Saint Mary's beacon., 1877-12-14

And so all | had to do was 10 90 into
the country and enjoy myself for sir
weeks-that is what il came to.
Why sif ssy one had struck me with q
feather .. Toe moment the doctor utter.
ed his verdict should certainly have
been Knocked down: fortunately no such
a'rocity was attempted, so maintained ID
as erect posture a. my enf-ebled
he slth would allow until the eminent
Iicentiate OF the College Of Physicians,
whom | was consulting, Begged me to
resume my seat.
You are utterly smoke-dried," be
said.
"London or tobacco" I inquired.
Both, he answered. "No phvsic:
fresh air is all you wan.-mountain air
if possible; perfect rest and quiet; alb.
stemious habits, early hours and no to.
bacco."
And then'" blankly inquired.
Then; Oh, then" he answered
''get married and settle down"
1t certainly y was fortunate | was moi
standing up at that moment, for il woult
not have needed touch OF the afore.
said feather TO have laid me low. As il
was | sank hack in my chair aghast.-
Get marriedP' thought: ] who wa.
utterly insensible to female attractions
and who had been always taught tc
have an eve TO the main chance, and
regard matrimsny as a clog, unless as.
sociated with a great heiress. ! gel
married on salary Of f300 q year
Whew!
| left Savile row with scarce another
word, convinced that for real, down.
| right, impractical men there were none
to compare with doctors. ...
Thus took the plunge, and within
five days found myself al snug little
inn in North Wales, hard BY a celebra.
ted spot known as the Devils Bridge, -
few miles inland from Aberystwith
The change soon refreshencd me.
was astonished at feeling neither dul
nor lonely-ior the tourist season haG
hardly set in, and had the little inr
welIhig h TO myself So I wandere,
about and gazed wonderingly at all
saw. especially at the deep, cragg,
wooden gorge or mountain river be-
across which his satanic majesty's en-
glneering skill was supposed to have
been displayed.
A. | stood looking down upon it from
the bridge near the mn, it certainly
seemed To- me wondrously romantic
spot. Steep rork-bound banks, crowned
with trees, hemmcd IN the rushing
i"amiu- river. it, channel becoming ir-
regularly narrow and more prccipi,ou>
a Il r"achrd the head OF the valley IN
the depths of which it lay. Here there
Wa i waterfall. A. then thought. ot
| stupcndous magnitude, and vet little
higher up, second, still larger. As
made nv way down to the river bv a
weil-worn path through a wood, the
sound ot the descending waters, as,
waited on The >oit summer breeze, i,
rose and fell in liquid cadence, fascina-
ted me from the verv first.
The weather hitherto had been SUI
perh, midsummer sunshine, and not a
| drop of rain.
The sunshine slinting through the
trees: the pure SKY above; the song OF
blrd>, not yet all hu>hcd, in the woods:
the fresh breezy odcrs-thcse all be-
, came such novelties and charms as
had never conceived possible. But
seated on an isolated rock, il was still
after all, out OF the "music OF the wa
tcrs" that got my chief mental enjoy.
| ment.
Vt last there was sudden change oi
wind. Heavy clouds swept over the
landscape, buryins in mist or occasion.
al showers all forms save those close al
hand.
Regular Welsh weather, sir" said
fresh-colored elderly gen.lemanlike
man in tourists suit, whom found
the next morning in the colrre-room.-
My party will be house-bound for q
couple Of days at least, il know any-
thing of this country. shocking place for
weather. Been here long, SIR -
told him how long. and that had
no, had drop Of rain the whole time.
"DiSs.iyautase in that, too" he wen,
on: mountainous scenery wants mist
and rain to drift round the peaks, fl n
up the torrents and bring out the water.
falls. This one here will present a
fine sight after another four-and-twenty
hours OF such weather: il was n mere
dribble las, light when we arrived.
was con>oled by this gentleman
words; Tor having 70 spend the best par,
ot the day indoors. there was a new
sensation then yet m store for me: and
| was a little disappointed TO find. when
early the following afternoon luil in
the weather enabled me 10 60 down tc
my tavorite rocky haunt. that there was
very little Percep,ible difference in the
volume Of water coming over the
fall
50 here lsat. suppose .formore than an
hour IN my accustomed state Of placid in.
dolcnt enjoyment. Wtheyes half>hut
was saying over to myself the first few
lines OF Southey's "Lodore.' and try
ing to make 'the music OF the waters >
I ut INTO them as an accompaniment
when there suddenly sounded in m,
ears roar 50 loud. and increasing SC
4 rapidly IN volume, that I started, anC
looking up perceived that now indeed
the tall had become grandlv augmented
! IL was sw olien at least TO twice the size
II had been ten minutes before: IL locke
magnificent. turned tow ard the step
ping stones BY which I always resaineC
the PERCEPTIONS bank Of the river. r,
my taorror they had al disappeared, anc
NJ their place boiling. bubbling fer
meat ot brown water and fro;hy foam
VA sweeninn alnnt- y. 1, .-.nanIn.,