New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-18
CHAPTER ~.
me OLD cRoHZ's wARylyc.

HE OLD CRokE's WABSiN6.
The young artist arose with las determination un-
changed. A nights reflection had only strengthened
his purpose TO solve the mystery OF the haunted house,
He sat beneath the old trees, and partoook of bis
breakfast wondering within himeef il he could ever
give fair transcript. of this lovely valley with its
charming contr lss, s exquisite blending Of grandeur
and beauty.
Again Mr.. Higgins and his wife would have renewed
the discussion Of the previous evening, and dssuaded
him from attempting 10 visit the cottage but he gay
refused to listen TO any further remembrance and at
last left them pursue mis- way up the valley carry
ing his portfolio under his arm.
He paused many times IN his walk 10 note the pic
turetque in the brook which rushed with noisy
braw 10 ward s bourne The mists rolled away,
and The hills sharply defined in the morning air
their purple shadows contrasting With the brightness
of the sparkling stream which broke into foam At their
base. lie az length came 10 a rustic bridge which
spanned the stream just below the fall this seemed
scarcely safe 10 pass, but he ventured over, and by
stepping cayefuy, reached the other side 10 safety.
Arden had lotered so long upon the road that the
shin Dg brightly the decay cd roof OF Glen
fall cottege when be entered the enclosure that eur
rounded il. Tie story he had heard gave this yard
terrible attraction 10 him. lie trod sow Wy through it,
and eDdeayored, in Imagination, TO follow the path of
the brethren who bad cluehe each other in thai fearful
death struggle, seeking to picture the wildly be-
fore his mind, that he NIGH. reproduce ii with the
power of q master.
There grew near the edge Of the bluff knarled and
kpotty tree which looked az If some elfn hand had
twisted j. ont of shape in it, DfsI Cyl and nature ID
been unable 10 restore tie original grace aud beauty 10
her offspring The rugged roots grew above the sur
rounding soil in many places, they had been At
acme far distant pe.od torn from is projecting en-
brace; and il needed little effort OF tie Imagination 10
FIX this stuned tree as the which had sustained
The elder brother while he hurled the younger de-
strueton upon the rocks below.
Arden aat down under lbs shade and arranged all the
detss Of the picture be intended TO paint He made u
slight pencil sketch Of the ene and then proceeded
inspeet the house. This mo foundia better stae of
preservation than he bad been led expect aud lie
was surprised 10 lind tbst efforts had recently been
made TO prevent !; from falling entirely TO decay. The
pillars that supported the porco had been carefully
propped ard ew bolt was fonnd inside of the dor
The last he accounted for by supposng that young Lin
dorf bad placed there protection against intrusioa
on the night Of his nocturnal vigil, though from the
account of Wthers, il Vi not answered the purpose
intended.
The door Enclosed without effort, and Arden entered
a square ball from which apartments opened on either
hand. Neglect and damp had caused the paper hang
ipgs to peel from the walls, leaving only ANAL frag
ments eDgipg here and there, chow that they hat
once represented the island " Calypso, with ia gor-
geous tropical fcenery and lovely nyn phs.
The rooms looked "a II they had been recently
swept and there accumulation OF rubbish snch
az Usually found In deser.ed houses. large apart
meDt op the southern side had bay window, RON