The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-07-22
SELECTED STORY.
A Strange Adventure.

lake would be through the silence of the Au-
gust day bTeak.
"Good-morning" responded, turning TO |
meet the inquring gaze of a tall, gentlemany-
looking personrge, apparently about thllly
i've years OF age, who stood leaning against d
little gate. He was dark and handsome, with
piercing eyes, forehead slightly bald, and
et-black mustache twisted gently away from
small, nervous moutn; and ms dress was
tasteful and fauless in the last degree. He
had taken off his light straw hat to greet me.
and now stood apparently awaiting some
more definite explanation on my part.
beg your parden, sir" stammered. rath-
er confused, IL hope am not trespassine
on private grounds?"
"Why, sir you are undeniaby on nriyate
grounds" returned the stranger smiling. "but
think we won't call it by anv such harsh
nam as trespassing. You are stavins in the
neighborhood.n
am staying at the 'Lake House" for the
summer" explained; land | suppose my
morning walk has led me further than at
first intended"
You are about six miles from the house,
slr, returned my companion, courteously."
AND Judging by your occupation when l
Game down to the gate, you would not object
to crossing back by water"
laughed at and acknowledged the fact.
TO tell you the truth, sir, I was just think
ing hOW COOl anu pIedSenU q SDOrG row WOulu
be. In fact if the boat had not been fasten-
ed, should most assuredly have braved all
consequences, and boldly adventured the ex-
pertinent"
Il thlnk we can overcome that objection.
sad the stranger, quietly turning to an old
ruined tree, whose gnarled trunk oyerhung
the transparent tide, aud drawings key from
It's hollow depth. Suppose we get up an
appellte Tor breakfast togather? l am not an
inexperienced oarsman myself, and I sup
pose you understand the art of propelling on
the water?"
Just give me an opportunity, and see if I
DON'T indicate my education in aquatic mat
tiers" l said, in high good humor, springipg
into the fairy-like little shell, followed by my
new acquaintance. "Really, sir, this is an
unexpected treat. l scarcely know how to
thank you sufficiently for your courtesy"
"Then do not attempt it," said the gentle
man, luclining his head with dignifed, high
bred politeness which impressed me more and
more in his favor. 81 assure you the gratifi-
cation is mutual. Pull to the right a little: :
we shall get entangled in yonder sheet of
floating water-lilies, if we are not careful,
Upon my word this is most perfect morning
for the water"
IL was, indeed! Across the diamond glitter
OF the lake the golden splendors of an August
sunrise were just beginning to be reflected /.
u
mountain peaks leaned against the horizon
ike far-of sentinels, almost losing their out
line IN the blue radiance of the cloudless
heavens.
II wish were an artistw broke almost in
voluntarily from my lips.
my companion smiled.
Need man be an artist to eniov the
1eautles OF such scene as this ?n he muir
INJURED, lazily. 81 suppose there isn't living
soul within mile of us, always excepting
birds and fishes" o
81 suppose not" assepted.
But, nevertheless, the forms and ceremo-
MES OF society cannot entirely be cast aside,
May know whom have had the pleasure of
helping to an hours pleasure?"
areW my card from my waistcoat-pocket,
and handed it across, with a smile.
vernon Cheverly, eh? A pretty name. sir
congratulate myself on making YOUR ac-
quaintance. Will you allow me to recipro-
cate your frankness ?o
ne ooWeo low as he presented me with
crumpled bit of brown paper that he extract
ed rom an Old cigar case. Upon it was in
ecrloed the one word, "Albert."
.Alpeft-whoY Unfortunately questioned.
ALBEhT, STRIP returned my COMPANION.
starting into sitting posture, and regarding
me with stern dignity. "Prince Albert, sir!
Albert of England, Scotland, and Wales p
stared at him aghast. Was the man mad,
or dreaming?
