Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-01
THE GRAVE IN THE WET MUUNTAIN
VALLEY.
A STORY OF ADVENTURE AND RO-
NANCE.



"Ehcu! tuguccS :" exclaimed, in spite
of myself, when, not long ago, | visited
for the first time in many years, the beau
tiful spot on Lake Winnepesaukee, where
the happiest days of my youth were pass
ed. Like most men under similar circum
stances, | 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 hui
man 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 theyS | was like a
stranger in strange land and could al
most 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 AMI many of those
who were younger than myself, had pass
ed away.
made inquiries in particular about
three persons. One was IA very remarka.
BILE wOman-a Mrs. va widow, OF old
family and large means, who had been to
me the ideal of Il Roman matron Ma
ture," as Dr.. Holmes happily says, chad
written her virtues on ruled paper and for
gotten to rub out the lines" Her strong
will had often FLASHED with that of the
second object of my inqurieS-her son,
my friend and schoolmate. That she
loved him dearly | well knew, but he had
inherited IL share of her own firmness,
and he chafed at the restraints put upon
him and her choice for him of IA plan of
life, laid down as rgidly as were the laws
of the Modes and Persans. 1t goes with
out saying that this plan was far from in
Guiding II prolonged residence at home
and near the farmhouse where dwelt the
third parsonage, so well remembered by
me-Alice r., Il beautiful village girl
She was as sweet as Il mountain daisy ;
bright intelligent and atfectionate but
one whom duty would always and mex
orably control, though her heart might
break. | knew that Robert w. had what
was more than ii boyish regard for her.
and | thought she cared for him but
even Il 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 THAI the son had 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 We're
often in my mind. Then came departure
them. That | should nave part or lot
with them again | never dreamed.
Nature Is the best and most generous of
paymasters, and right royalty does she re
ward those who do her homage. If you
are in that number, gentle reader, per-
haps you have had the privilege of seeing
not only the lake country of which have
just spoken, but also that other charmed
region, the "Beverly Shore" You know
the stretch of coast from Salem to Glou
cester : the rocky crags and the smooth
beaches the sheltered caves and the bold
headands ; 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 summer sea. You know Man
eehester-Dy the Sea, and Magnolia, and
NOrman's Woe, and Gloucester Harbor {;
and Eastern Point, with the flashing red
light \ charmed region, indeed and a
cheering refuge from the heat of Il great
city in August, thought, rs | registered
my name at The hotel at Manchester. |
glanced casually at those preceding mine
and among them were Mrs. W. and Miss
h.
Next day met, and recalled myself to
them, white haired. high bred ma
iron, far more gentle and gracious than
of yore and Alice, showing many traces
of her old beauty, and with just wistful
shade i'll her peaceful eyes. They were
glad to see me, and we talked of old times
Mrs. w. showed emotion when speaking
of her son, but it was clear that time had
brought her II degree of consolation, and
she told me the story i'll unfaltering tones.
Robert had left home to 20 to China in Il
clipper ship after-l interred-a serious
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
h1n ~ bah 1Nr laI fnr ,Il
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 K. made some excuse for leav-
ing the room; and she had not returned
when the elder woman concluded, and
after u pause Of some minutes, again adj
dressed me
"Do you believe in presentiments ?" she
asked.
"No, indeed" was my reply.
"a week ago | should have said the
same, she continued. "In all my long
life have secuted such things and am
fairly ashamed of myself now for giving
them any place i'll my mind. NeVerthe
less am at this moment positively haunt
ed by the feeling that am 10 know some
thing OF the fate of my poor boy, and
know it suUn-almost Immediately. You
Will think me foolish and credulOus anC
you would be right but for the fact that
have hoped and longed" (sheturned to me
with swimming eyes "and prayed, oh Sc
earnestly, for years and years, for some
light, if only the least in the world, OF
my boy IS fate ~
made some CONVEX donal reply and lel
her to her thoughts. AS ] passed out o
the room Miss II. returned.
Near the hotel there is IA splendid rocky
headland from which glorious view is t.
be had at all times, but especially at sun
set. Next day | offered the ladies my es
cort thither. After traversing u shaded
path and climbing the steep side of tn,
rock we came into full view of the ocean
looking north and east. In that direction
the sky was cloudless, and the sunligh
illumined the sails of Il large fishing flee
in the ofling. The day was perfect ant
the air balmy, clear and still Lookin!
for seat, we found, ensconced in "A com
Portable corner, Il resident of the village
an acquaintance of my own and mos
interesting one. After long years o
travel, excitement and adventure, tn