, 1886-12-28
A SEASHORE LEGEND.

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busy feet, and many very stately ships
had been moored beside them.
Now. rs in my childhood days. no
proud ship finds a haven in the still
waters of its harbor; its deserted ship
yards ring no more with the sound of
ak or hammer; the busy hum of com
merce is stilled, and u silence. broken only
by the fisherman's call, or the merry
laughter of some yachting party, per-
vadcs what was once a very busy, thriv-
ing place.
But has left traces of wealth
behind. and l remember some old-fash-
toned, though stately, houses, standing
near the shore.
These were the homes of some of New
England's famous sea captains. and in
one of these old houses l passed those
happy summer days.
The men of the family had all beer
sailors, commanding some of the finest
and best known American ships. No
ports had been on distant for them. and
they brought home. rs gifts. spoils from
every cline. Now, all these dead and
gone. the women of the family lived
alone. surrounded by treasures from over
the sea.
The old friend who had charge of VA
wa very fond of children, and was never
happier than when relating to us the
stories of sea and shore with which her
mind was stored; and when a rainy day
came. driving us from the beach. we
liked nothing better than to listen to her
charming legends.
l will repeat to you, as nearly as l can
remember, the story of the elopement
that took place many years ago. As
recall it. | seem to hear again the musical
voice, long since hushed, to which the
swapping of the driftwood fire upon the
hearth and the distant booming of the
surf upon the beach, formed n fitting
accompaniment.
A long time ago, when l was u little
girl. the events happened that am about
to relate to you. My grandmother knew
all about it, and l often heard her tell the
story to the young folks, in my day, IL |
am telling it to you.
In that large, old-faslioned house which
stands on the brow of Beach Hill lived a
very wealthy gentleman, called Judge
Cushman.
| say he lived there, but he only spent
part of the time in the little town of
s., for his business kept him in the
city during the winter months; but us
soon as the warm days came the house
would be opened. ami he would ride
through the town in his big coach, drawn
by four horses and driven by "a colorei
coachman.
The Judge was a wid$ver, and lived
alone with his servants aI.l m old house
keeper. SO You may imagine the sur
prise of the villagers one day early in the
spring of 1872 when they heard thai
Squire Cushman. as he was called, lrvd
brought home with him a lovely yOslng
girl
At first all thought that he bad mar
ried again. but soon the report sas circu-
lated that his niece had come from Eng
land alone. with only a maid to attend
her, to visit him. And a long visit we
all thought it would he for wal had Just
been declared with Great Britain. and
probably there would be no friendly in
%ercour hstween the two countries for
II long tune.
s course all were anxious To ~. the
now conner. but none Were gratihed un-
til the following Sabbath. when She APP
peared at church with the odd squire.
She was Il true English maiden, with
hair and lustro,s blue eyes, and IL
complexion in which lilies and roses were
skillfully blended by natures hand. She
was the observed of all observers" but
bore herself modestly, seeming uncon-
scious OF the gaze of all around her.
Many We're the questions asked, many
the eon~jectures formed, as 10 her pres
encc in the lonely house. so far from
home and in IN enemy's country; and
finally the mystery was solved 10y the
old housekecpcr, who divulged it us "A
great secret to "a friend of hers, an in
gossip who soon made the af-
the property OF the whole neighbor-
hood.
Rose Crshman. the daughter of the
only brother. was IA motherless
child. and had grown to womanhood
without knowing what it was to be re
fused the slightest wish. for she had al
ways bcen her fathers idol. He had
planned in her early childhood that shc
should marry the son of his most intt
mate friend.
But such designs are rarely ACCOM-
plished. At the age of 10 Rose met II
young and gallant officer in his imajesty's
navy, and lost her heart almost at first
sight. The affection was r~eciprocated.
and, not dreaming of any obstacle. the
lovers plighted their trvtR with the
fondest and brightest hopes for the
future.
But the father of Rose sternly refused
to consent to their engagement, and for
babe Rose ever 10 see her lover again.
But years of intelligence had not prepared
his daughter Cor such arbitrary measures.
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cretly whenever she was able to do 80.
One meeting in the park near the house
was witnessed by her father. and so in
aensed was he by this open defiance of all
his commands that be ordered the brave
young sailor from his grounds, using the
harshest language.
Rose returned to the house. locked her
self INTO her room and was soon con
vulsed with n perfect passion of tears; for
under her sweet and charming exterior
she hid a will that was Just us strong and
%unsubdued as her fathers.
In subsequent interviews with her father
she vowed she never could or would forget
Charles Ashton. Not all the affection sho
bore her father. not all the remembrance
of his kindness and love, would prevent
her meeting her lover whenever an OPP
portunity was found. He well knew that
the young nan was of honorable birth and
good position, but he could o give up the
early plans he had formed for her future.
After weeks Of fruitless argument with
his daughter. it suddenly occurred to him
u send her to his brother. our Squire
Cusliman, in America.
1t seemed i'll those days II long journey
to AN almost unknown land. but her
father thought u few months in a strange
country wouli amt his self willed daugh-
ter. and that before wint0i lac would jim