth not. 
 
 This precaution, however unfriendly it 
 might at first appear, proved in the end a wise 
 one, for whenever a snide of pheasants was 
 flushed by the dogs, Cetewayo immediately ex- 
 hibited signs of extreme impatience to partic- 
 ipate in their extermination; and when at last 
 a group of deer bounded across their path, and 
 a magnificent stag stood and shook its antlers, 
 bidding them defiance, Cetewayo's excitement 
 knew no bounds. He first tried to wrest Sir 
 Joseph's gun from him, and failing in this 
 attempt, he acted in a pitiable manner, ex- 
 claiming: " Dum lum, Cetewayo sick;" and 
 finally seizing a dead limb which lay beside him, 
 he poised that miserable substitute for a spear, 
 and despite its ungainliness, succeeded in 
 launching it squarely between the eyes of the 
 stag, resulting in its standing bewildered for a 
 moment, and then with a bleat bounding away 
 into the depths of the forest after its com- 
 panions.
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 And now the day's sport started in earnest. 
 Cetewayo had been invited to participate in the 
 sport, there was no doubt about that, for Lil- 
 lian had told him so ; and he at once proceeded 
 to do so after his own custom, regardless of 
 those beside him. 
 
 As soon as the limb struck the stag Cete- 
 wayo threw up his hands and gave a piercing 
 yell which made the blood fairly creep up the 
 backs of the two civilized gentlemen. The 
 yell was followed by a bound on the part of 
 Cetewayo, and he fled in eager pursuit of the 
 quickly vanishing deer. 
 
 For a moment Sir Joseph and Squire John 
 looked at each other in perfect amazement; at 
 last the latter spoke up, saying: 
 
 " What can we do, Joseph? " 
 
 " He will drive the herd frantic," exclaimed 
 Sir Joseph. 
 
 " Let us after him," said Squire John, " we 
 may not catch him right away, but I feel con- 
 fident we will do so before night-time, for I 
 remember an old adage 'that the creeping 
 turtle is likely at any time to overtake the sleep- 
 ing hare.' ' 
 
 " I feel our only hope will be to catch him 
 
 355
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 asleep," replied Sir Joseph. " Did you ever 
 hear mortal man give such a diabolical yell? 
 My hair, even where it is bald, felt as if being 
 drawn from the roots." 
 
 " And such sprinting ! " echoed Squire John. 
 " I have no doubt that at either of our colleges 
 Cetewayo would carry off the highest honors; 
 his yell would outdo the entire team; and as 
 for leaping, I really believe he would jump the 
 rope with the ball under his arm." 
 
 " It is highly dangerous running through 
 this underbrush with loaded guns in our 
 hands," said Sir Joseph; " suppose we extract 
 the cartridges? " 
 
 The guns were accordingly unloaded, and 
 the two old gentlemen started on a creditable 
 run which they kept up for the space of several 
 minutes; finally their feet seemed unaccount- 
 ably to be given to slipping, and each other's 
 shoulders came rudely in contact; at last with 
 one accord and without any preconcerted 
 signal, they stopped, puffed exceedingly, 
 mopped their perspiring foreheads with their 
 handkerchiefs, and gazed sympathetically in 
 each other's eyes. Finally Sir Joseph sat on a 
 fallen hemlock advantageously lying by, and 
 
 356
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 exclaimed in monosyllables between his spas- 
 modic breathing : 
 
 " Cet-e-way-o can run un-til his legs 
 drop off if he choo-ses." 
 
 " I'll see that mine don't," exclaimed 
 Squire John, and following Sir Joseph's 
 example, he sat with a groan beside him. 
 
 " Lil-li-an is a pa-cer like-wise," inter- 
 jected Sir Joseph; "she could catch him 
 _I'll_be bound." 
 
 A rapid pattering of the dead leaves, as 
 though heavy drops of rain were falling, was 
 heard in the distance; the sounds became more 
 and more distinct, and approached the spot 
 where they sat, and at last a herd of deer broke 
 upon the vista. Helter, skelter, the beautiful 
 creatures bounded along, their large, lustrous 
 eyes wide open with affright, their nostrils dis- 
 tended, and their slender feet spurning the 
 ground as they leaped all obstacles before 
 them. 
 
 A large stag which followed in the rear 
 of the herd stopped frequently and gazed be- 
 yond as at an imaginary enemy, and pawed the 
 earth and lowered and tossed its antlers wick- 
 edly, bleating and licking its chops, bidding 
 
 357
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 defiance to the foe. Sighting the enemy, it 
 again bounded after its companions, and Cete- 
 wayo, his speed undiminished, came into view 
 rushing after them. 
 
 "Stop! you black savage!" yelled Sir 
 Joseph, who had by this time recovered his 
 breath. 
 
 "Yah! Yah!" shouted Squire John, and 
 forgetful of their recent experience, the two 
 old gentlemen renewed their pursuit after 
 Cetewayo. 
 
