The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-05-02
,un vnnrn nflnr thnl aummer afLernOonIs

ride-a place In another Worla'
SO sharply was impressed by my COM
nanion's appearance, manner, converse
iIon and by-the more, than those-a Ger.
lain aroma or magnetic halo which | fan.
cied his personality to exhale, that my i'm.
animation constructed romantic theory
Of his probable life-an influence and an
example as wholesome breezes in every
close quarter they might chance. No ar
tlsan was he in his profession, l unused,
but artist in that and the lie broader
than profession.
AS we crossed Spuyten Duyvel my com.
panion aroused himself from his Open'eye
nap, and gave attention to the book in
hand, but soon turned from that to the
scenery. My offer to him Of the seat BY
the window led to some deslltory re-
marks, and those passed into converse.
ton which, before we passed the opposite
Palisades, had grown as warm and earn
est as the talk Of old friends. -
What a delightful ride that Is up the
Hudson River railroad by six or six
thirty train, OF summers afternoon
There was but little dust that day. lthsd
been sitting one in the city. Before
Sing Sing and seven o'clock the hot
sun sank down behind the Nyack bills.
Then we were able TO push up the blinds
and enjoy the full breeze and view.
In a moment we plunge from light,
breeze and freedom into the damp obscu.
rity OF q short tunnel, the.rush with clsng-
ing reVcrberations past the high, shad'
owed, white walls pierced with hundreds
of narrow, grated window sits. You put
your face close to the car side, and peer
up with sad curiosity at the prison sides;
perhaps catch a flssh.like picture in one OF
those iron.barred frames Of iace-mere.
" bare face seen but for an instant-but
perhaps you fancy h hard, desperate
cOuntenance marked by misery and re-
venge. But few seconds for your gloom.
# travels not beyond the massive, dreary
walls and the last sentTy-box. a harsh,
prolonged whistle Of the engine, and we
are by the pleasant open shore again.
Some faint pink lines over the Rockland
hills, the river cheerfully rippled, few
sails. away ahead a steamboat just pass
ing Croton Point. With increasing speed
we flash by Sing Sing, screaming as
though our monster locomotive crRVed
some victim 10 wet It's rails. Now Bran
dreths pretty little pill box aud factory
close under our right; marshy shore
and outstretched nets on the lett. We
cross the drawbridge oil the Croton-thc
beautiful river flowing out OF q but par.
TALLY revealed valley, and spreading into
q bay that looks tho picture spot for punts
and flOcks Of ducks.
Just there, near the south shore Of Gro
ton Point, and about quarter Of mile
from the rails, was sloOp swinging on
new tack as we saw 1t. In the soltening
light, a little in the shadow Of the land,
gently touched by reflection the west
ern sky, and caught but for glance IS
she turned TO new course, and we ran
between the gravel banks that open with
q dry yawn right at the base OF the Point,
she seemed as shape seen In the clouds,
as fading mirage mysterious unreali'
" and faintness encompassing her as the
atmosphere of some phantom craft.
"What O pretty illusion :" exclaimed
my companion with sigh, as If the sight
was too quickly shut out.
ayes" answered, "like brief dream,
a shadow in the water, q reflection from
some river OF the spirit world" and gave
half laugh as sort Of apology for my
romance.
(ueretoIore in this narrative l have not
given our conversation, but only suggest
ed its character and fervor. Now, how
ever, write the words exactly as spo-
KEN
Then my companion, turning himself to
me and throwing his arm along the back
OF the seat behind mean unconscious
gesture that seemed 10 take mo into his
minds embrace-said with sweet, ner-
vous smile, and a tone Of some hesitancy,
lowering his voice and slowly, carefully
ultering his words:
"That little picture impresses you ex-
actly az 1t does me-you words are just
what mine would be. But much more
than this something so strangely sympa-
thetic between you, good sir, and me,
strangers, it would seem, ever before this
afternoon, moves me to nsrrate an incl
dent which the sight Of that phantom.like
boat recalls. The-epi-yes, l will call II
episOde-remains with me an inettaceable
impression, and yet this is tho first time l
have mentioned II. Some dou0t--some
instructive sentiment that cannot ana
lyse-some involuntary check that has
come upon me whenever l have been on
the point of uttering it-has hitherto pre-
vented me from repeating the facts was
u witness to, actor in, l may say. This
repugnance, II l may call 1t 80, was not at
ali superstitious, for the incident had
nothing in it ghostly 10 me, nothing op. !
pressive or fearful, only rystrange; I'M
accountable certainly according TO our
present lights, but suggesting only Wig. |
orous train Of speculation to my thoughts
However, to give you my little story: l
was invited year ago this summrr-by
the way, in this same month oil July-to
Join young friend Of mine, my nephew,
in a coastlng voyage in his yacht. !
gladly accepted, and became one oil a small
but very pleasant party for lortnights
cruise. We ran down to the Chesapeake,
had some charming trips in It's waters,
stopped at Fortress Monroe, entirely es.
capped bad weather, and In every way en-.
joyed ourselves fully. Ny nephew Is
something much better than mere idle
young man of wealth. He follows as an
artist his profession oiliterature, Is man
Of much Information, education, and con-
versational power, and as his lie is pure
and his manners dignifed, he makes dc.
lightful host. To balance the sweetness
OF three ladies and beau oil society, he
brought on the trip E., one OF our
most brilliant lawyers, the Rev. N. O.
whose vile was one olour ladies, and this
old logy myself. However, my short story
has nothing to do with any Of those.
Our sailing master, though paid by the
month, and one oil the best yacht sailors
In New York hRrbor, was q gentleman
equal socially to the best Of US. He comes
OF one Of the first families in the country,
but Is poor, and crazy on everything ma