The Portland daily press., 1875-03-13
From the Galaxy.l
A Rainy Evening at Mt.
.----.----DeSert.

drizzle, worse. even than anything that had
come before.
For whole week-seven days and nights
we at Bar Harbor had watched the sky; at
least we had watched it whenever the shifting
fogs permitted us glimpse of the heavens
above.
The weatherwse now shook their. heads,
and Captain Rodick himself no longer ven
tured to enliven us with cheerful promises of
"a sunny day tomorrow, and sky, miss,
every bit as blue as your eyes,"
The implied compliment, or perhaps the
sublime trust manifested by the captain-our
host-had, up to this time, nvigorated us, but
now we rebelled, and sturdily refused longer
to pin our faith to the ancient mariner. Re-
peated disappointments had destroyed all
belief in him.
We were at an end, too, it seemed to our
weary souls, of all our resources. Our prima
donna assoluta was hoarse; it must be con-
fessed that our demands upon her good ma
ture had been merciless. The glorious voice
of our contralto had been smothered by the
fogs. The tenor had turned sulky, and the
basso, no longer robusto, was vanquished by
a cold in the head. Charades had been
played to the bitter end. The steamer being
weather bound at Southwest Harbor had de-
prlved the men of their newspapers. The
women could not gossip, for there was moth
ing to gossip about, and scandal is poison
Gus plant that finds no foothold in the
healthy atmosphere OF Mt Desert.
The irrepressible school girls, aided bp the
Harvard freshmen, who for the nonce laid
aside their dignity, had passed half the day
in Smelling peanuts in preparation for grand
candy frolic. Being promised undisturbed
possession of the kitchen at nine O'Clock, they
were quite content in their prospective bliss,
and looked on with beaming faces at the rest
less dissatisfaction OF their elders. A whist
table was arranged, and then dozen serene
souls sought peace in their embroidery; as
many more paired off, wrapped in water
proofs and top boots, and found their enjoy
ment in mild firtations in sheltered hooks on
the piazza. some of us stood listlessly by
the workable, and one adventurous spirit
attempted to start a conversation by ques-
tions and comments upon the many pretty
tribes promoted to the honor of containing
the various implements of feminine industry.
Our dainty box OF sandal wood betrayed its
origin at once by the subtitle Oriental odor,
intensified by the warmth of the room. An
other, quaint in form, OF lacquer glitterins
with golden particles, spoke as loudly of jap
an, and one of Russia leather brought wildly
to the eyes and memories of some of us the
mingled delights and discomforts of the Wen
ma Exposition.
Here again rustic paner reminded us of
the pretty girl from whom we purchased it
the fresh, sunny morning, the Swiss village,
And this odd, many-sided box of mosaic
wood. Surely Genoa was its birthplace; and
this far tastic, bedizened, came as surely from
Mentcne.
Among them all we must not forget the
slender canoe of birch bark holding knitting
needles, nor yet the willow baskets made by
our North American Indians, of whom the
dear Professor said such a clever thing when
he depiore1 their lack of individuality, and
called them bundle of instincts and toma-
hawk. 49,.
But the leader of the forlorn hope was soon
discouraged. People would not talk, and no
one threw back the conversational ball.
By far the greater number of the girls and
men were still unoccupied, when suddenly
some one-of course wOman-had a bright
thought, and the words "Stories-ghost
stories!' were passed about.
Finally the small paror was taken violent
possession of, and all persons who would give
no promise of personal eXertion for the enter
tainment of the evenining were politely in
formed that good fire and bright lights were
burning else where.
One young woman of dramatic instincts at
once proceeded to manipulate the lamps.
She turned them far down, and we, in our
keen desire that the mise en- scene should be
perfected, we've politely oblivious 10 the odor
ofkerosene oil.
Wood was added to the fire, and bright
eyes shone like stars from out the dim corners
of the room, where the girls were seated on
the floor in picturesque groups, lighted only
by the Pickering flames. The men went for
their gay-colored rugs, and established them
selves at the feet of the bellies DANES, much as
if they were picknicking at Great Head.
At last, all these important arrangements
being completed, everybody was ready to lis
ten; but who should begin? The drawing
of lots was suggested, and the first story was
told by saturnine individual, who made us
all SILVER by clever tale, in which skeletons
and skulls played no mean part.
Then followed some extraordinary spiritual
developments, as narrated by enthusiastic
believer. A fair-haired girl, who sat at my
side, leaned forward, with slender hands
closely locked together, her lips half parted,
listening with breathless interest. "Ahp'
she murmured, as silence fell upon US, eff l
could but know that the dead were permitted
to revisit the earth. i'll could but believe
that they might return to bring consol alton
and hope to those whom they have loved and
left.''
Dear child She knows all now. Few as
have been the weeks since that night, they
have yet been long enough to make clear to
her vision the great mystery of death.
Thinking of her earnest eyes and the depth
of longing expressed in them, l seem again
to feel the caressing touch of those white fin
gers, and to hear about the rustic of angels
wings.
Fanny" said manly voice from the fur
Their corner of the room, ''you remember that
pretty girl who used to visit at Aunt Dora's,
in Beacon street, when you were a child.
She certainly had no air OF being gifted with
second sight; and yet can tell you of some
thing connected with her that is totally mex
plicabe by any known laws that govern the
universe. Some years ago went into Aunt
Dora's one winters night, just before dinner,
and found aunty in great distress. Old John,
her coachnlan, had gone off suddenly on one
OF his periodical sprees, and she had no one
to send to the station to meet Miss S, who
was going to pay long talked of visit.
"Aunty," said, don't fret; l will 90
with peasure."I easily set aside her objection
that had never seen the expected guest
and after asking her to describe Miss S,
hurried of, reaching the station just in time
to see the long passenger train come in. l
walked quickly through the cars, and had lit !
tie or no difficulty in finding Miss S. Prompt,
however. as l fattered myself had been in
INV successful efforts, some one was before
me, and as reached the young lady, found
her greeting, with no little agitation, my old
friend Phil Andrews. 1 waited for moment
before either of them noticed me, aud then
gong forward, introduced myself TO the lady,
and was kindly received by her.
ments we three stood together to convince
me that neither of them would have COM
planned Of Aunt Dora had she neglected TO
send for her guest. Twas afterwards told that
Miss S. and Phil were engaged, and only
waited until prudence permitted them to
marry. All these facts, however, were at
that time only guessed at by me, and had
known them l certainly could not have found
therein any explanation of the state of pain
full agitation into which Miss S. was evidently
plunged. ...-E..
''What is it, sweetheart?' 1 heard Phil
whisper tenderly. "Are you iIl?''
'No,now she answered husky. 81 am
foolish and nervous"
'Has any one dared to insult you 2" asked
Phil, with ferocious air.
''Indeed, no." said Miss s.. SIT is only the
old story"
Phil looked troubled and annoyed, but said
no more, and Miss S., turning away silently,
struggled for composuIe, The luggage was
at last found, and we all soon stood in nv
aunt's warmed, well-lighted and flower
scented rooms
AuHty received Miss S. with loving arms.
and 1 heard her say, Well, deary, has ali |