The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-05-05
. ALEcK. THE TRAoROIAN.
By ALBERT poLurT.

The traveller who has journeyed from Northwi,ch to Chester will remember tha, bewildering tract of country called Della mere Forest. IL can scarcely be called a forest in the literal sense of the word l; corners of it have been Topped of, and desperate lunges made at its interior by spectators in the endeavor to cultivate 1t and i, would seem that they have been partly successful, for the gloomy old for est now lies in fragments, with long strips of meadow and ploughed land inter- vening. Yet in some places 1t still re- tains its primeval solitude. Deep and damp morasses sketch far away, clum- mating in a dense thicket of frs. in the dark recess of which deep, black-looks ing pool. partly enyeloped with a green. slimy covering. lies hidden away, per fecily mo,ionless. save when the coot or wild duck rising up with shrill cry at the approach If an intruder. fiutters its placid surface. A fooi-paih from neigh boring village passes near to this pool, and many has been the ,imid look cast askant by the village peasants as they hur- ried past the dreaded and dismal place Dreaded il because of the awful crime NDtIn DuitSd HI ttS
 4 crime of a fearful chracter. crime mos, heartrending in its result. and a crime which time has rater co'ored than efaced. wa, committed there Although Il is nearly twenty years ago. yet there are few people in the village who know not the story 0 poor Margaret Many an old dame will relate how the beautiful and beloved Il grew more beloved as she became oider how that, when she was emerging into womanhood her hand was besought by young swains from far and near: how she rather encouraged than repulsed aspirants, and was considered somewhat of coquette how that, when she had decided to accept the hand of Henry. the son of neighboring farmer. a jealous lover waylaid her on a dark night and she was never seen afterwards until passing peasant espied her body floating amidst the tall reeds which sur round the dismal pool and how. amidst the hurricane which pulls the forest in a roar. her shrieks may still be heard call ing for vengeance.
 IL was one of these hurricanes, sudden in its eruption and violent in its effect. which overlook an aged tragedian one night a, the latter end of autumn a few years ago. He was travelling across the forest, and, being wishful to get :.cress to Chester that night, had waived the invi- tation of the landlord of the Robin Hood to stay and rest for the night. He was a well-known character, this tragedian, and travelled throughout, the whole country having rather weakness for the country fairs-for very many years. Wherever ho k~ ,.,,sk Ax~ he had knack of establishing himself in the hearts, and may say the homes, of his admirers. "Il call around and see you again" he used to say, and sure enough his call was as regular as the sea sons. Well, this night although he was not overladen with luggage or properties, still. what with inhrmity and what with stumbling over tangling roots, he was be- ginning to feel very tired before he had half crossed the forest. When the storm burs, forth he was nearing Margaret's s Pool as it is commonly called. and the vivid flashes of lightning followed inn mediately by loud peals of thunder, shak- ing the trees to their veD roots. made him regret leaving the comfortable cor ner in the Robin Hood. The rain came down ix torrents. and so he took of his back his bundle and rested himself under a beech tree. The screaming of the night hawk mingled with the roar of the forest, and a su- perstitious feeling crept over the once ssrong-minded tragedian as he thought of Margaret's Pool. When the storm abated he took up his bundle and ven- tured forts again. bu, either he had mis- calculated the turns in the road or the right was too dark for him to remark them, for he had not travelled far before he became aware that he was on the wrong track He paused to consider. when he fel, hand placed on his shoul- der.
 Are you lost:" said deep voice
 ''l am,' replied Aleck-for such was his name-startied at meeting a person a, such time and in such place.
 Come with me" the voice replied
 The uagedian, though feeling pecu- liar dislike to his guide followed him as If impelled by no ordinary power. They left the foo.-path and travelled on through the tangled brushwood. the mysterious guide assisting the trembling tragedian over the difficult mounds and clumps of decayed trees, until they stopped at the door of a small wooden structure. which seemed 10 suddenly emerge out Of the darkness.
 The door was opened by the guide, and they passed out O. the gloomy recesses of the forest into z most curious apartment. Round the room. which was but small ::ase1, sha@ iT1seddi 4n thought he could almost stride across it-were ranged glasses and ornaments. or. rather, small objects which the ,ragedizn thought were meant to be ornaments o! the mos; Dc culiar character
 Upon a table at the other end of the room was large glass. or crystal. of an oval shape, surrounded by smaller erys-