Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-06-23
ding light and beauty from their gorge,


ding light and beauty from their gorge
Close by crystal fountain that bubbled
up in grove of perennial beauty, and
sped away IN llimpid light toward the
ocean, and partly concealed from view by
a rich cocoa, sat Rosaline, the Star of the
South. The joyous smile had fed from
her face, and pensive sadness rested in
the depths of her pensive eyes, which
were turned with mournful look upon
the blue waters of the bay, which was
spread out like map before her.
Her meditation was deep and sad, but
the sound of a foot-step caught her ear,
and starting up, she behcld Wilson, who,
from the fatal hour of Aramand's death,
she had forbid TO enter her presence, and
consequently, had never seen him.
His looks were pale and hSggard his
dress soiled and disordered, and his whole
attitude so wo-worn and, distressed, that
Rosaline stopt short in her retreat, and
gased upon him with wonder and SUR
prise. le l.Ta
"Oh, Rosaline % he exclaimed, as he
threw himself at her feet, '' to you come
for pardon and consolation you, the friend
of Aramand, can save me from despair,
and / claim your forgiveness, that may
cause the shade of the brave and heroic
dead, to cease to persecute me :" and as
he concluded, cold shudder passed over
his frame.
"Listen p' said Wilson, as he drew
near her. every evening at deeptwilight.
for the last week, have seen Aramand
beneath my window, pale as death, and
with one hand held out in q warning atti-
tude, just as he stood the night of his
death, and it bodies me no good, for some
secret voice whispers that my days are
numbered, and that shall die violent
death. am going to the White Sulphur
Springs in Virginia, and your father has
told me that you and he will shortly fol-
low, and as we will meet there, dear Ro-
saline, let us meet as friends, and, oh l
pray you, pronounce my pardon before
l CO."
:" Ask pardon of your God, Wilson. for
you have sinned more against him than
you have against me, but freely forgive
you all you have done, and may just Hea-
ven do the same. And now, farewell,
and when we meet in Virginia, it shall be
as friends should meet - and she was
gone.
When Morton and his daughter reach
ed the Springs, the congratulations that
welcomed the Star of the South, were
blended with a wild legend of phantom
horseman, who was seen each day just at
night-fall, mounted on steed of pitchy
darkness, flying like the evening breeze
toward a small recess in the noun
tains, now known as the haunted dale.
Marvellous were the stories told of the
phantom. An old hunter of the Allegha-
ny affirms that he had met him one even
ing, returning from his usual foray, and
that he gave an unearthly yell, and dis
appeared in a flash of fire.
Rosaline glanced at Wilson, during this
narrative, and bcheld him pale as death,
his whole frame in n tremor, and with
bloodless lips, he murmured It is he !!
it is he p
" For shame, Wilson !" said Rosaline,
melted to pity by his fear. " This wild
horseman is only the phantom ofsome fcve-
red brain, and If my father and you will
accompany me tomorrow to the haunted
dale, l will prove to you the absurdity Of
your fancy"
l too, beg leave TO accompany you,
lady," said several voices, and she soon
found her company increased to six.
"Will you be our guide ?" said Rosa
line, as she turned to the old hunter with
smile of inetfable sweetness.
/" For your sake, sweet lady, will go
with you there in the morning, and then
leave you, for the wealth of worlds could
not induce me to stay till the hour Of his
appearance, said the hunter with slight
shudder.
Brightly rose the sun on the following
morning; gladly fell his cheerful beams
upon the verdure-crowned SUBMITS of the
bold Alleghanies and enchantingly sweet
fell the wild, clear notes of the mountain
birds, upon the ears of Rosalinc's party as
they spOrtingly pursued their way toward
the haunted dale.
Their way was devious and winding, a
deeply indented path was traced between
two ridges, and gradually grew more mar
row, till they seemed approximating to
point, where huge spiral rock reared its
bold summit far up in air, and broad
rapid stream dashed madly by its base.
The DEVILS Table - whispered the
guide, as he pointed to the rock; and
when you have crossed that stream, you
will be in the haunted dale. Good bye !"
And applying his whip to his pony, he was
out OF sight in a moment.
With light laugh, Rosaline and her
companions crossed the stream, and tur'
ming an abrupt angle Of the rock, they
found themselves in small valley. com
pletely shut in by overbanging cliffs, and
verdant as the breath Of Spring. A small
grotto invited them to enter, and in is
cold solitude, they forgot even the wild
horseman, and his ghOsuy visits. when
clap of thunder, followed by rattling
shower Of rain. caused them TO start to
Al r.nt