The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-03-15

rections-by hill, valley, and river side. Th
result therefore, of our conversation, was
that |, the elder of the trio. remained a
home to arrange our rooms, and make then
as cheerful us might be, while the other
were sent out us spies into the land.
| will not linger over those weeks, each o
which passed ON shining wings, as we fol
lowed wherever the summer voices called Us
in rough places and smooth. AT the end OF
the fouth we declared ourselves perfectly "a
miiar with the surroundings Of Rock Farm
and had done honor to the aristocracy ol
Ridgeton by appearing ut church in oui
best city costume, very becoming, doubtless
TO the delicate maidens for whom 1t was or,
iginally selected, but far less 80, fear, when
their fashionable pallOr had given place to
that ardent glow which the sun and breezes
love to paint.
| should, perhaps, have qualified my as-
sertion as to our acquaintance with the To-
calities Of Ridgeton. Not halfmile from the
farm, was nobly-wooded park fenced in and
guarded by massive red gates, tacitly warm
ing the curious that farther Investigation
was forbidden there.
That within this silent forest stately
mansion reared its pillars in lonely gran
deur, echOing the tread of two or three aged
rotainers, where it had once flushed with the
warm glow and murmur of busy crowds; and
that the present owner was one Richard
Eyeleth. an eccentric man, whose visits had
Of late years been brief as they were rare;
thus much we gained by inquiries; enough
to stimulate, not calm, the spirit Of inquiry,
as might be supposed.
All this ayailcth one nothing sighed
Margery, gazing down at the floral spoils Of
q delicious ramble, as we lOitcred homeward
past the shut Paradise of our dreams.
The sunset wis just laying its golden
beams under the arching trees, and the sea-
green waves of moss beneath shono like an
enchanted river. What siguifed the variety
and splendOr that lay without this forbidden
ground? no more to us of the present. than
the yeritable Eden of that far past sutiiced to
the happiness of our first parents when u
single prohibition became their ayenging
fate.
Ellinor.' said Alice, turning suddenly
from her mute survey, think il very sim
gular that Grace should never have mention
cd to Us so prominent an attraction rs this
mysterious dwelling, over which we have
puzzled ourselves in vain
She was very young when that visit was
paid, YOU know, Alice. only am surprised
at her remembering as much OF this quiet
town as she seemed TO when our trip was
under discussion, Margery replied for me;
and without speaking | gathered up the bas-
kets at nv feet, and turned towards home.
IL was, as Alice suggested, quite improbable
that our sister Grace. who had detailed,
with wonderful accuracy, the trivial features
Of even that country landscape. could by ac-
cidcnt have omitted this most co.rtly struc-
ture, whose grey towers cleaned in proud
distance through the blue mists OF morning,
or from the crimson folds OF the twilight;
and il designed, was it not that in some way
the sunny girlhood Of which had heard,
and the changed and faded life knew, were
linked sorrowiully with this object of our
curious trifling?
The sharp click Of a horses hoof striking
the silent road disturbed my reverie, and
through the dust-cloud thus raised, the rider,
tall, athletic looking man, glanced down
upon us filing singly along. as TO the noise
less music OF our own girlish dreams.
One OF the new bOar,icrs ut the Ridge
ton HOTEL said Alice, as the sudden appar.
ition disappeared as swiftly as it had come.
= heard Mrs. Ellery say that a number Of
gentlemen were expected this week, on their
return from an excursion among the noun
tains.
Il am glad, for my own part rejoined
Margery, that we shall have something to
look at tomorrow, beside the usual occu-
pants OF those pews near the pulpit. won-
der why ii is that in these country churches
they drag all the unhappy and wretched
looking people the society numbers into the
strongest light, and the most conspicuous
part OF the buildingr
What has that to do with the boarders
at Colonel Emery? Our own seat is 50 near
the preacher | debated only last Sabbath
whether to run the risk OF breaking my
neck by looking up, or of losing my gravity
by looking about at the sleepy people scat
tered around me--nodding and winking, and
tormcnted into sudden starts by the huge
flies At this ludicrous memory We all
laughed together, and Alargsry explained
that Colonel Emery's pew was one OF the
condemned set, thus aiiOrding some relief to
the vision OF the assembly; and at her cor
daily expressed wish that the next day
might prove fine, we turned to view more
anxiOusly the western sky, over whose late
splendor the night had cast mantle Of gray.
As we crossed the threshold the voice OF Far
mer Ellery rang through the wide entry to
the little porch, where ut evening he loved
to sit Jane-Janc Ellery prepare for
rain. 1t will reach us by twelve O'Clock
without fail.
We exchanged glances Of disappointment,
rs this unwelcOme prediction put an end to
our plans for the morrow; but upon second
thought it appeared that Farmer Els opin-
ion was not decisive after all and We retired
with curiosity still active enough to tingc
our midnight dreams.
Don't open your eyes, Alice. would
not wake il | were you only think, it's
raining-Oh, so hard?' Hearing this sage
advice, proceeded to take survey Of the
speaker, who, wrapped in a dressing gown,
and holding with one hand the halt drawn
curtain, stood gazing mournfully at the
binding torrents that dimmed the window
into almost perfect shade. Is it you who
are awake. .Nell-what shall We do with our
selves 2 Margery tip-toed across the room,
and nestled upon the couch beside me.
while Alice. more fortunate still, slumbered
on in happy INCONSISTENCIES.
Make the best of it, said, no other al
tentative suggesting itself. We can walk
over to Ridgeton il 1t is fair, tomorrow, and
II any oi our acquaintance are there, give
them chance To recognize u.s.. So we
chatted, while the rain beat upon the roof
With slow, silyery rythm, and without trail.
ing mist wreaths embodied the Landscape.
giving to it that aspect OF solitude and do.
preston peculiar to stormy Sabbath in the
country. Our patience and ingenuity were
taxed not alone for this day upon which the
rain commenced, but for the three succeed
ing. during which it continued, steady, and
piiiless, and unwearied, as IL the bleak skies
were dissolying into crystal streams. But
when reading, and embroidery, and conver-