Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-09-08
Mistellatteons.
THE ROMANCE OF MADRONO HOLLOW.
BY BRET HARTE.
(Frona the Atlantic Monthlyfor September. ),

(from the Atlantic Monthlytor September.)
The latch on the garden gate of the Fol-
insbee Ranch clicked twice. The gate it.
self was so much in shadow that lovely
night, that "old man Folinsbee," sitting on
his porch, could distinguish nothing but
tall white hat, and beside it few flutter-
ing ribbons, under the pines that marked
the entrance. Whether because of this
fact, or that he considered sufficient
time had elapsed since the clicking of the
latch for more positive disclosure, l do
not know; but after few moments hesi-
tation, he quietly laid aside his pipe and
walked slowly down the winding path to-
ward the gate. At the Ceanothus hedge
he stopped and listened.
There was not much to hear. The hat
was saying to the ribbons that it was a fine
| night, and remarking generally upon the
clear outline of the Sierras against the
blue-black sky. The ribbons, it so ap-
peared, had admired this all the way
home, and asked the hat if it had ever seen
anything half so lovely as the moonlight
on the summit? The hat never had it
recalled some lovely nights in the South in
Alabama, c. in the South in Ahlabahm, "
was the way the old man heard ito but
then there were other things that made
this night seem SO pleasant The ribbons
could not possibly conceive what the hat
could be thinking about. At this point
there was pause of which Mr.. Folinsbee
ayailed himself to walk very grimly and
craunchly down the gravel walk toward
the gate. Then the hat was lifted, and
disappeared in the shadow, and Mr.. Folins-
bee confronted only the half-foolish half
mischievous, but wholly pretty face of his
daughter.
1t was afterward known to Madrono
Hollow that sharp words passed between
"Aliss 10" and the old man, and that the
latter coupled the names of one Culpepper
Starr ottle and his uncle, Colonel Starbot-
tie, with certain uncomplimentary epithets,
and that Miss 10 retaliated sharply "IIer
fathers blood before her fathers face boil
ed up and proved her truly of his race"
quoted the blacksmith, who leaned toward
| the noble verse of Byron. ''She saw the
old mans bluff and raised him." was the
director comment of the college-bred Mas
| ters.
| Meanwhile the subject of these animad-
versions proceeded slowly along the road
| to point where the Folinsbee mansion
building, unpretentiOus, yet superior to its
neighbors, and bearing some evidence of
taste and refinement in the vines that
clambered over its porch. in its French
| windows, and the white muslin curtains,
that keep out the fierce California sun by
dav, and were now touched with silver in
the gracious moonlight. Culpepper leaned
against the low fence, and gazed long and
~ OF ba builIinfr Tho, no ,poon-
| light vanished ghost-hke from one of the
windows, a material glow took its place,
and girlish figure, holding candle, drew
the white curtains together. To Culpep-
per it was vestal virgin standing before
a hallowed shrine; to the prosaic observer
fear it was only fair-haired young wo-
man, whose wicked black eyes shone with
unfilial warmth Howbeit, when the fig
ure had disappeared, he stepped briskly
into the moonlight of the high road. Here
he took off his distinguished hat to wipe
his forehead, and the moon shone full upon
his face.
1t was not an unprepossessing one, albeit
a trifle too thin and lank and bilious to be
altogether pleasant. The cheekbones
were prominent, and the black eyes sunken
in their orbits. Straight black hair fell
slantwise off high but narrow forehead,
and swept part of a hollow cheek A long
black moustache followed the perpendicu-
lar curves of his mouth 1t was on the
whole serious, even Quixotic face, but
at times it was relieved by rare smile OF
such tender and even pathetic sweetness
that Miss 10 is reported to have said that
if it would only last through the ceremo
ny, she would have married its possessol
| ba Il fol aId
that shameless young woman; 'but tn,
man instantly fell into a settled melan
choly, and hasn't smiled since"
A half mile below the Folinsbee Rancl
the white road dipped and was crossed b,
a trail that ran through Madrona Hollow
Perhaps because it was near cut off t.
the settlement, perhaps from some les
practical reason, Culpepper took this trail
and in few moments stood among thu
rarely beautiful trees that give their names
to the valley. Even in that uncertain ligh
the weird beauty of these harlequin mas
queraders was apparent; their red trunk
"a blush in the moonlight, deep blood
stain in the shadow-stoOd out against th'
silvery green foliage. 1t was as if nature
in some gracious moment had here caugh
and crystaliized the gypsy memories o
tuo transporter oPaui"iu " Sho~i ihiii -
his lonely exile.
AS Culpepper entered the grove he
heard loud voices. As he turned towards
clump of trees, figure so bizarre and
characteristic that it might have been a
resident Daphene,-a figure overdressed
in crimson silk and lace, with bare brown
arms and shoulders, and a wreath of hon.
eysuckle,-stepped out of the shadow. Ii
was followed by man. Culpepper
started, To come to the point briefly, he
recognized in the man the features of his
respected uncle, Colonel Starbottle; in
the female, lady who may be briefly de.
scribed as possessing no claim to the po-
lite reader. To hurry over equally un'
pleasant details, both were evidently un
der the influence of liquor.
From the excited conversation that en-
| Sund C,ulnnnnnr uathel.ed that soma in Sn |