Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-08-20
MISC Il III. A n Y.
FROM rRAsER's MoNrHLY MAGAZINE
THE DESERTED III ANS o N

A few years ago, picture appeared IN
the Exhibition of the Royal Academy
which peculiarly impressed my imagination;
II represented an ancient ruinous dwelling,
surrounded by dilapidated gardens, set IN
sombre woods. The venerable trees, the
moat filled with nettles and rubbish, the bro
ken fences green stagnant waters, the ga
bed, turretel, many -windowed, moulderng
mansion, perfect medley Of chaotic archl-
lecture The visibie silence, the spirit Of
supreme desolation brooding over the pre-
cincts, filled my mind with involuntary sad
ness; while fancy conjuredup strange, wild
tales of other days, in conneXlon with the
scene. could not shake off the belief that
reality was portrayed on the canvass; and
writing an account of the various pictures
to a friend who resided in the country, |
dwelt on this particular one, and my slngu-
lar impression respecting it. When next
received letter from my friend, she re-
marked, how unaccountable my fancies
were fancies, which were, however, based
on the foundation of truth.
She went on to say, that reading my let
ter to Mrs. l., an octogenarlan IN Won
derful preservation, that lady informed her
of the locality of my deserted mansion and
also of its history ihe picture being actual
" painted for Mrs. Is son; and the
tale attached to it, which my friend eventu-
ally gave me IN the old lady's own words,
was as follows:
"Fifty years ago, the mansion of St. Ell
ans Wood was reckoned ancient, but it was
! healthful vigorous age. interesting and pic
turesque. Then, emerald turf lined the
sides Of the moat, and blooming flowers clus-
tered within its slopiug shelter white dra-
perry Huttered within the quaint lattlced
windows, and delicate climbers festooned
them without terraced walks and thick
holly hedges were in trim order, fountains
sparkled in the sunshine, and bluShing roses
bent over and kissed the clear rejoicing wa
| terS.
"Flfty years ago, joyous laughter resound-
ed amid the greenwood glades, and buoyant
! footsteps pressed the green sward; for the
master Of St. Elan's had brought home a
bride, and friends and relatives fastened
thither to offer congratulations, and to share
the hospitalties of The festive season.
"Lady st. Elan was very young wife !;
soft-eyed, timid creature her mother had
died during her daughters infancy, and her
father IAN officer of high rank in the army
being abroad, lady whom we shall call Sa-
bina by whom she had been educated, ac-
companied her beloved pupil, now lady St.
Elan, to this new home. The death of La
dy st. Elan father, and the birth Of q daugh-
ter, eventually mingled rejoicing and mourn
ing together while great anxiety was felt
for the young mother, whose recovery was
extremely tedious. The visits of eminent
physicians, who were sent for from great
distances, erinced the fears which were
still entertained, even when the invalid
roamed once more in the pleasant garden
and woods around. Alas it twas not for the
poor lady's bodily health they feared; the
hereditary mental malady of her family on
the maternal side, but which had slumber-
| ed for two generations, again darliy shad-
owed forth its dread approaches. Slight,
indeed had been the warning as yet, sub
tie the demonstrations Of the deadly enc
my, but enough to alarm the watchful hus-
band, who was well acquainted with the
facts. But the alarm passed away the physi-
Clans came no more, and apparent health and
strength, both mental and physical, were
fully restored to'the patient, while the sweet
babe really deserved the epithets lavished
on it by the delighted mother of the 'divin-
est baby in the world p
"During the temporary absence of her hus-
band, on affairs Of urgeLt business, Lady St.
Elan requested Sabina to share her chamber
at night, on the plea of timidity and loneli-
! ness; this wish was cheerfully complied