80 your knees. STRIP he said, with sharp.
sudden imperiousness. "Have you no rever-
ence for loyaltyw
| obeyed his quick sign almost be(o,a
knew what was dc ng. He smiled compla-
Gently, at the same tlne drawing gau6v
tlnsel star from his pocket, and gravely affix-
ing it to the left breast OF his coat.
Yes my friend, he went on impressiyelv.
"You are now in the presence of the Prince
Consort OF Great Britain! Men have amused
themselves by disseminating the idle tale
that was dead; that's all they know about
It. L am not dead: and, what is more 7
never shall die. am privileged with the Gift
OF everlasting existence. As long as l wear
this leweLled star, death can never come near
me!'
felt the cold perspiration oozing from every
pore in my body; l could almost feel myself
grow pale as L became fully convinced that 7
was upon the solitary lake with mailman!
had heard when l first came to this noun
tam retreat there was a large asylum some
Where In the vicinity, but had never given
the affair second thought. Now was reap-
ing the consequences OF my own folly and
recklessness.
His dark, piercing eyes roved restlessly from
object TO object Suddenly they rested on
my appalled, countenance
~ GU don't believe what 1 am saying?"
The remembrance of what had often read
and heard about the expediency-nay. the
positive necessity-that existed for indulginp
monomaniacs to the top of their bent. in
whatever whim might possess their minds.
occurred 10 me, ana l hastened to reply, "Of
"Ah! why shouldn't you, indeed But peo-
PIE are SO sceptical nowadays. Now, when
V'ct9r Emmanuel was staying at my house,
and Pope Plus came down by way of the
Mediterranean-Take care; where are you
going?"
had thought to take advantage of the new
pain into which his troubled mind had wan
derea' 10 divert gu" course a little more shore
maru' out MS cunning, rowing eye was upon
me IL an instant"
I'll - getting very hot here" 1 stam-
mefed. 81 thought, perhaps, we should find
- cooler on shore"
"Ah-h b." he Kissed, pntting his face so
close to mine as to glare up into nv ewes.
under the very shadow OF my broad-brimmed
hat; "you're traitor and traitor, like all
the rest of 'em. But Pm prepared for you
Seep
And with a burst of laughter, so dissonant
that the very tide seemed to trembIe and
culver, he flashed long, sharp knife in the
air, describing circle of cleaning light
around his head. My blood seemed turned
to ice in my veins.
Put up the knife, your Royal Highness,"
said, counterfeiting an off hand ease that 1
by no means felt. "Where's the use of it be-
tween friends? Let's talk about the Oneen.n
was the more anxious to secure his atten-
ton, as L saw moving figures on the shore
scarcely half mile away from us, the flutter
OF white handkerchief, and then total dis
appearance OF the figures. Help was at hand
felt quite sure if could only maneuyre So
as to reach it.
No, not about the Queen" said the poor
maniac; "that grieves and affiicts me-" He
closed his knife as he spoke But, do YOU
Know" he continued, 81 am hauuted?''
"Haunted?" l said.
fes-haunted by horrible, ugly, old wo-
mana witch, or sogess, a female fiend, Now
DO you Know" he said, moving close up to me.
ana speaking IN low, mysterious voice. .sshe |
won't let me afone?"
"No?"
"She WON'T Sometimes she climbs I'M
among the stars at night, and sits there wink.
ing through my bedroom all night. Some
times she comes jumping down from the |
clouds among the raindrops, and sometimes |
There she is now, with three pair of fins. and |
a face like fish's" "-''
lie uttered an eiritch scream, as he looked |
down into the clear shining deeps.
Let's escape from her" L exclaimed, Wig
orousy sezIng my oars. "She can't follow
us on to dry land, that's certain. Pull away,, /
NO. she can't. We might hide among the |
WooeS, only, II she should turn into squirrel |
ana jump up and down among the trees-she
does sometimesp o
Wen, then, Wen borrow a gnn ond die
pose OF her," said, still pulling Jesnaratniv
towards Inc shore, while the perspration1
cola ana cammy as midnight dews, steamed
down my temples. 'o""ieo