River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-02-24
ST. AGNES EVE.

MaDCl Hastings, laying GOWN Iile VOL
ume Of Keats poems she had been
reading aloud to her cousin Millicent.
ooh, Milly, let US try some charm to-
night"
Il would gladly, Mabel, had but the
courage"
''Couraqel Child, what have we to
fear? And grandma won't know.
She'll be fast asleep before the witch
ing hour Of midnight-the time for
the performance of spells and charms.
But what further says Keats on the
subject?
As suppercss to bed they must retire
Nor look behind or sideways but require
Of heaven with upward eyes, for all that they
DESIRE"
my dear Nab, if / saw anything,
should scream loud enough to awaken
the Seven Sleepers."
''Milly, what little goose you are,
Nov | shall take NOrah into my conf
ience and bid her to say | have a
headache, if Mr.. Durnford and his
nephew make one Of their neighborly
visits
And if they should, Mrs Hastings
will play piquet with the old gentle
man, and Arthur will be so disconsolate
in your absence, it will be out Of my
power t. entertain him. But, Nab,
wherefore raise up these fearful, shad-
owy spooks, when the substantial real
ity is prepared to throw himself at
your feet? Himself did say? Them
seEres, rather. There's Arthur Durn-
ford-handsome, gentlemanly, wealthy
the owner of Fins House. There's
Raymond Carr"
"Yes, one for each finger; for see
you are so preparing to count them;
and all come here and make tlatterlng
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 l would fain try some spell upon
this st. Agnes Eve"
'sWait, in patience, Mabel. Perhaps
he has found no opportunity to reveal
mis- sentiments"
"He never Will, He is poor, and l
am rich"
"What is to be done-how surmount
the difficulty"
at is insurmountable; unless, like n
SN9ll VT OiIIt 4tttIg IL ttliiiC ~ AASSlA
that some other was the ChdteIdine of
grand old Ravenscliff, and only poor
Founding Now, Milly, you know all
my little romance
The commencement only, dear.
May the Fates send happy ending"
The entrance of Norah interrupted
their conversation. She was pretty,
bright Irish girl, and had lived some
time at Ravenscliff having been en-
ployed to assist Mrs. Brand, the house
keeper, during the absence of the fam
ily-now very small one, consisting
of Mrs. Hastings and her orphan grand
daughter, Millicent Grey being merely
visitor.
MabePs mother had died in Italy,
whittier she had been ordered, too late
the fell disease = consumption-to
which she was so predlspOsed. Her
father she had lost in her childhood.
To Norah-who, upon Mrs. Hastings
return to Ravenscliff. had been installed
as her granddaughter maid-the two
girls now related the former portion Of
their dialogue.
." An shure," was her reply, if
there's y livin' sowl knows all about the
NIlGlIN ill INT ldAiitCs tlo lilNhNA4' A'NNf
me ladies. ven should run down to the
ould haunted well near Clifton Lane,
where. upon midsummer's night, an
Hallow Zen, an, this blisSid St. Agnes
Eve, You'll see the face of your future
husband indade, an it's thrue"-tor
they looked incredulous-" for me sis
thur, who then lived at nome, went
there Il year since this very night.
i" And did she see any one, Norah?
"Troth an she did, Miss DlIlly-
a Young man who was ATTAINING over
the well. making behave to draw her a
draught of the water; but whin about
to take it. there wur nothin' but a
branch Of the green ivy in her hand.
An only mouth after, me sisthur
met the very same young man III his
proper from, and now they're married,
an happy as the days are long,
The sound Of the dinper-bell put an
end to Norah's recital, and in the pre-
sence of Mrs. Hastings the conversation
flowed into widely different channels.
Then, later in the evening, for they
had no company upon that occasion,
the old lady and the two younger ones
adjourned to the library, where Mabel
WHICH iitI AAiAp ANANsN'A'1
tales and legends of the Olden days.
Ravenscliff was situated upon an
emincnce in one of the northern coun-
ties of England surrounded by great
woods: on one side, IN the far distance,
rose Il range of hills, while on the other
NTH lie discerned the blue line of the
ocean.
But in the fair spring days many a
grassy nook. spangl led with wild iiowers.
could be found within those dark woods,
where the little brooklet sang AS II wall
dered along. and the birds echoed It's
sweet song-'twas little wonder that
some of the latent superstitions of the
north countrie" fingered amidst such
surroundings.
Upon parting Mt their several cham
Der doors. tAe wiser and less romantic
Milhcent decided upon going imme-
daitelv to he'd, the night she said,
being intended for repose;' but not
so fair, love-lorn Mabel who gazing
from her window upon the wide ex-
pans of the starry heavens, softly re
peated
!" Most gracious night. thou were not
made for slumber."
II was irresiStible-She would seek
to know her destiny that night, So,
flinging 4 warm white shawl over her
head, and wrapping it closely over her
throat. She crept quietly down the WIDE
oaken stairs. then out by a little door
into the garden, where the white frost
glittered upon each leaf of dark ever
greens. Unless by the carriage-road,
which was circuitous, the paths from
Ravenscliff were steep and rugged; but
Mabel was brave and determined
and inspired by love. of what Is not one
capable?
If see him, Imagination, for it can
be is no other manner" she whispered.
to herself" will wait-yes, wait, faith
full to the ideal; for love me l know ne
does"
The haunted well was, SIS Norah had
described 1t near the wayside upon the
road To the little town of Clifton, and
the few light glimmering there took
somewhat from the loneliness of Mabel's
walk. Then a little dingle, lying all in
shadow. was reached, and the gentle
gurgling of the wells water announced
its close vicinity.
Mabel. drawing her shawl more clio
sely around, prepared to descend tht