Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-05-03
To- tne NAsnVIe PaIll0i.
IN THE MIZ::''
CHAPTER III.
A STORY OF OUR OWN TINES.
BT L. vIKoIETA FRExcH.

CHAPTER III.
The heart CT julius Frankenstien softened and
irrndiated by tie beauty of the scenery through
which he had passed, soon grew weary of the
rather prosaic discourse OF bis hosptsbIe host and
he determined Immediately to set out in quest Of
the home of bis beautiful ideal Informing the
Colonel. therefore, that he was now both ready
and anxious TO perform a promise he bad made
upon his previous visit 10 reference to young lady
friend OF hiss he learned that she resd ed in the beau
tiful valley OF Belle Vue, eight miles distant
from Potosi.
Accordingly, on the same evening he mounted
his gallant steed, and like knight Grant of the
days OF chivalry, set forth upon his journey in
search Of the "fair ladye" of the valley. Animated
By the blooming loveness of the scene around
him, excited by hopes vague yet most enchanting,
his heart kept time to the feet footsteps OF his
thoroughbred, and long he came upon the
borders of the beautiful vale 1t had received its
name at its first discovery by party Of hunters
(Frenchmen) from ST. Louis, who, at the hour Of
sunset coming suddenly upon its almost paradisica
beauty, exclaimed with one accord: "Ahi VOLTA,
belle rue belle UtIeV
And verify, as our traveller gazed upon il now
from the summit OF of its surrounding hills,
did he too exclaim that il had been rightly named.
Evening like q more magnificent Cleopatra was
saing down the western horizon, in her barque OF
crimson and amber, leaving her fair attendants of
the twilight TO spread the landscape her many
slvery veils to blend the heightened shadows into
4 Of purple gloom, and one by one call out
into the sky the watch-fres Of the sentinel stars.
Her last fading blush still fingered upon the sum-
mits of a range of the Ozark mountains, which on
one side shut in the secluded valley, aud here and
uba was otch in tba
western bin tops stray burst of sunlight fell into
It, lighting up the velvet foliage, and gaucng on
the little stream that wound through it, sparkling
like a chain OF brlliants upon beauty's bosom.
About midway the valley, and half hidden among
empowering trees, lay the elegant but unOstenta-
tious cottage home Of the proprietor, and several
miles farther down could be seen rising on the still
air the dense smoke OF the valley forge" The
rusLling Of the evening wind through the fresh
tremulous foliage, or its murmur among the high
swaying branches Of the pines sounded like the
fall Of distant waters. An occasional chirp was
heard from the different birds not yet quite satisfied
with their resting places; and atar the lone notes
of the whip-pOOr resounded through the Forest
with q thrilling and solemn accent which harmon
lied sweety with the silence and the softly gather
ing gloom Now mingled with those dream-like
sounds, mellowed into Il soft harmony, our traveller
caught the echo of distant bell from the forge,
which proclaimed the fight Of the hours and the
cessation of the laborers daily toll. He started il
from dream, and toJching his good steed, rapidly
descended the hill, and long aghted the
gate Of the commodious-Iooking cottage A mid
dle.Tged gentleman, OF fine bearing and somewhat
military ap pearauce, met him. and after introducing
himself, invited the young stranger TO accept the
hospitalities of his house for the night Our trav-
eler, as we may suppose, did not require second
invitation; so announcing his name, his acquaint-
ance with Col. McIlvane, and his desire to see the
country as the purpose OF his visit they walked
towards the house, where they were met on the
piazza BY the mistress and conducted To tie parlor.
Frankenstien was agreeably struck upon entering
this apartment, with its tasteful arrangement as
well the literary taste and love Of the beautiful
manifested by the elegant books, OF flowers,
etc which adorned the centre-table aud mautel
piece. Accustomed, nay injured, to the full artil
lery Of flashing eyes as he was, he felt his heart
begin to palpiIste violently, as every moment he
expected some conc eied door to ODen aud vision
Of sparkling eyes, and flowing curls and coral lips
TO fash upon him with the dazzling glory Of an
April sun-burst. Hall hour pass away and
his excitement perceptbly increased; half an hour
more and he felt half maddened by its intensity
Suspense killing him He longed to break
down she envious walls that hid her from his view,
to call her name aloud in the hope of hearing at
least some spirit voice sfar replying, to do
thing equally desperate and ottre, 70 the astonish>
ment OF all hearers and behOlders. With lights,
hosever, came the announcement Of supper, and
then his host, With aectionate solcitude regretted
the absence of his eldest daughter who for several
days past had been quite ILL., Had round Of grape
shot az that moment struck upon the bounding
heart Of our hero, it could not have experienced a
more profound shock than at this announcement
II actually staggered him. At length he, by d,s-
perate effort, collected his scattered sufh.
ciently to "hope that the young lady recover
ing" Information in the affirmative rewarded his
resolution, but, though partially cousoled by this
intelligence poor Frsnkenstien had no appetite for
supper, aud upon the plea OF fatigue, retired early
After passing rather restless night he rose neIt
mornins unreireshed and responding The sun
just tinging the hill tops with his first golden rays,
when 'our hero" descended to the parlor. Neither
the master, mistress OF the mansion being
aware that he had risen, be remained for some time
alone, during which he amused himself by looking
over the books aud ornaments of the centre table.
Among his first discoveries that Of a large and
spleAdidly bound Album, the cover OF which
was embossed in gold, "Mss Kate Castelmann."
Many OF the poeIca works TOO, bore delicate PEN
cling, aud annotstions upon the margin which he
did not for ment doubt traced there by the
Snowy fingers OF his hearts ideal w lille he thus
employed, side door behind him softly opened
(ooe which from many little circumstances be had
conjecturrd led iuto her chamber, and light step
bounded into the apartment. His heart stopped,
his eye grew DIM the blood forsOok his lip-a mo-
Inent, nc turned and beheld-nO, not the yinty
herself bot her messenger perhaps lovely little
child OF some six seven summers. who smiled,
aud held up for hs acceptance a large and beauth
. ful bouquet he thought he knew from whom the
sweet messenger came, and catching up the little
Hebe IL his arms, he almost smothered her with
kisses. The appearance Of bis host, however aud
/. the announcement of breakfast terminated this
rhapsody rather suddenly and his fairy like prison
al - III. L.
roses, fed into the adjoining apartment
Breakfast being over, Franken>tien could do no
less than announce his intention of returning to
Potos; aud his hosptable entertainer, after press
ing him TO stay, but without avail, remarked that IL
his guest would remain hall Az hour until be could
give directions to som Of his wOrkmen, he would
accompany hin part Of the way. II tyins de.
parted upon this errant aud the mistress after
6eggns 10 De excused for a little waile in order 20
superintend some OF her domestic arrangements,
Frankeustien sat down again TO hook over the con-
tents OF the table. In another moment, however,
moved by sudden impulse, be sgiz-d the Album,
and with his pencil, hastily traced on Que Of It's
snowy pages, the foIloSing lines
To the Fair Unknown.
L4Fht Itle maiden fair
Fresh IN beauty closing,
Brought NJ n1wers rich sni rare;
Say, OF whose osstovingi
Was u hers, who's angel face
on ~ se cheek the rasR grace
OF health 70 Slowly psliuai
Hers wh pse Is like Ne beam
Where Il sparkle brightes;
escet - yauthai lover's dream
When his heart q. hghte,D
.. Hers uh ise heard
Through those gardens raging,
Like hAppS fgfest bird
In the greenwood sngEgf
we've those ~ ant blossom gems
WheTs the dee drop fingers,