 The deer, frightened beyond measure, headed 
 towards the castle, and were witnessed skim- 
 ming across the lawn by a group of the guests, 
 including Lillipopo, who looked with mingled 
 pleasure and astonishment at the novel and 
 beautiful sight; but when Cetewayo appeared 
 in full chase, she divined its significance, and 
 giving a short exclamation of horror, raised her 
 gown slightly with one hand and sped after 
 him. 
 
 Sir Joseph was right in his conclusions con- 
 cerning Lillian. No fawn surprised in its 
 lair at scent of hound more nimbly found its 
 feet and sped the wold; no kestrel flew more 
 rapidly towards its quarry than Lillian did 
 
 358
 
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 to arrest the steps of Cetewayo. She skimmed 
 the lawn like airy nothingness, and men won- 
 dered at the sight and women envied her. 
 ''How beautiful," remarked the men in 
 chorus. 
 
 " She has him! " exclaimed Lady Trevisick 
 from a balcony where she was an interested 
 spectator. 
 
 A few seconds had sufficed. The herd of 
 deer had reentered the forest, and Cetewayo, 
 incited to greater speed, was close in pursuit, 
 when Lillian seized him and brought him to a 
 standstill. 
 
 Lillian explained to Cetewayo that the ani- 
 mals were semi-domesticated. Cetewayo shook 
 his head mournfully, exclaiming: " Dum 
 lum, Cetewayo sick," and he walked beside Lil- 
 lian with bowed head until he reached the 
 castle, where he stood looking wistfully to- 
 wards the spot where the deer had disap- 
 peared. 
 
 Some minutes afterwards Sir Joseph and 
 Squire John appeared on the scene, their coun- 
 tenances betraying the result of their second 
 run, and Lady Trevisick laughingly remarked, 
 so the guests could hear: " I take it, Sir 
 
 359
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Joseph, you have been hunting the lithesome 
 Zulu? " 
 
 " By the goddess Diana! " exclaimed Sir 
 Joseph, " it is the greatest day's sport we ever 
 had, yet we didn't get a shot." 
 
 860
 
 CHAPTER XL VII 
 
 AFTER his experience in chasing the deer Cete- 
 wayo wandered aimlessly about the grounds, 
 or remained for hours at a time deep in 
 thought. 
 
 To guard against a repetition of the occur- 
 rence, the gamekeepers of both estates were 
 instructed to be on the lookout, and a watch 
 was secretly kept upon Cetewayo's actions at 
 the castle. 
 
 Lillian discovered that her royal guest was 
 growing impatient under his unaccustomed 
 restraint, and appealed to Lady Trevisick to 
 help her solve the problem. 
 
 It was finally decided the only feasible plan 
 was to fix upon Lillian's marriage, and thus 
 enable Cetewayo to return to his own country, 
 where his unconquerable spirit would be free 
 from the trammels of civilization. 
 
 Accordingly, on the following Sunday the 
 vicar announced the banns of matrimony of 
 Arthur Tredinham of Lostwithiel and Lilli- 
 
 361
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 popo Isandlana, ward of King Cetewayo of 
 Zululand. 
 
 The wedding took place at the village 
 church, Cetewayo being present and signing 
 his name in conjunction with Robert Coleshill 
 and his wife as witnesses. When Arthur 
 Tredinham led Lillian from the altar, Cete- 
 wayo shook his head, and looked at Robert as 
 though the ways of civilization were past his 
 understanding. 
 
 As Lillian intended living at the home of 
 her husband, another and greater difficulty 
 presented itself as to the best means of dis- 
 patching Cetewayo ; and after much discussion 
 it was ultimately decided by Lillian that her 
 husband and herself would accompany him to 
 Plymouth and see him embarked on his home- 
 ward voyage; for this purpose she took the 
 " bill-of -lading " and marked above it, " re- 
 turn trip to Delagoa." 
 
 On the day of departure from the castle no 
 school boy evinced such delight at the prospect 
 of the holidays as Cetewayo did at the thought 
 of returning to his people; and this was en- 
 hanced by the belief that Lillian and her hus- 
 band intended journeying with him. 
 
 362
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Cetewayo had learned the English manner 
 of greeting during his visit, and his face bore 
 a solemnity as he shook hands with the guests 
 and servants alike, saying to each one: " Cete- 
 wayo go home sick." 
 
 They were driven to the railway station, and 
 a gloom spread over the household lasting 
 many days; and not a little of it was caused 
 by the thought that one returned to his kraal 
 to be forever disappointed; that she whom he 
 worshiped and loved, though with the heart 
 of a savage, would not be seen again by him on 
 earth. 
 
 363
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII 
 
 IT is night-time in Zululand. The full moon 
 sails in a sea of blue. 
 
 A solitary figure walks slowly along the 
 banks of the White Umvolos River ; his step is 
 elastic and betokens the savage, although he 
 wears the garb of civilization. 
 
