Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-07-02
flowers, etc., and generally amusing

flowers, ETC., and generally amusing
ourselves.
"You must know that there is an ir-
regular chain of small lakes extending
transversely from the Bay of Quinte,
near the eastern end of Lake Ontario,
to the eastern end of Superior. Rice
lake is the first of the chain counting
from Ontario, and it lies at distance
of from two to four hours drive from
several small towns on the frontier. We
had an early breakfast, and set off at 8
o'clock, so that we need not be ON the
road during the heat of the day. There
were several carriages the one In
which I rode was handsome barouche
hired from livery-stable for the occa-
sion, and by my side sat the all-con-
querins Mr.. Downs.
"For some unexplained reason Harry
Vane did not go In any of the car
riages, but was mounted on horseback,
and he rode gayly by the side of first
one vehicle, then another. When we
had gone little distance out of town
the country air, sights and sounds were
SO exhilarating that we in our carriage
began to sing. Harry, hearing us,
rode up and joined in the song, he be-
ing particularly fond of singing. Short
" we struck off into an old ditty which
he and L had sung together countless
times when we stood each first In the
esteem of the other and no gay stranger
had come between us. For a stanza or
two Harry sang bravely, but when he
came to the refrain suddenly his horse
bolted and he rode off, catching at his
hat with one hand and seeming to draw
rein with the other. The remainder of
the party thought his horse had SHE'D
and run away with him, but 1 saw
| thoroughly the whole maneuver, and
a sudden pang shot through my selfish
heart.
"On reaching the lake at the point
| agreed upon, we separated into little
companies, and wandered about at will,
but keeping within the vicinity of the
camp until the horn sounded for dinner.
We were all, as is is usual at picnics, in
hungry mood, and we did not dine
mincingly.
"After dinner we lolled about OH the
grass for awhile, then formed plans for
the afternoons campaign. There were
were kept for hire, and far proportion
of our band decided in favor of an ex-
cursion on the Lake, some parties going
in one direction, some IN another. The
boats would accommodate only four
persons each, the rowers and two others.
Three boat-loads, twelve individuals In
all, determined to pay a visit to the
tower on the opposite shore of the lake,
and about three miles farther up. As
we divided ourselves into parties of
four, 1 felt an irrepressible desire to
have Harry Vane, who had declared for
the tower, in our boat, so l called out:
Sc Harry, are you coming with us?'
meaning by US, Downs and myself.
CT shall never forget the look of
mingled pain and pleasure with which
he replied: No, Charlotte George
Law is quartered in your boat
:" 1t was half-past three o'clock when
we landed near the tower and drew the
boats up on the beach. This tower was
an octagon building three or four stories
in height, consisting of only one room
to each story, with narrow spiral stair
case leading from base to summit. At
the top was an observatory not much
larger than q good-sized bird-cage,
which had once been furnished with a
small telescope mounted on a swivel,
but was now reduced to very common
place spy-glass. The basement was a
deep, dungeon-like hole, with a grated
door through which one entered sub
terranean passage leading out to the
shore of the lake. This tower, with its
lean-to kitchen, or, rather, cook-house,
was built on hill at the distance of
about two hundred yards from the
waters e5ge, and was the product of a
Quixotic Englishman, an old bachelors
fancy The whimsical man did not
carry out his original intention of
making a complete miniature castle of
the feudal times, but suddenly aband
oned the enterprise and went as he
came, nobody knew whittier. This odd
little tower had been surrounded on all
sides, save the deep bank next the
water, by dininutive moat, which was
now dry ditch filed vita weeds and
wild flowers there, too, was the wreck
of a toy-like drawbridge, and within the
inclosure were several manufacturing
garden chairs cut into the stumps of
trees There was family residing in
the house, at least they made it an &C.
casional residence during the summer,
but that day they were absent, and the
garrulous old servant in charge showed
us over the premises.
"We stole down by the light of
lantern through the underground pas
sages to the opening on the lake; we
climbed the steep stairs and peeped
through the old spy-glass : sat in the
grotesque chairs, and gathered bouquets
from the quondam moat. All these
vagaries consumed so much time that,
before we were aware, the sun was going
down the westward slope in way that,
when we noticed it, sent us to our boats
with speed. We were soon gliding over
the water in jovial spirits and at fair
rate of motion toward the camping
place on the shore next horne. The
three boats kept near together, and as
we went we sang Tom Moore's Canadian
boat-song. just as our voices were
ringing out
80 Row brothers, row. for the stream runs fast
The rapids are near and the daylight is past
sudden breeze almost took the light
umbrella with which I was screening
myself and Communion from s11n and