Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-11-10
A Vision.
GUDRUN'S DESPERATE VENTURE.

Now lovingly caressed and anon fiercely
| buffeted by the waves of the Baltic, between
| the coasts of Pomerania and Sweden, lies
| tine Danish island of Bornholm 1t is little
known to the world, and the profusion of
wild roses indigenous to one place has ac-
quired for it the soubriquet of the Isle of
| Roses
The environs of the little town of Allinge,
on the northwest, are especially picturesque
and remarkable for the peculiar wildness of
their formation. We are here, suddenly
and without any prelude. confronted with
a magnificent natural panorama. Behind
US stretches the vast and gloomy expanse
of the plateau before US chaos of weird
forms modelled in solid rock-and the
boundless horizon. But even here the
poetry OF romance weaves its magic web
for the venerable ruins of Hammershuns
Castle look down upon us from an emin-
nence. as If inviting the wayfarer to rest and
dream while within it's moss-grown walls.
Making Allinge my starting point, used
often to visit the old castle. The road at
i.Ss6 lies along The strand, then winding to
the left commences an ascent after half an
hour spent in scrambling among rocks the
"Fale of Paradise is attained. Through
the heart of the dell encirclng the castle
extends promenade whose perfection of
scenery challenges imagination itself. The
path on both sides is bordered with lilacs
and roses in thick hedges, which grow to a
sufficient height to form species of vaulted
alley, rich in fragrance, retaining its CRATE
full shade and GOODNESS during the prevalence
OF extreme heat. Birds make melody in
the thicket; insects float upon the breeze
with somnolent susurrus golden sun
beams, quiverlng upon the verdant foliage,
glide down upon the blossoms which strew
the ground ; giant ferns seem to wave their
fans with dreamy motion.
A few PAGES through this Eden brings the
wanderer before the deep, placid languer of
the ocean. Masses of rock cleft in rugged
wildness form at once a small bay and a
fitting frame for 50 glorious prospect.
| sought my favorite haunt one day when
the fierce heat of the SUMS rays was un
tempered by breath of air but the rough
heHn bench under the gnarled oak, whence
the view extended to the distant sea COM
manding the course of passing ships, was
occupied.
A girl busted with needlework was sit
ting there. In my first surprise l fancied
| that | beheld some apparition or wood
nymph 1t was, however, no ''unreal
mockery," for the figure arose to its feet
when my footsteps became audible. Stand
ing there in all her marvellous beauty, in a
flood of sunbeams, she resembled some god
dess of the Northern mythology. The garb
of the country developed freely the grace
full symmetry of her tall, slender figure, and
lent peculiar charm TO her appearance
The most striking feature in this vision was,
however, the nobly modelled head, the ex-
pressive countenance encircled by a pro
fusion of light, wavy hair, the eyes shaded
| by dark lashes, blue and fathomless as the
ocean, their gaze now fixed upon the in
| truder.
We stood silent for a moment, confront
| ing each other in mutual surprise, for
neither of US had dreamt of finding this
solitude invaded by another human being.
Should pass on my way placidly, or seek
to enter into conversation? hesitated.-
Every form of address which first occurred
| to me seemed bold and inappropriate l
should have preferred to content myself
with gazing at her and listening to her
voice. AS it was necessary, however, to
put an end to the situation one way or an
| other, and vainly endeavoring to combat
| the ascendency of the girls charms, l in
quired my way to the little fishing village
of Wang, which 1 had long intended to
visit.
"Ah, you speak Danish" she observed,
with friendly smile, for she had at once
set me down as foreigner. And then,
with all the charm of natural affability
which characterizes her compatriots, she
exclaimed that the way led me across the
rocky strand. l noted anew in her pecu,
liarity of the Bornholm folk avoiding all
use of the expression right or left, they
refer invariably to the points of the COM
pass. She accompanied me to point from
which l could not miss my way, and wish
ed me pleasant walk at parting. This
meeting gave me food for reflection during
the rest OF my ramble.
| What had caused me to take so much in
terest in this girl? Surely not her rare
beauty alone. l pondered and pondered,
and at length believed had found a clew
had dim recollection of some tragic fea-
ture in her face, such as nature bestOws il
many human beings, and now my mind.
eye deserted it cle1rly and distinctly de
fined in the graceful lines of her mouth
Besides this, her eyes had a gaze full o
dreamy thoughtfulness, as though the sou
of their posseasor dwelt in the far distance
At all events, this maiden had sometime
unusual about her.
At Wang l entered the cabin of fisher
man to partake of refreshment, as ther,
was no inn there, and mentioned my en-
counter, asking, after giving description
OF the girl if anybody knew her. At oncs
came the reply: ''Of course that was ou
lovely Gudrun; everybody on the islam,
, knows her. A girl-but klarsynet "a clair
! voyant,) which, however, is not unusna
| among our women"
{ "Ah p thought ''a clairvoyant. Tha
J accounts for the dreamy look in her eyes.
/ And the weather-beaten sailor added
/: "She has occasioned her father, old Cap
, tain Torptenseu. much grief already frou