Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-05-08
g.ese<t gt'<re'*t>.
COTTAGE IN THE GORGE.

BY 0ERNAINE DUDLEY.


ces, and 81 covered over by gray moss and
creeping vines as 10 be hardly perceptible,
there stood little old cottage, so fallen into
decay that IL had been FOR several years quite
deserted. There was hardly six feet Of
ground on either side between " and the
/. gray rocks. that lowered in rugged, broken
. ceits above hut in ont, and lying broad
10 the sum- q small garden patch, while the
stream just there very narrow, curved quite
rou6a the little spot, which was thus cnlire
~ shut IN by teck and riIcr A )fra look
~ fa>lfc BRIDE, composed mostly Of logs
Was turusn across the stream to the green
tank on the otter si1e from which arose
abruptly smaller eminencc, covered like
that opposite, With huge rocks tumblcd to-
ia wild ctsutuSinn- but with here and
th,rc n patct of g'ass TO relieve the eye,
while tall lncs gr,w in abundance among
the crcyices
There was a otp,th leading down to the
gorgr from the village, worn pIohabyby the
corner uhaHtauts of the cottage; but fall
iro into ai.us. IS hen that was abandoned it
hai become halGoh iterated The gorge was
wild and romantic enough to "leim an inter
est ON H. own account, but there was an
abundance Of Wild scenery in that vicinity,
and the inhamlau's were either too tami lar
vfh or had not "a tcS sufficiently cultivated to
admire it, aS a stranger or lover Oi mountain
views would have done And so it came
about that the gorge WAS n desolate, neglec-
ted SPOT and for months at time, the foot
Of man never trod wi hin its precincts Near
ly a mile above, the banks Of the small
stream were green and beautiful, dotted by
large weeping clms which grew in profu
sion in the meadows. IL was a fivoIite re
sort for myself and my young companion.
Elsie Hart, during our school holidays, f. ON
fl,u Et.t "a hen
the gtouud was broken up by thaws, and
tho water came tumbIinG and roaring in small
cataracts over its shallow, rocky bed and
the first green buds became visible on the
long branching clms, until the frost came in
autumn, curling up The leaves, casting them
brown aud withercd on the earth, and crisp
ing the soft carpet OF green, which we have
revced on through the summer.
One pleasant afternoon. in the last of June
we had been rambling by The riverside
quite unconscious of the length OF our walk
until we suddenly found ourselves in th'
vicinity Of the gorge
'Oh! let's 20 there? said Elsie; the SUI
never finds II way there after this hour, an,
the cool shade viii Dc refreshing after on,
warm walk. ~.
4 do not know about it, said l. 1t Il
l2nsy acr aSk p5aifi pwii IfS the eG cRis f wheD eD0
80 there
oh you little coward = replied Elsie
it isn't lonely. it is only quiet; and tn
shadow i pleasanter that sunshine and a
for the dampness making you shake wiu
chills, il is nothing in the world but you
foolish terror wouldn't be such a baby f.
anything
Now, ii there was one thing that admire,
in this world more than all else, il was Elsie
courage, that never shrank or iatercd bctor
any test that could he applied TO 1.-THE elC
ment Of fear seemed TO have been total
left out Of her composition. | was conseiou
Of NY own weakness, aud clung to, and re
lied upon hcr--as the weak always rely upo
stronger natures than their own.
So | tried 80 pat on a brave face, and sal
would 90, though all attempts to seer
Cou, agcuus did not deceive her for moment
IL vas deep twilight when we entered tn
.gorge-lOr the sun hadlong ago sank behiu
the mountain-yet thought discovered
thin smoke eu ling up from Dhe cottage chin
ney, and pointed il out to Else
She laughed az my taucies, and saidit wa
only a slight mist rising from the river
when my fears, aided 10y the growing dark
ness had transformed into smoke aud toa
/ should, probably with the aid Of a vlvi
Imagination, soon dscoyer other signs tn;
the old ruin was inhabited. Suddenly
grasped her arm could not speak, bl
pointed breathcs>ly to dark-|ooAing iigui
which was crossing the bridge toward the co
tage.
Elsie became quiet at once, though 81
rcsoutely deca' Ell that she would 20 al
see who or what the figure was; for she vi
not going To be humuusgcd into believing
sprits-aod tnat | should 90 with her
l begged and pleaded with her to return
hut. quite needless OF my entreatics, 81
4 4 md 4
force to the trilge. | was half wild vi
terror and ia my struggles o free myS
from her hlld, tSlsteI my ankle and Els
nj that moment releasing her gra>p, | Fl
heavily to the GROUND | was able, with Elsi,
assistance to rise; bat though | made t
Greatest efforts to walk, found it quite i
- possible,
What shall doY exclaimed. Il C
never rot home without help, and | cam
stay here alone while you so back to t
village for assistance!
There is but one thing we can do repli
Elsie. and as you won tagrec TO that, | ml
do It without your consent. Wait her,
moment-no one will harm YOU.
And so saying she ran rapidly across
bridge, up the gRrden path, aud disappear
through the low doorway.
In annther moment she came out aga
bringing with her the TALL dark object Il
had so alarmed me. She came up where
was lying, and in low, kindly voice,
pressed her regret at my accident and urs
me, with much ciyility, to return with i
TO the cottage.
1t is but poor place. she said, 'bu
SSill do my best to make you comfortable
al your friends can be sent for
Her language and maoner were those Q
wer.brcd woman; and losing my fears
once. had no hesitation in accepting her
rerrd hospitality. Assisted by her and Ell
managed, though not without much pa
70 walk the short distance; and in few II
ments wus lying on low, ncat-look
bed, in comparative case and comfort;
quietly suffered Elsie to leave ne to her CO
.shhe she went for assistance to convey
home. .. -,
Left alone with my new companion,
most forgot my pain in the interest
in her.
She was evidently living quite alone
all around the lowly, humble room were
dences Of a refined and cultivated ia
whlch plainly indicated, as well as her