The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1850-05-17
4 Gelrfte0 Gale.
From Sharpe's Magazine.
THE DARK LADY.
BY MRS. S. C. II A L l..

dance upon the grass, and the deepest forest
glades are spotted and checkered only by the
tender shadows of leafy trees; when the rug
ged castle, that looked so mysterious and SO
stern in the looming night, seems suited for
lady's bower; when the rushing waterfall spar
kles in diamond showers, and the hum of bee
and song of bird tune the thoughts to hopes of
life and happiness; people may laugh at ghosts
then, if they like, but rs for me, never could
merely smile at the records of those shadowy
visitors. have large faith in things supernat-
ural, and cannot dsbelieve solely on the ground
that lack such evidences as are supplied by
the seDses-for they, in truth, sustain by palpa-
BILE proofs so few of the many marvels by
which we are surrounded, that | would rather
reject them altogether as witnesses, than abide
the issue entirely us they suggest
My great grandmother vas native of the
canton of Berne; and at the advanced age of
ninety, her memory of the long ago" was as
active as it could have been at fifteen; she look
ed as if she had just stepped out of piece of
tapestry belonging to past age, but with warm
sympathies for the present Her English, when
she became excited, was very curious-a ming
ling of French, certainly not Partisan, with
here and there scraps of German done into
English, literally SO that her observations
were at times remarkable for their strength.
" The mountains" she would say, " in her coun-
try, went high, high up, until they could look
into the heavens, and hear God in the Storm"
She thoroughly comprehen,led the real beauty
of England; but spoke with contempt of the
hatness of our island-calling our mountains
B." inequalities" nothing more-holding our agri-
culture cheap" saying that the land titled it.
self, leaving man nothing to do. She would
sing the most amusing pniois songs, and tell
stories from morning till night, more especially
spiritstories; but the old lady would not tell
tale of that character a second time to an un-
believer; such things, she would say, are not
for make laugh" One in particular, remem-
Der, always excited great interest in her young
listeners, from its minglng of the real and the
romantic; but it can never be told as she told
it; there was so much Of the picturesque about
the old lady-so much to admire in the curious
carving of her ebony cane, in the beauty of her
point lace, the size and weight of her long ugly
earrings the fashion of her solid silk gown,
the siugularity of her bucklcd shocs-her dark
brown wrinkled face every wrinkle an expires.
sion-her broad thoughtful brow, beneath which
glittered her bright blue eyes-bright, even
when her eyelushes were white with years. All
these peculiarities gave impressive effect to her
words.
In my young time," she told us, "I spent
many happy hours with Amelic de Robean, in
her uncle's castle. He was fine man-much
size, stern, and dark, and tullof nose-a strong
man, no fear-lle had a great heart, and big
head
The castle was situated in the midst of the
most stupendous Al pine scenery, and yet it was
not solitary. There were other dwellings in
sight; some very near, but separated by ra-
vine, through which at all seasons, rapid river
kept its foaming course. You do not know
what torrents are i'll this country, your torrents
are as babies-ours are giants. This one |
speak of divided the valley; here and there a
rock, round which it sported, or storned, ac-
cordng to the season. In two of these dcfcs
these rocks were of great value; acting as piers
for the support of bridges, the only means of
communication with our opposite neighbors.
" Monsieur, us we always called the count,
was, as have told you, dark, stern, violent
man. All men are wilfu, my dear young la.
dies" she would say, "but Monsieur was the
most willul: all men are selfish, but he was the
most selfish: all men are tyrants-" Here the
old lady was invariably interrupted by her re.
latives, with "Oh, good Granny" al |, "Oh fe,
dear Granny" and she would bride up little
and fan herself; then continuc-"Yes my dears,
each creature according to its nature-al men
nr tyr and fI,,fT 4 Il fI,;,,E
whose mountain inheritance is nearly coeval
with the creation of the mountains, has right
to be tyrannical; did not intend to blame him
for that did not, because had grown used
to it. Amele and always stood up when he
entered tie room, and never sat down until we
were desired lie never bestowed loving
word or kind look upon either of US. We tev.
er spoke except when we were spoken to-"
But when you and Amelle were alone, denr
Granny"
con, why, then we did chatter, suppose;
though then it was in moderation; for monsieur's
influence chilled US eyon when he was not pres.
ent; and often she would say, "lt is so hard
trying to love him, for he will not let me !'-
There is no such. beauty in the world now as
Amelie's. can see her as she used to stand
before the richly carved glass in the grave oak
panelled dressing.room; her luxuriant hair
combed up from her full round brow; the dis.
creete maidenly cap, covering the back of her
head; her brocaded silk, (which she had inherit
ed from her grandmother) shaded round the