Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-03-07
Tie Leisure Hour.
ruDr0C n.spUER'S LOV'E STO-
RN'.

9 rHDTOC H.fpHER'S LOrE STO-
RY'.
have grown tired of photography, part
~ because my fingers were continually
black, partly because people who meant to
praise me always said my results were
very good for the work of an amateur; but
some wears ago 1 was wild about il. My
mauia W. to photograph bits of scenery
and ruins which had never heen focused
before and in seeking to indulge it, was
| pcrpetualy getting away into corners. The
correreet corner ever explored in these
rambes was in the west of England. The
widest parts Of Scotland, Ireland aud
Wales have tourist-taint about them sill
NV touts and ciceroni have crawled over
their surface with snail-like perseverance
and stolidiy, and left traces. But no one
has ever written a hand book of Dowd; no
one would buy it if he did. Dowd has no
scenery. in particular, no waterfall, no an
Equities of historical or philosophical in
terest. There was a ruin, indeed but COM
monplacc inpecunosity, not romantic war
nor mysterious haunting, had caused its
decay, and, what was more, fellow lived
in it,-not a smuggler nor coiner, either,
but the riehtful owner.
I should not have found that out, if it
had not been for a thunder storm. was
| hard at work with my apparatus and imag-
| iuation,-"Ruin near Dowd, West Front !"
"Ruin near Dowd, supposed remains of
Keep ctc.,-when the sky became so
| black that You would have thought 1t was
going to rain ink, and the first electric gun
was fired. Now, Dowd, village consist
| ing of a farm, few laborers' cottages, a
forge and a small beer-shnp not licensed to
sell spirits, was quite four miles off. | had
nv knapsack and some bread and cheese
with me: so ii was perfectly Indifferent
where passed the day or night, so long
as ! got shelter. Part of the roof seemed
TO be in good repair; so I struck my cam
era and little tent at once, and commenced
an exploration of the interior as the first
drops began to make their rhalf-crown-sized
eplashes. After penetrating the dilapidat-
ed outer walls. 1 ought to have seen that
the kernel of the place was in more hab-
liable condition for there had been an at
tempt at cultivating vegetables in an inner
|
dows was glazed. But 1 was so eager to
get my apparatus under shelter before the
rain came on in earnest, that 1 noticed
nothing of this; and so it happened that
blundered intoa furnished apartment. No
that the furniture was extensive; but there
was enough TO swear by; deal-table
three cherry wood chairs, and portrait o
in nilc ohput tOtnla1 If A
man was sitting at the deal table when
entered. He jumped up at the intrusion
and saw that he was tall, young, thin anC
dressed in suit of shepherds plaid con
siderably worse for wear.
~ beg your pardon" stammered /. I"
ran in out of the thunder storm, not know
ing that the house was inhabited"
"You thought that bat, or, at best, al
OWL would be the only tenant of so tum
ble-down a place." he said, smiling some
what bitterly at my questionable apology
"but come in. have nothing but shete
to offer you, fear but to that you are wei
come"
! "A thousand thanks" said I. az woul
, not intrude on you, if it were not that
have been taking some large photographs
and do not wish them to be spoiled. Nc
that I am sorry to keep my skin out {
such deluge as this
For the storm had now burst with gre;
fury. Flashes of lightning now average
y about three 10 the minute; the thunde
was rather succession of explosions tha
the normal roll and the rain came dow
as If the gargoyles of Europe were havin
/, an international sponting match overhead
deposited my traps in a corner, and in
- mediately becnme aware of third person
age, hitherto unnoticed This was a yer
large black cat, which emerged from NJ
-. der the table, stretched himself, and will
L out taking the slightest notice of myse
Il preceded to examine my luggage wit
great interest. Do not tell me that he ha
no reason. The way he peered abou
n gently lifting up the cloths, and lettir
them down again, alone proved the contr
ry That he perfectly mastered the use
the camera, l am not prepared to avow
bnt he satisfied himself that there was I
great mischief 10 be apprehended for pre-
} emily lac came to his masters side, ga,
him rub on the knee, and then began
groom himself with his tongue.
"Poor old Dabblew said his maste
scratching his head with forefnger; an
the animal, instead of purring like anott
. err cat, gave little murmured "Yov
. Vow w-as evident an attempt to speak
possible.
= "Dabble. Polite for diable9" l inqui
ed.
"Yes. He is my familiar, and, with oil
exception, my only friend and companlo
Are you nor, Dabble?"
lie "Yow, Yow."
"Is he old?"
"Very. Fifteen years, I should say"
u do not think am very curious abo
other peoples private affairs, as gener
rule; but certainly confess to having fe
that impertinent passion in the present i
!, stance. Who was this young man, who
=, manners, phraseology and accent bespol
him an educated gentleman And wi