Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-26
Written for TEE EVENING STAR
THE GRAVE IN THE WET
MOUNTAIN VALLEY.
A STORY OF ADVENTURE AND RO-
NANCE.
II A. A. HAYES, AUTHOR OF 1.-THE DENVER
RxPREss," 1.-THE TWO PARDs," AND
OTHER STORIES OF ADVENTURE
IN THE FAR WEST.
fCopyrighted 1881


"Eheu fsodcesr' / exclaimed, in spite of
myself, when, not long ago, visited, for the
first time in many years, the beautiful spot on
Lake Winnepesaukee where the happiest days
of my youth wero passed. Like most men I'M
der similar circumstances, was depressed by
the realization which such visits bring OF the
contrast between the permanence of the works
OF nature and the transformers of the human
life. The broad lake shone in the sun, pure
and beautiful as of old; the many Islands
which dotted the surface were unchanged;
the Sandwich Dome and the Ossipee mountains
rose In their pristine beauty; but the friends
of my boyhood, where were they? 1 was like
. stranger in strange land, and could almost
echo the sad words of the poor old monk who
spoke to the painter wilkie in the refectory of
the EscuriaI; and say that all who were my
predecessors, most of my contemporaries and
many Of those who were younger than myself,
had passed away.
made inquiries in particular about three
persons. One very remarkable woman
"a Mrs. Wa widow, Of old family and large
means, who had been to me the ideal of
Roman matron. Mature" as DIR. Holmes hap
PLY says, "had written her virtues on ruled
paper and forgotten TO rub out the lines" Her
strong will had often clashed with that OF the
second object of my inquiries-her son, my
friend and schoolmate. That she loved him
dearly / well knew, but he had inherited q
share of her own firmness, and he chafed at the
restraints put upon him and her choice for him
of plan of life, laid down as rigidly as were
the laws of the Modes and Persians. 1t goes
without saying that this plan was far from
Including a prolonged residence at home
and near the farmhouse where dwelt the third
parsonage so well remembered by me-
Alice R., q beautiful village girl. She was as
sweet es a mountain daisy; bright, intelligent
and affectionate; bu. one whom duty would
ALWAYS lnpyOrably
heart might break. i knew that Robert W.
had what was more than boyish regard ior
q yOungster must have seen trouble ahead IN
such an attachment. once heard that Robert
had left home. Now / learned that all three
had been absent for years; that the son had
never returned, and was supposed to have DIED
far away; that Mrs. w had become deeply
Ing with her somewhere in Massachusetts,. Dur
Ing my brief stay here all three were often
In my mind. Then came departure and new
interests and cares, and i forgot them. That
should have part or lot with them again
never dreamed.
masters and right royalty does she reward
those VINO do her homage. II you are In that
number, gentle reader, perhaps you have had
the privilege of seeing not only the lake coun-
try Of which have just spoken but also that
other charmed region, the Beverly Shore"
You know the stretch of coast from Salem to
Gloucester; the rocky crags and the smooth
beaches; the sheltered caves and the bold head
lands; the picturesque roads; the old towns and
the tall trees, between which you look out from
the verandaS of lovely summer homes TO the
dancing waves OF a summer sea- You know
Manchester-by -the-Sea, and Magnolia, and Nor
mans Woe, and Gloucester HarbOr; and
Eastern Point, with the flashing red light. A
charmed region, indeed, and a cheering
refuge from the heat of a great city in August,
] thought, as / registered my name at the hotel
ut Manchester. glanced casually at those pre-
ceding mine and among them were Mrs. W.
and Miss r.
Next day met, and recalled myself TO them
the white-haired, high-bred matron, far more
showing many traces of her old beauty, and
with just a wistful shade in her peaceful eyes.
They were glad TO see me. and we talked OF old
times. Mrs. W. showed emotion when speak
ing of her son, but il was clear that time had
nrSrEhs nes al a Rah she
had left home to go to China in clipper ship
after-I inferred-a serious disagreement with
his mother. She never heard from him by
mail and only learned from he captain, on the
completion of his round trip, that Robert left
him when he put into klo Janelr0 for repairs.
one of two vessels which he found in port.
He was traced to San Francisco, whence he
started for the overland trip. Nothing was
ever heard from him again, and, as years passed,
his friends had given him up for dead.
When Mrs. W. began to tell me this story,
Miss r. made some excuse for leaving the room,
and she had not returned when the elder
woman concluded, and, after pause OF some
minutes again addressed me.
"Do you believe in presentiments?" she asked.
mo, indeed" was my reply.
"a week ago / should have said the same"
i
secuted such things and am fairly ashamed of
myself now for giving them any place in my
lively haunted by the feeling that am to know
something of the fate of my poor boy, and know
1t sOon-almost Immediately. You will think
right but for the fact that have hoped and
longed" (she turned to me with swimming
sgd rsaps f& light, only the ess, IN i5s
world on my boys fatep
made some conventional reply and LETT her
A,I Of IL
Miss R returned.
Near the hotel there is splendid rocky head
land from which glorious view is to be had at
ali times, but especially at sunset. Next day I
offered the ladies my escort thither. After
traversing q shaded path and climbing the
steep side of the rock we came into iull view of
the ocean, looking north and east. In that d.
rection the sky was ciOudless, and the sunlight
illumined the sails of a large fishing fleet in the
oning. The day was perfect aud the air balmy,
clear and still. Looking for a seat, we found,
ensconced in q comfortable corner, a resident OF
most interesting one. After long years of travel
excitement and adventure, the peaceful life OF
the quiet old town was-he had often assured
ms-most congenial to him; at which, by the
way, greatly marveled. He loved to tell OF
past experiences, and, as a matter of course,
found in me q ready listener. presented him
10 NV companions, whom he saluted with grave
courtesy. We sat together for some time, look.
Ing at the shore and sky and sea. Mrs. w.
seemed much attracted by the conversation OF
her new acquaintance, and led him on to tell OF
his previous life. In some curious way, passing
from one subject 10 announcer, lie was drawn To
speak of a strange episode which was wholly
new to me.
ain 1851 :" SAID he, 81 was in the government
service and encamped with q party of about
forty frontiersmen In the Waila WaIa Valley
in Oregon, Just where the streams unite to form
the river. The valley was thickly wooded and
the mountains rose abruptly on one side.
doubt Ii q party ever encamped under more
peculiar circumstances. There were. as 1 just
forwards Gen. Stevens, and three other men
well known at that time in connection with In.
dian affairs. Near US were encampe1 about
LOO Indians, who had come thither, nomi.
naiiy for a conference, but reaily-I was and
am, well satisfied-with the intention of taking
our scalps. knew their ways well, and there
was no mistake to my mind about their pur
pose. My four companions. Gov. Stevens, Bor
land, Duval and Sinclair had been hopeful al
first, but had come to agree with me; and sit
ting there by the camp fire one night, which
remember as IL IL were yesterday, we knew
that any moment might be our last. Naturally
we spoke of death, and gradually drifted into q
discussion as To the way in which each of Us
would prefer to make his exit from this world
".For my part, said the Governor Il would
crave the 6oon of o bullet straight between the
60 quite as quickly as that. There is place
near the heart where the ball would give it.
victim some minutes What do you say
Duval?' i asked.
"'Give me the muzzle of q DerrinRer lust owe,
the right ear And you, Sinclair 4 would
have IL take me In the back OF the head. An(
now you have been questioning the rest OF us
what do you say yOurselfg
"'Oh,' said i, Il would like q better job made
than any of you. would have my head blown
Oh, once Tor all. by cannon shot
~Well- madam, there was something very