 At times he stops in the attitude of listen- 
 ing, and gazes intently across the strand as 
 though some moving object caught his vision; 
 and when he resumes his walk, he proceeds 
 with bowed head in evidence of his disappoint- 
 ment. 
 
 He traces and retraces his footsteps until 
 the moon has sailed far down into the west, 
 and then realizing that the night is far spent, 
 he betakes himself down a beaten path to a 
 projection on the river where the water runs 
 swiftly and is free from obstruction; and tak- 
 ing a leaf from a mutilated book he carries, he 
 reduces it to bits and throws them on the water. 
 As he stoops over a card dangles from his neck, 
 and seizing it in his hand, he exclaims: 
 
 364
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 " Dum lum, Lillipopo gone, Cetewayo sick. 
 Lum dum, Lillipopo come, Cetewayo well." 
 
 He watches the bits of paper as the current 
 bears them away, and heaves a sigh as he re- 
 traces his steps towards the kraal. 
 
 Two years had elapsed since the events re- 
 lated in the last chapter, and from the day of 
 his arrival in Zululand Cetewayo had rarely 
 missed a night in keeping his vigil by the 
 Umvolos. 
 
 Upon Cetewayo's embarkation, Lillian in 
 the way of pacification promised him she 
 would soon visit Zululand with her husband, 
 and he relied implicitly on her word. The 
 parting had not been effected without bitter 
 compunction on the part of Lillian, but her 
 present happy life had eradicated all desire for 
 venturing on such a long journey. 
 
 Upon arrival in Zululand, Cetewayo waited 
 several months for Lillian's appearance; and 
 at last, growing impatient, he returned to 
 Delagoa and went on board the Red Sea 
 steamer intending to journey back to Eng- 
 land; but the captain examined his " bill-of- 
 lading " and shook his head. This was incom- 
 prehensible to Cetewayo; the card had taken 
 
 S65
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 him to England and back again, why was it 
 not good for all time? 
 
 He gazed sadly at the card, and returned to 
 Uhlundi; but his faith in Lillian never for- 
 sakes him, and he hopes and longs for that day 
 when the " White Queen " will come tripping 
 towards him, for so he calls her in his heart, and 
 so he intended her to be. 
 
 The poor old savage king's heart is sick with 
 hope deferred, and it is better so, for the real- 
 ization of his hopes would sooner or later cause 
 him to revert to his savage ways; whereas the 
 anticipation of Lillipopo's coming softens his 
 heart with longing, and kindles even in him 
 the desire to appear at his best. 
 
 And who can say, after all his disappoint- 
 ment, that Cetewayo's hopes may not some day 
 be realized? 
 
 As absence makes the heart grow fonder, so 
 may it grow with Cetewayo; and when at last 
 the boatman pale beckons unto him to take his 
 final journey on the White Umvolos River, he 
 will travel till he meets her; and though her 
 robes be white as snow, his hands will not be- 
 spot them; and when he bends the knee to 
 worship her, the angels will not chide him. 
 
 3G6
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 Margaret and Robert rejoice in a young 
 baronet whose name is Benjamin, who has been 
 the means of creating a new cause of super- 
 stition among the villagers. They insist that 
 Bing! bang! bing! tink-a-link-a-link ! pro- 
 ceeds from the smithy at uncanny hours of the 
 night, and that at times singing accompanies it. 
 
 Old Ben Judd has been appealed to to 
 elucidate the mystery, but he only adds thereto 
 by stating that his hammer has been so ac- 
 customed to his voice, and his voice to his ham- 
 mer, that they are inseparable. " If that ham- 
 mer," said he, " forgets itself, who is to blame 
 but the hammer? " But Margaret and Robert 
 know, and many is the laugh they enjoy, and 
 many an additional kiss the young baronet 
 gets in consequence of " the music on the 
 anvil." 
 
 " Owl Tower," for centuries the bane of the 
 village, has become the " holy of holies," al- 
 though the little tailor still whispers "Mur- 
 der! " and draws his head beneath his coat col- 
 lar whenever it is mentioned suddenly in his 
 hearing. 
 
 Sir Joseph and Squire John often walk in 
 its vicinity of a summer's evening, for they 
 
 367
 
 OWL TOWER 
 
 have learned to revere the spot which brought 
 so much happiness into their homes and lives. 
 
 The rightful owners of the tower, by reason 
 of their uninterrupted possession for so many 
 centuries, still hold the fort behind the ivy bow- 
 ers ; and when the sun has sunk low in the west 
 they waken to the gloom of night and chant 
 monkish wisdom to the sleeping world. The 
 saw-whet first, with ears erect and rasping 
 voice, essays the reading of the psalms; and 
 then its wiser cousin, with blinking eyes, selects 
 his text and dolefully chants: 
 
 " Tu whit! tu hoo! tu hoo! " 
 
 THE END 
 
 368
 
 = THE = 
 
 Baronet Rag-Picker 
 
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