The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-10-27


wonder at it, as there was q beautiful |
lake on the grounds, with smooth grassy |
margins all along the rich meadows; and |
shallow cnough to be safe to all, but |
winding off into some thick plantations |
on high ground, where it became of cor
responding depth, and where several
rocky inlotg broke its surface, and rem
dcrcd it, if somewhat gloomy, exceed
ingly picturesque and solemnly bcauti-
full. Young Westorton was an excellent
swimmer, and especially delighted in
tho refreshing exercise, so much so that
he would not unfrcqucntly spend the
greater part of q Summer afternoon in
and about the lake, striking out boldly
from the more open parts, and rovelling
like very Triton among the rocks and
'sunken trees of the deeper and less &C.
cessible portion. Sometimes he would
lie passive on the surface of the water,
floating almost motionlcss, or gently
padding hithcr and thither in the full
enjoyment Of youth, health, and vigor.
ain amusing contrast thyoung Wes-
terton's love of thcWatc the extreme
horror always manifested by the Hindoo
GhOlab, whenever he was compelled to
approach its banks. Nothing less than
the most positive orders fro n his master
ever brought him near, and it was ludi-
Crous to see the speed with which he
| hastencd from its vicinity as soon as,
having discharged his service, herecciv-
ell his masters permission to retreat.
The latter accounted to us for this strik-
ing dislike by relating an incident which
occurred in one Of the Indian rivers near
which Gholab's childhood was passed.
| lie was one day, in company with an
other youth, padding about in the
stream, when suddenly large alligator
rose close upon them, seized his COM
| parion, and disappeared suddenly with
| him ii his laws. The shock was 50
great that the poor fellow, who was sin
ccrcly attached to She wnlucliy victim,
never quite got over its effects, but re-
! tanned the picture of that horrible incl
dentin his memory, to be frcshencd and
intonsifed by any combination Of wood
aild water tall resembling the scene Of
the a&d catastrophe, wonderful fescm-
blTucc to which, said Cousin WCstert2n,
some parts Of my unclc's domain do
certainly exhibit
awe were now within fortnight of
the projected marriage, and 1 was one
day out on a shooting expedition, when,
happening to pass near the turnpike
road, saw gig rapidly approaching
! from the direction of the Hall, and soon
heard myself hailed by Cousin Wcstcr-
! ton. | felt that under ordinary circun-
stances lie would hardly have taken the
trouble to greet me, Is we somehow Ead
not grown to caro- much for each other.
It was therefore with some curiosity
that went up to the gig, which he ls'u
drawn to tho roadside, and in which he
was standing in evident expectation OF
my approach. f.
"'I have stopped to say good-by,
cried he, eyeing me kccnly the while.
: am called Off by business Of the very
last importance, and should not be sur
lpriscd if find myself tossing on my
outward voyage to India instead Of
dancing at my Cousins wedding. By
the way, what O'Clock is it? My watch
has stopped. Can you give me the cN-
act time? Very provoking, is it not
[ mean having to leave Just at this par
ticular iuncture, What jolly days OF il
II1lf tNtrnl,rr
say. Thank you. Ny uncle quite sees
: thencces.ity for my going. Good sport
, [ hope. Which way do you rcturn?'
81 pointed in a direction which wa:
, not toward the lake.
"Iul sec; through the finest GOV
crs on the estate. Well, Imust not de
{ tain you. Half past twelve, you say
Good-by, good-by.'
"And so he broke off his almost so
, Iilourlv, which either the impatiencC OF
his horse or his own excited mannc
leading to repeated checks at the bride
/ only to be balanced by cOmpcnsatin!
| touches of the whip, had made decid
: edly uncomfortable proceeding. He wa
Y soon out Of sight, and | on my rounds.
CATER while dismissed the keepo
r and his dogs, having determined t
sauntcr quietly back alone. 1t was
y lovely afternoon, with warm, balm,
I brce1cs lust tanning the trees and hedge
rows into graceful animation; the ric,
3 cornland4 lying luHuriously in the VaiC
with their friugcd robes of Autumn
q tinted woodlands drawn irrcgularly nh
= negiigeutly about thcm, and in the di,
J. tancc the slope and swell of many III
= dulatmc hil's, whose varied curves 0
l. beauty stood out in the rich blue slly i
q endless variety Of loYpliuCS3. WC.terto
I, Hall, wiCh it, Wcll-ordcred gardens an
n plantations, stood in the mid-distuncj
e and | was just wishing for some bit &
+ active life to give more human intcrca
: to the scene, when from itsgutes emerl
j. ed Il single horScman, who galloped NJ
C merely swiftly, but, as il seemed to IN,
II frantically in the direction Of the town
u OF course / FASTENED at once to the Hal
4 strange dread came over me, and N
l. thoughts settled with Involuntary tcNa
d ity on the aGitatud manner displayed b
ID Cousin WestertOn whom | met him c
&c the road; but he, l reasoned, could ~
il have been cognizant of any unusual O
'y currencc, or he would at least have i
~ formed me of it, Besides, might l n
lg be needles,ly alarmed? Not SO, howe
H. or, for when | reached the house fOul