Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-03-16

and all the elegaucieS and luxuries which wealth
can procure, and here he had resided, in happI-
ness end content, with his much loved and still
lovely wife. Coloael Seton, his nearest neigh
Dor, lived about hafa mile above, on hill com
maudIRg a magnificent view for miles Lewis
town and Queenstown appeared to lie at the
foot OF It. The Cataract of Niagara, a few miles
distant, rushing and leaping over its high rocky
bed into the fearful abyss below, like a sea OF
molten silver, and the many bright rainbows
/ blending their gorgeous colOrs In the mist with
the noble Lakes in their calm repose. the vast
extent of forest laud and fruitful valleys, and
the blue hills of Canada in the distance, all. all
combined to make the scene from Seton Hill"
AS 1t was called-on bright morning, almost
one OF enchantment 1t was here that Howell
Meredith spent many happy hours with Henry
Seton and hissIster Florence, on his visits home
4 during his college vacations.
Colonel Seton was born in England his
parents had emigrated TO America while he was
/ yet boy and he had many Of the prejudice.
! OF an EnglIshman, which were derived chiefly
/ from his mother, who was a niece of General Sir
/ gsaac Rock who had Just joined the British for
! ces at Maiden, at the time story commences
Ihe reader may suppose, from the title of coll
onet, that Gerald sefton was in the army but
such was not the case. a long time before war
had been declared, when he was still Young a
num- Der of the neigh boring gentlemen about his
own age had united to raise a regiment of cavalry
IN Lewlstown and its eRvirons, and had chosen
hum TOR the colonel At first, the Young men
were delighted TO show themselves in their mil
ltary costume, on parade days and in sham
( fights. TO the fair ladies of the place; but they
soon began to tire of the play 50 one by one the
volunteers dropped Off until at last. the regi-
Irent was out of service But Seton still re-
tanned the title of Colonel by courtesy. He had
married "a amlable and accomplished AmerI-
eau lady, aud Henry and Florence were their
only children. Howell was two wears older than
Henry, whom he looked upon "A younger broth
. er As for Florence. she was the household pet
lovely. prattllng child of six summers when
the hercdIths came to the Valley-to which
they had given the name of Arcadia. Howell
fine manly boy of ten, loved, when he and
Henry went fishing, to take the little Florence
with them, and see her open wide those deep
blue eyes with wonder, not unmi1ed with fear
when she saw the poor fish dangling from the
hook.
And when 3Ir. Seton brought her. a. she Of
ten did, To the valley, visit 10 her mother
-ior the two families were on terms of the clos
est lutlmlCy-he delighted to place her before
him 'l ns Shetland pony, and 50 ride up and
down tine avenue wItb her.
Bu. tim passed on and Howell during his
visits To Seton Hill, which " ercalinost daily
durIng the vacation time, frequently found him
self disappointed IN his plans of walking boat
ing, and tsing. by being told that Miss Flor
ence was with her governess engaged at her
studies" And, although Henry, who was his
ciassfnatc in college, aud his almost inseparable
companion when out of it, was ALWAYS ready to
accompany him, he would generally sav on such
/ OCCASIONS " Let US put off our excursion until
Florence Is a- liberty, Henry; she viii be dis
appointed II we - without her besides il will
be 90 d,sH' And Henry, who dearly loved his
/ sister, sildom dcmurred
Sometimes, when her pupil had been Dartic-
uI1rly de!Igcnt, Miss Manvers would accompany
them, If the evening" was fine few miles down
the Niagara. IN 4 small yacht BELONGING f.,
Howell : and while he and Henry rowed with
ease their little vessel she would amrIse them
with Indian legends concerning the caves or
the whirlpool in the river between Lewistowp
and the Falls; or. joining her rich, full voice
with the sweet girlish OF Florence accom-
panied by her guitar and the deeper tones of
Howell and Henry, " make the shores vocal with
melody and then they would return delighted
with all around them, with themselves, and with
each other
It Va, Howells last year at college he had
taken leave of his companions for the last time
and had come home with Henry, who was to
return for another yelr, to prepare for a voyage
TO Gottingen. Mr.. Meredith preferred that I'm
IversIty 10 an English one, as ne wished hIs son
who was already something ola German scholar
10 acquire thorough kRoHled dye of the language,
and to becoma acquainted with the works of
the mighty master minds of Germany. Flor
ence. too, who had now attained her fifteenth
year, was, Tor the first time IN her life to leave
hef happy home. Colonel Seton thalrh. il
necessary that she should finish her education
At fashionable boarding g-schOol in the metrop-
oils, and the two females were making arrange
ments to 20 in company to New York. Journey
that, IN those days. considered something of
an undertaking, when there was no locomotive
As now. to pant and puff. and fl v along with YOU
At the rate of twelve or fifteen miles an hour
and the Hudson Canal had scarely been thought
Of
CHAPTER II.
week or two previous to that decided on
for their departure, fine, bright morning in
August, Miss Manner, Florence, Mary Avlmer
an orphan niece of Mrs. Sefton's who. on the
death Of her sister. few months before had
taken charge Of her child-uoweu, and Henry
attended by Thornton. = colored servant cross
ed Niagara short distance below LewistovD
and. after walking about ha'f mile. thev en-
tered wood, and in short time reached \ ro-
mantle g1cn, through which ran and sparkled n
small stream Of water, on each side Of which
rose large moss-C0vercd rocks, which approach
et nearer TO each other as the stream narrowed,
until narrow passage was formed. in which two
persons could hardly 20 abreast. and then it on
eDed on a smiling valley. In this sweet spot
they intended 70 spend the day. Il was a fam
ilv picnic. and Thornton bore on his shoulders
large basket filled with cold fowl ham pastry.
fruit. vino, &c Mr.. and 11rs. Meredith. Col
onel and Mrs. Seton were to follow before din
ner
The preceding day the gentIemcn-th.t is.
the two younger ones. assisted by Thornton
had formed a temporary arbur. where they were
to dine and rest when tired of rambling. IL was
strictly family party for although those who
formed II had may friends both in Queenstown
and LewIstown-tor as yet, the inhabitants OF
the border We're still on friendly footing-vet
they knew many long months must pass before
they could again maet in that sweet spot. and
they wished not for the presence Of auv less dear
friends to cause restraint.
Thornton dspositei his load Howell placed
the cushions he had brought up from his Yacht
on the rustic seats put up for the occasion. Henry
found snug place for the flute, guitar and fiage-
olet which he carried, the ladies' hung their
small work baskets on the branches above them
and then 81. down TO rest for few minutes, and
. c"n~lje- what their next proceeding should
be. Henry proposed fishing their tshing-rods
were ia order and the stream, though small
vas fall Of fine fish. - off they went in fine
spirits TO the creek-alI but Miss 1Ianvers. who
preferred remaining Ia finish an interesting
work she had been reading and Thornton who.