Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-02-11
The Llly's Quest-An Apologize.
BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

antique temple, which II was their purpOs
10 consecrate to all manner Of refined an,
innocent enjoyments. There they woult
hold pleasant intercourse with one another
and the circle of their familiar friends
Mere they would give festivals Of dsliciou
irult' there they would hear ligh tsom
music, intermingled with the strains O
pathos which make JOY more sweet; Their
they would read poetry and fiction, and per
NIT their own minds to fit away in day
dreams and romance there, in short.-fo
why should we shape out the vague sunshin,
| oil their hopes there all pnre delight.
/ were to cluster like roses among the pillar
| OF the edfce, and blossom ever new anC
! spontaneously. So, one breezy and cloud
less afternoon, Adam Forester and Lila.
| Fay set upon ramble over the the wild,
estate which they were to possess together
seeking proper site for their temple O
Happiness. They were themselves fail
and happy spectacle, fit priest and priestes.
Tor such shrine although, making poetry
OF the pretty name Of Lilias, Adam For.
rester was wont to call her Lily, because
her form was as fragile, and her cheek al
most as pale
As they passed, hand in hand, down the
avenue OF dropping elms, that led from the
portal Of Lilias Fay paternal mansion, they
seemed to glance like winged creatures
through the strips of sunshine, and to scat
ter brightness where the deep shadows fell.
Bat, setting forth at the same time with
this youthful pair, there was a dismal figure,
wrapping in black velvet cloak that might
have been made OF a coffin pail, and with a
som fIrn h4- srfah a.
lng it, broad brim over his heavy brows.
G!ancing behind them, the lovers well knew
who it was that followed, but wished from
their hearts that be had been elsewhere.
as being a companion so strangely unsuited
% their Joyous errand. 1t was a near rela-
tive Of Lilias Fay, an old man by the name
OF Walter Gascoigne, who had long labored
under the burden Of melancholy spirit,
which was sometimes maddened into abso-
luIe insanity, ard always had a tinge Of it..
W hat contrast between the young pilgrims
of bliss and their unbidden associate They
looked as if moulded of Heaven sunshine,
and be Of earth's gloomiest shade they
fitted along like Hope and joy. roaming
hand in hand through life; while bis dark
some figure stalked behind, type of all the
woiGl Influences which life could fling upon
- Dl' ~ ~ i.At MOI 7one i1r'
gentle Lily, and She paused.
.t;. ~, ii ~ ~ 9'i''i- We -uu 'ian
- r'-.t.. n9 sI1oIi1 d, We seek
'-'' ''''' ''l 'ii' 9i'0 o' ouI 'eHliie
1t was indeed delightful spot of earth,
though undistinguished by any very promi-
nent beauties, being merely nook in the
shelter Of a hill, with the prospect Of a dis
tant lake IN one direction, and Of a church
splre IN another. There were vistas and
pathways. leading onward and onward into
the green woodlands, and vanishing away
in the glmmering shade The temple, If
erected here, would look towards the west,
SO that the lovers could shape all sorts Of
magnificent dreams out Of the purple, violet,
and gold Of the sunset sky; and few Of their
anticipated pleasures were dearer than this
sport Of fantasy.
"Ae>, said Adam Forester, 1--WE might
seek all day. and find no lovelier spot We
will BALD our temple here
But their sad old companion, who had
taken his stand on the site which they pro-
posed TO cover with a marble floor, shook
his head and frowned and the Young man
and the Lily deemed it almost enough to
blight the spot, and desecrate it for their
airy Temple, that his dismal figure had
thrown IT. shadows there. lie pointed to
some scattered stones. the remains of a
former structure, and TO flowers such as
young girls delight to narse in their gardens
but which had now relapsed into the wild
simplicity Of nature.
Not here '' cried old Walter Gascoigne
Here, long ago, other mortals built their
Temple of Happiness. Seek another site
Tor yours
What !' exclaimed Lilias Fay Have
any ever Planned such Temple, save our
selves
Poor child said her gloomy klnsman.
In one shape or other, every mortal has
dreamed Your dream.
Then he told the lovers, hoS-not, indeed,
an antique Iemple-bGt dwelling had once
stood there and that dark-clad guest had
dwelt among its inmates, sitting forever at
the tre~ldc, and poisoning all their house
hold mirth. Under this type, Adam For
rester and LlllaS saw that the Old man spoke
Of Sorrow. lie told of nothing that might
not be recorded in the history Of almost
every household and yet his learners felt
as II no sunshine ought to fall upon spot
where human grief had left 50 deep STAIN
or, at least, that no Joyous Temple should
be built there.
This Is very sad, said the Lily, signing
Well, there are loyelier spots than this, -
said Adam Forester, soothingly,-''spots
which sorrow has not blighted -
So they hastened away, and the melan-
choly Gaseoigne followed them, looking as
if he had gathered up all the gloom Of the
deserted spot, and was bearing It as bur
den of ine>tlmable treasure. But still they
ramblcd on, and soon found themselves in Il
rocky dell, through the midst Of which ran
a stfeamlet, with ripple and foam, and
continual voice of inarticulate Joy. Ii was
a wild retreat, walked on either side with
gray precipices, which would have frowned
somewhat 100 sternlv, had not profusion
of green shrubbery rooted itself into their
creyices, and wreathed gladsome foliage
around their solemn brows. But the chief
Joy of the dell was in the little stream,
which seemed like the presence Of a blissful
child, with nothing earthly TO do save to
babble merrily and disport itself, and make
every living soul its playfellow. and throw
the sunny CLEANS of its spirit upon all.
"llcrc, here i the spot cried the two
lovers with one voice, as they reached a
level space on the brink Of small cascade.
This glen was made on purpose for our
Temple"
And the glad song Of the brook will be
always in cur ears, said Lilias Fay.
And its long melody shall sing the bliss
of our lifetime" said Adam Forester
.Ye must build no Temple here,'' mur-
INJURED their dismal companion.
And there again was the old lunatic,
standing Just on the spot where they meant
to rear their lightsome dome. and looking
like the embodied symbol Of some great woe,
that, in forgotten days, had happened there.
And. alas there had been woe, nor that
alone. 4 young man, more than hundred
wears before, had lured hither girl that
loved him, and on this spot had murdered
her, and washed his bloody hands in the
streamwhich run so merrily. And ever since,
,Lo ,-;,.;,,-'- oafb-.briol-, ,rare of+an baa I'd