The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-27

''Eheu! fucacesr exclaimed. in spite of my
self, 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 we're passed. Like most men under SINH
lar circumstances, I was depressed by the reali-
zation 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 theya l was like
stranger in a 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 Escurial, 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 per
sons One was a very remarkable woman-a
Mrs. wa widow, of old family and large
means, who had been to me the ideal of Roman
rnatron Mature as Dr. Holmes happily says,
''had written her virtues on ruled paper, and
forgotten to rub out the lines" Her strong will
mad often FLASHED with that OF the sec
ond object of my inquiries-her son. my
friend and schoolmate That she loved
him dearly we'll knew, but he had inherited a
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 rigidly as were the
l. &c A. Md Nd Ona with
out saying that this plan was far from including
prolonged residence at homo and near the
farm house where dwelt the third parsonage, so
well rememberd by me-Alice r., beautiful
village girl. She was as sweet mountain
daisy bright intelligent AMI affectionate; but
one whom duty would always and inexorably
control, though her heart might break. knew
shat Robert W. had what was more than boyish
regard for her, and thought she cared for him;
but even a youngster must have seen trouble
ahead in such an attachment. I once heard
that Robert had left home Now I learned
that all three had been absent for years; that the
son Fad never returned and was supposed to
have died far away; that Mrs. W. had become
deeply attached to Alice. and that the latter was
living with her somewhere in Massachusetts,
During my brief stay here all three were often
in my mind. Then came departure and new
interests and cares and forgot them. That 1
should have part or lot with them again I never
dreamed.
Nature is the best and most generous of pay
masters, and right royalty does she reward those
who do her homage. If you in that number,
gentle reader perhaps you have had the priv
lege Of seeing not only the lake country of which
have just spoken, but also that other charming
region. the Beverly Shore" You know the
stretch of coast from Salem to Gloucester;
the rocky crags and the smooth
beaches; the sheltered coves and the bold
headlands; 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, I thought. as I
registered my name at the hotel at Manchester.
] glanced casually at those preceding mine and
among them were Mrs. w. and Miss R.
Next day met. and recalled myself to them
gentle and gracious than of yore; and Alice,
showing many traces of her old beauty, and
with just wistful shade in her peaceful eyes
They were glad to me, and we talked of old
times. Mrs. W. showed emotion when speak
ing of her son, but it was clear
that time had brought her degree of
consolation, and she told me the story in unfal-
tering tones Robert had left home to go to
China in clipper ship after-I inferred-a Sc
rious disagreement with his mother She never
heard from him by mail, and only learned from
the captain on the completion Of his round
trip. that Robert left him when he put into
Rio Janeiro for repairs. He thought he proba-
bly, sailed for California in 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, aud, after pause of some minutes,
again addressed me-
DO you believe in presentimentsp she asked
''No, indeed" was my reply
IA week ago l should have said the same. y
she continued. I'm all my long life l have
secuted such things and am fairly ashamed OF
myself now for giving them any place in my
mind Nevertheless am at this moment posi-
lively haunted by the feeling that am to know
something of the fate of my poor boy, and know
it soon-almost immediately. You will think
me foolish and credulous; and you would be
right but for the fact that have hoped and
longed" ishe turned to me with swimming eyes)
sand prayed, oh! earnestly, for years an
years, for some light, if only the least in the
world on my boys fate"
made some conventional reply and left her
TO her thoughts. AS passed out of the room
Miss r. returned.
Near the hotel there is splendid rocky head.