West Feliciana sentinel. (St. Francisville, La.) 1876-1877, 1877-07-21

nOlia, and scores OF other blossoms, the
offspring ofthe Spring and Summer, beau
titled the swamp, the synonym, as once
thought for desolation and drearincss
Standing on the bluff above, the eye en-
ters of the river never flowing in straight
channel, but in moro curves than over
Hogarth dreamed of, and steaming up
and down upon its swift current, the float
ing palaces of our civilization tho wav-
ing fields of cane and corn upon the op-
posite bank, their delicate green tints as
tender and changeful as cloud or light
fell upon them, as the magic robe of
Queen Guinevere the white walls of the
planters homo cleaning through
vistas of live-oaks and Magnolias !;
nearer, the blooming swamp, and
on either hand an amphithcatre of
broken and rugged bluffs, somo green
with never falling verdure, others as
white, as bare and as perpendicular as
the palisades of FingaPs cave clear and
sparkling springs tricl>ling down their
gleaming walls, and falling with n mnsi-
cal gurgle upon the silvery sands ofa clear
branch below ; and stretching beyond in
the distance, q fitting frame for tho pic
ture I yet recall so vividly and with
such keen delight, the dark traccry of
virgin forest that reared its foliage
against the soft blue of tho horizon, the
pure and bright azure of q Southern sky.
| yet remember many other views around
the little hamlet, as lovely, as delicate
and as bright; views that would have
charmed Titan himself, such wonderful
colors, such magic graces, but it is not of
these would tell you, but of ''poor LII
cille." find grow garrulous with in
cicasing years, and my pen must needs
fall in with my imfirnity.
had been two weeks with my cousin,
when one evening, just returned from
woodland ramble, l stopped for Il few
minutes upon the piazza to exhibit the
spoils of flowers, 1nOsscs etc, had accll-
mulated during my walk before going
to my room and doff1ng my bonnet and
shawl, when suddenly our CONVERSE.
tion was interrupted by the appearance
of Il tall and slender woman, who hur-
the steps that led to the piazza above.
Her face was prepossessing i'll the ex-
trcme but Drowned by exposure to the
air, the features y ere delicate and seItsi-
tive, her eyes dark and bright but as
restless as n bird on the wing, darting
hithcr and thither, her dress was tho
oldest asscmblage fcolors and Ornaments
ever seen off tho stage; blue skirt on
circled her waist, over that u scarlet
jacket was worn, and q parti-eolored
scarf was tod sasll-wise around her
slender form, q necklace of tho scarlet
beans Of-tho Hgnnm rita fell from her
throat below her waist, reminding me of
the Romish rosary, and bracelets of the
Same encirclcd her bare arms and were
plated in the thick braids of black hair
that fell around her Tho white bios
SONS of haw We're Worn in 4 crown that
rested upon her forehead in the fashion
ofthe bridal coronet woven many years ago
and flowers of every hue " ore pinned
thickly all over her dress, the blue skirt
and scarlet jaciset were prolnscly decora,
ted with them, yellow jcssaminc, wood
bine, violcts and even tho pricI1Iy bios
som of the cherokee rosn served us an Or
nament for this strange and startling
arparition. This much my eye Lad noted
when her quick and restless glance fell
upon me, swiftcr than Thought she
smang up tho steps and towards mo,
seizing hold Of my crepe vail and g1oved
hands, Q was then wearing black for
dear and lately lost fiend,) she glano-
cd at them whilca shuddcr convulsed her
and throwing both violently from her, as
impetuously she rushed down the steps
and out of the yard screaming shrilly
''ah! WOO is me, black, black, black" {"
''Do not be frightened" said my cousin
hastily, noticing my discontinue, cit is
only poor Lucille" And pray, 1cho is,
poor Lucille ?' rejoincd I, my nerves con-
sidcrably shaken by the strange visitors
stranger conduct. "A homeless lunatic'
replied my cousin, "but there is the bell
for tea, remind me some day before you
leave, and 1 will tell you her story, for
she has one, and a sad one too, poor Lu-
cille." My cousin WAS us good as her
word, there Glanced " rainy day soon
afterwards, which ctfoctrally prevented
my usual ramble, and seeking James
room I reminded her of hor promise
which she proceeded worry willingly to
redeem ''You would scarcely tlink,n
commenced she, "thatpoor Lucille is near
my age. fifty, and yet she is, for we We're
girls together, playmatcs in infancy,
companions aS school and always firm
friends. do not know that in all cases
insanity prevents tho ravagos of time
from becoming perceptible, but with Lu-