Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-02-10
Gales aao Skattbes.
81. AGNES EVE.
And turn, soul thoughfed, to one lady there.
Whose heart had brooded all that winfYy day

Whose heart had brooded al that vistry day
love, and wing'd st. Agnes sanity care
"And this is St. Agnes Eve" said
Mabel Hastings, laying down the volume
Of Keats poems she had been reading
aloud to her cousin Millicenr "Oh, Milly.
let as try some charm tonight"
Il would gladly. Mabel. had but the
courage"
Courage, Child what have we to
fear? And grandma won't know. She'll
be fast asleep before the witching hour
Of midnight-the time for the perform
ance Of spells and charms. But what
further says Keats on the subject?
"'As supperiess to bed they must retire.
Nor look behind. Or sideways, but require
OF heaven. with upward eyer. for all that they
desire"
My dear Nab. it saw anything.
should scream loud enough to waken the
Seven Sleepers.'
"Milly, what little goose you are. Now
shall take Norah into my confidence and
bid her say have q headache, If Mr..
Durnford and his nephew make one Of
their neighborly visits
..And il they should. Mrs. Hastings will
play piquet with the old gentleman, and
Arthur will be so disconsolate in your alb
sence. It will be ont Of my power to enter
tain him. But, Nab, wherefore raise up
these fearful, shadowy spooks, when the
substantial reality is prepared to throw
himself at your feet? 'Himsey.' did |
say? Themselves, rather, There's
Arthur Durnford-handsome. gentlemanly
wealthy the owner Of Films House.
There's Raymond Carr"
.'Yes. one for each finger; for | see
you 30 preparing to count them and all
come here and make fattering speeches.
But the only one care for rarely enters
these doors. and makes no sign. either by
word or look. that ! am aught To him.
Yet think he loves me, and it is to know
that sweet truth that would fain try some
spell upon this st. Agnes Eve"
wait, in patience. Mabel. Perhaps
he has found no opportunity TO reveal his
sentiments ?''
.'He never will! He is poor and am
rich.''
what is to he done--how surmount
the difiiculty?''
1T il insurmountable unless. like a
story We once read. it came tO light that
some other was the Chatelaine Of grand
old Ravensclifl and only poor found
ling. Now, Milly. you know all my little
romance
1.-The commencement only. dear. May
the Fates send u happy ending"
The entrance of Norah interrupted their
conversation. She was n pretty, bright
Irish girl. and had lived some time at
Ravenscliff. taving been employed to as
sist Mrs. Brand, the housekeeper, during
the absence Of the family-now a very
small one, consisting OF Mrs. Hastings
and her orphan granddaughter, Millicent
Gray being merely a visitor.
Mabel's mother had died in Italy,
whittier she had been ordered. too late to
arrest the fell disease-consumpt ion-to
which she was so predisposed. Her faith
er she had lost in her childhood.
To Norah-who. upon Mrs. Hastings
return to Ravenscliff, had been installed
AZ her nd-daughter's maid-the two
girls now related the former portion of
their dialogue.
AN shure." was her reply. IF there's
\ Twin sOwl knows all about the spells
an the fairies, tits meself But. me Ia
dies, you should run down to the ould
haunted well near Clifton Lane. where.
upon midsummer night, an Hallow
Fen. an this blissid st. Agnes Eve,
you'll see the face of your future husband.
Indade. an it's thrue''-tor they looked
incredulous-''ior me sisthur. who then
lived at home. went there year since
this very night
"And did she see any one, Norah ~
.'Troth an she did. Miss Milly-a Young
man who was a-'aning over the we'll.
making behave to draw her q draught of
thu wofa h,,t Srhtp oh IN fol
there wur nothin' but branch of the
green ivy in her hand An only month
after. me sisthur met the very same young
man in his proper form. an now they re
married. an happy as the days are
long"
The sound OF the dinner-bell put an end
70 Norah's recital and in the presence of
Mrs. Hastings. the conversation flowed
into widely different channels.
~ Then. later in the evening. for they had
po company upon that occasion. the old
lady and the two younger ones adiournrd
to the library. where Mabel wiled her
grandmother into relating tales and
legends of the olden days.
Ravenscliff was situated upon an emf
nence in one of the northern counties of
England. surrounded by great woods; on
one side. in the far distance rose range
Of hills, while on the other might be dis
cerned the blue line of the ocean
But in the fair spring DAYS many gras-
d nook, spangled with wild flowers. could
b found within those dark woods, where
the little brooklet sang rs it wandered a.
lo0g. and the birds echoed its sweet song
-fwas little wonder that some Of the lat.
- superstitions of the 'north countrie"
fingered amidst such Surroundings.
Upon parting at their several chamber
doors, the wiser and less romantic Millic-
ent decided upon going Immediately to
bed. 1.-THE night" she said. being intend
ed for repose - but not SO. fair. love-lorn
Mabel. who. gazing from her window up
on Tie wide expanse Of the starry heavens.
sollly repeated:
Most gracious night, thou were not
made for slumber."
L Was irresistible-she would seek to
know her destiny that night So. tlinging
q warm white shawl over her head. and
wrapping il closely over her throat. she
crept quietly down the wide oakeu stairs.
then out by little door into the garden.
where the white frost glittered upon each
leaf Of the dark evergreens. Unless by
the carriage-road. which was circuitous.
tho paths from Ravenscliff were steep and
rugged; but Mabel was brave and deter
mined; and inspired by love. Of what is
not one capable?