Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-19
Mistellang.
4 Photographers Love Story.


nartly because people who meant to praise
me always said my results were very good
f,- The work of an amateur but some years
ago | was wild about it. My mania was to
photograph bits of scenery and ruins which
had never been focused before; and IN seek
ins to indulge 1t, | was perpetually getting
away into corners. The cornerest corner L
ever explored in these rambes was in the
west of England. The widest parts OF Scot
land. Ireland and Wales have tourlst-talnt
about them Shiny tOuts and clceroni nave
crawled over their surface with snaii-like
perseverance and stolIdIty, and lett traces.
But no one has ever written handbook OF
Dowd: no one would buy it if he did. Dowd
has no scenery in particular, no terlall
no antiquities of historical or phll0sophl cal
interest. There was ruin, indeed out
commonulace impecuniosity, not romantic
war nor nv sterious haunting, had caused its
decay. and, what was more, fellow 'IVed
In it-not a smuggler nor cOlner, either,
but the 1ighttul owner
should not have found that Out, II 1t had
no. been for thunderstorm. was hard
ss work with my apparatus and Imagination,
Ruin near DJwd, West Front" Ruin
near David, supposed remains of Keep. etc.,
when the sky became SO black that you
NO, Id have thought 1t was going to rain INK
aud the first electric gun was hre1 Now
Dowd. village consisting of a farm, few
laborers' cottages. a forge and a small beer
shop not licensed to sell spirits, was quite
four miles off had my knapsack and some
bread and cheese with me; so 1t was perfectly
Indifferent where | passed the day or night,
50 long as | got shelter. Part OF the rooi
seemed to be IN good repair so struck my
csmera and little tent at once, and commenc-
ed AN exploration of the interior as the hrst
drops began to make their balf-crown sized
splashes After penetrating the dilapIdated
outer walls ought to have seen that the
kernel of the place was in a more habitabe
condition; for there had been an attempt at
cultlvating vegetables In an inner garden,
and the Framework of certain windows was
glazed. But | was so eager to get my appa-
ratus under shelter before the rain came on
in earnest, that | noticed nothing OF this !;
and so it happened that blundered into
furnished apartment. Not that the farni-
ture was extensive; but there was enough to
swear by; a deal table, three cherry wood
chairs, and portrait of a gentleman IN oils
about totaled it. \ man was sitting at the
deal table when | entered He jumped up
at the intrusion; and saw that he was tall,
Young. thin and dressed in suit of shep-
herds plaid considerably worse for wear.
IS beg your pardon, stammered |. 81
ran 10 out of the thunderstorm, not know
ing that the house was inhabited.
:. You thought that a bat, or, at best, an
owl, would be the only tenant OF so tumble
down a place, he said, smiling somewhat
bitterly at my questionable apology but
come ID. | have nothing but shelter to offer
YOU, lear hut to that you are welcome
A thousand thanks said |. " would
do 4 |
have been taking some large photographs,
md DO not wish them to be spoiled. Not
that am sorry to keep my skin out of such
deluge as this.
For The storm had now burst with great
fury Flashes of Lightning now averaged
stout three TO the minute; the thunder was
rather a succession Of explosions than the
normal roll and the rain came down as II
the gargoyles Of Europe were having an in-
ternational spoutng match overhead.
deposited my traps in a corner, and i'm
mediately became aware OF third person
age. hitherto unnoticcd. This was a very
large black cat, which emerged from under
,Lo table, stretched himself, and without
taking the slightest notice OF myself pro-
eeeded to examine my luggage with great IN
lerest Do not tell me that he had no rea
son. The way he peered about, gently lifting
up the cloths, and letting them down again,
alone proved the contrary. That be per-
ftctly mastered the use OF the camera, | am
not prepared to avow; but he sat isfed him
set that there was no great mischief to be
aYprehended tor presently he came to his
masters side. gave him a rub On the knee
and then began to groom himself with his
tongue.
o.. Poor old Dabble =" said his master,
scratchinp his head with Il fOrefnger ; and
tie animal. instead OF purring like another
est. gave little murmured " Vow, Vow -
-ss evident an attempt to speak as possible.
"Dabble. Polite Tor dable - l inquired.
Yes. He Is my familiar, and with one
exception, my only friend and companion,
Are you not, Dabble :?
Vow, Vow"
Is he old ~
Very. Fifteen years, should say
do not think [ am very curious about
other peoples private aff4irs, as general
rule; but certainly confess to having ielt
that impertnent passion in the present IL
stance Who was this young man, whose
manners. phraseology and accent bespoke
him an educated gentleman ? And why die
he live In ruin alone with a black ca;
double the size and Intelligence of other black
cats? Well, he didn't quite. There was
witch connected with the establishment; and
presently she came IN. Her hooked nose,
curved chin, and general appearance might
fairly have burned her, were not faith cold
without collateral evidence; but she carried
her broom in her hand aud the black cat
ran TO her, rubbed against her old legs, sat
up. and plunged his claws again and again
into her dress with ecstatIc grasps. Damna-
tory signs against the whole family: " Tor
lures for three - the order peremptorilY
demanded by the fitness Of things, Mr.. Toole.
Yet she Was q poor, degenerate, harmless
witch perhaps lapsed witch, who had
been baptized for she was afraid OF the
thunder, and shook like screw-steamer IN
gale whenever q fresh clap came. She had
taken refuge in vault which was once a
cellar. ano had been flooded out, The sight
Of me frightened her almost as much as the
thuuder and water.
~ We are not used TO visitors said the
young man with smile OF explanation.
" This gentleman has come 10 for shelter,
Molly Have we anything TO offer him be-
sides dry bread and hard cider p
Dabble brought in rabbit early this
morning, Master Walter" lnumbled the old
woman.
Good Dabble ~ and he patted the eats
head. Veil, cook the rabbit for US, please
Molly"
There were some smouldering wood en-
teTs on the large hearth, which the old wo'
man raked together, and blew up into
fame; and then adding fresh fuel, she disap-
peared to skin the Dabble-captured bunny
which was in due time boiled. and set before
us. Our tabe-cloth, though very coarse,
vas clean; and the same might be said Of
the non lorks 1 added the bread and cheese
from my kuapsack to the common stock. My
host took the head of hs table with the all
Of Belgravian entertainer /; Dabble stooo
at his side On his hind-legs, with his fore
paws and black head appearingover the edge
Of the board till lie received a suitable NOR