The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-06-15
TU RNED ADRIFT.
nv MRS. rrGESIA DUNLAP FORTS.

underground; yet the general effect o
the surroundings was gloomy Wan
dering on, dreaming Of scenes "a
away; ! came suddenly upon clear
sparkling rivulct half concealed b,
the shelving rocks, and flowing lik'
soft ripping music down the deep
romantic glen. Surely nothing wa
ever more refreshing. was soor
bending above one Of the miniatur,
cataract, with = leafy cup aud listen
ing entrnnced to the merry tricklins
Of the tiny waves. Rich green moss
chung luxuriantly to the rocks and
the interlaced loughs overhead shut
out the warm sunshine from the cool
bower | had found. forgetting IN
this delicious solitude to herald Nc
other explorers, sat down and aban-
doned myself to thought.
How sheltered my short life had
been. Surrounded by luxury and
cared for by indulgent parents, | had
known no sorrow till death sna,ched
my beautiful young mother from our
happy circle aud inflicted fatal blow
upon my fathers happiness. Days
ii .
and months with these loved ones !
had visited foreign countries and en-
joyed whatever Of nature or art was
to be seen. had climbed the Jung
fiau aud seen the sun rise. Had sat
upon the summit of a Norwegian
mountain aud gazed upon the charm
ing fjords q pronounced like y with
their greenish blue coloring borrowed
from the sea. Every favorite resort
of the Earopc's traveller had been
made memorable by some act OF love.
l could not forbear to dwell upon that
portion OF the tour whtre Dewitt Bev.
erly had chung to US, unwilling TO lose
sigh. of me for even day. How he
had persisted in accompanying me to
America and never rested ill he had
cementeda bond beiwt en- us. ~
Then followed my fathers illness, at
first 50 insidi,usly iiatterins that /
could not until the la-t believe |
should be called upon t. give him up.
Here Capitals lIadyn had come 10 us
aud daily for some week. assisted me
in ministering to the comfort and in
terest Of the invalid, o. r-. -..
He had been a college made II my
father, though much younger, and his
family had always lived near Isle
Grange. and in looking over his list Of
treasured friends he selected this one
TO I'll the place Of guardian to his or
phan child. The sad circumstances
attending my bereavement and the
weary journey westward could never
be forgotten. | had leisure now to
appreciate the exceedingly delicate at
tentions of my escort, and u thousand
instances arose that revealed his noble
nature. ..f4. ..s..-
And could such a man love Helen
Lisle? Was it not after all the deep,
chivalrous sympathy yelling up in
his heart? But his eyos still pursued
me with their earnest, magnetic gaze
ind again the pain of an underlined re-
gret moved within my heart. 1t was
always heavy with hope deferred
with a suspense that tortured me al
most beyond endurance. Where was
he who, as my g,iardian had truly
said, should have been near to sOothe
me when in troubley Why his mystic
rious silence --aId how could | hope to
diseniangle the web that was woven
about mey Even in this trial had
only my guardian To look to for assis-
lance. In every thing he was to be
my :, lace and stay.
Musing thu. had almost uncm-
sciously wandered ON aud now the
,cene about me was wholly uniamil-
lar. fancied heard shouts in the
distance and tried once TO lift up my
voice in reply. No answering halloo
came. There WAS nothing but the
leaping and gurgling of the stream |
had followed down its jagged bed; and
the breezes which grew louder and
swifter in token Of q coming storm.
Still | wandered on with no fear Of
he lonelin,s. and M ! ga of my To-
salty. | was too fai down the noun
ain side 10 ascertain the direction OF
he path homeward; and to retrace
ny steps would be not only too fatigu-
ng. but hoped the gathering tenn
,est would drive the rest of the party
.owards my line of descent.
Picking my way over a narrow de-
lie, aud resolutely going on and on ]
distinctly heard a moan US ola human
being in pain. Involuntarily my
heart throbhed with feeling Of terror
that instantly overwhelmed me as by
\ panic. Unable 10 move, listened
aud assin heard the voice. Again
and again, and | could no longer re-
main quiet. summoning all my eour-
age / climbed the huge rock jut,ing
out before me and looking over the
edge beheld in establishment human
form stretched upon the grass.