Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-14
Gales aud Skstehss.
BLlCKMERE HOLLOW.

nau gone 10 DuAtOu one OTpllluG chi
ia search of the picturesque and the coJl
On the day OF my arrival was wander
ing through one of the beautiful valley
of its vicinity. when, passing round
sharp turn in high path overlooking ;
rushing stream, 1 came with startling
suddenness upon lady who was seated
reading upon piece of projecting rock
] drew back n step, raising my hat apollo
geiically. as my foot had brushed against
her dress.
Her slight figure was clothed ia black,
which brought oct in strong contrast The
extreme pallor of her delicate aud beauti-
ful features, and the pale auburn OF her
luxuriant hair Her eyes were dark
deep violet-large, sunken, aud profound
ly melancholy. a few months previously
l had been fascinated by GudO's portrait
of Beatrice Cenci, which hangs in the
Colonna Palace al II )me. and this wonder
iu picture OF an lncarnate sorrow had
haunted my Imagination ever since. 1t
seemed TO me that had suddenly fallen
upon its living resemblance. The sadness
was less awful, less despairing than that
upon the countenance of the hlpless lLal-
ian, but scarcely less pathetic. 1t was a
face with a story ia ii, and a tragic one u
story that might be OF the 'past-and its
past, all told, could scarcely have counted
twenty years--or of the future; for there
are faces upon which God seems to stamp
their destiny, upon which woe cass his
shadow in advance Women far more
beautiful had excited 10 me only passing
admiration; this stranger fascinated me.
A faint blush lit up her cheek as she
rose, and in a low, sweet voice acknOwl-
edged my apologies. To have fingered
would have been obtrusive and il-bred,
and yet my feet seemed rooted to the spot,
my eyes spellbound. By an effort ! broke
the spell, and passed on.
That same day | discovered. to my
amazement and delight. that she, together
with her mother and father, had apart
ments in the house in which lodged.
Her name was Isabel Clifford.
experienced no difficulty in ntrodnc
ing myself to Mr.. Cllfford he met me
half way. The mother was Il paler, with
cred woman, confirmed invalid. who
used 10 be drawn about in bath chair.
She was the victim OF chronic rheuma-
tsm, for which she was trying the spa
waters. Her husband was startling con-
trast to this image of decreptude. He
WAS u star dtt udus WIN sioou ~ i'd1b
six feet in his boots. His age could not
have been much over forty, aud his bold
handsome face looked even younger; but
there was furtive insincere expression in
his gray eyes that disagreeably impressed
me. His manner was obtruslve, and he
dressed showily and deliberately. Alto
gether. he was the last person in the world
whose acquaintance would have sought
under other circumstances.
Two days after my introduction found
myself on quite an easy footing in the
family, flattered and caressed by the father
and mother with fulsomeness that almost
sickened me. OF course, | saw through
it all, but my iniatuation rendered me ii
willing victim. The behavior OF Isabel,
however, was quite different; she seemed
even to shrink from me. as though my
presence distressed her, aud yet cou d
feel inslinctively that this proceeded from
no repugnance. Perhaps, thought, it is
disgust at the too obvious arts OF her pa
rents; and this supposlion greatly raised
her in my esteem.
One day 1 was praising the scenery in
the neighborhood in Mr.. CuffoId's pres
ence, when he inquired If had ever seen
the Lake country.
/ had not.
This is no: to be compared with il, "
be went on Il live in one OF The most
romantic districts. We return home in II
few days; pay u visit fortnight hence.
shall be delighted to DE your ciccrOnc.
What say you ?"
OF course | assentcd
1t was on IA bright August morning
sfarf1A from WfuA..r1p.,r., A.,
Hollow. that beng the address gwen me
by Mr.. Clifford.
twas four clock in the afternoon when,
after ascending for several miles between
lofty barren hills, whose stony sides
seemed scarcely to afford vegetation suf.
ficient even Tor the sheep that browsed
upon them, IA peculiarly wild landscape
suddenly broke upon me. | had arrived
at the summit OF the mountains; beneal tn
me lay vast hollow, in the bottom OF
which slumbered the dark watels OF II
lake; clusters OF fr-trees, expanses OF
purple heather, stretches OF bare rock,
and, toward the margin OF the mere
patches oil bright green meadow, but no
sign OF human habitation. The day, al
though fine and warm. was heavy aud
cloudy here and there thick mists curled
round the summit of the hills, and rolled
down their precipitous sides; a single ray
of sunlight pierced through black cloud
above our heads and make a luminous
spot upon the darkness OF the lake. The
effect OF the scene was weird and ghast-
ly.
THAT is Blackmere Hollow, SIR said
the coachman, pointing with his whip.
"But where is the house p inquired.
about half mile or so below, SIR" he
replied.
The road. steep and narrow, now wound
through a dark copse, from which we
emerged upon bare plateau; on the left
the woods sloped down to the dark, mo-
n0nless waters, which well merited their
title of Blackmere on the right rose IA
sheer barren precipice three or tour hun
dred feet In height; and beneath this, fac
ing the dark. mist-crowned hills, which
no atom OF vegetation grew.
THAT'S Mr.. Cliffords," said the coach
man.
i had alighted from the chaise at the
top OF the hill, pre.erring TO trust my own
legs rather than those OF the horse upon
such road, and / stood still Tor mo.
ment, gazing upon the scene. Never had
my eyes looked upon a solitude so dreary
Al soubre so ifeless A dporpseiou 9, l.