The Portland daily press., 1889-08-30

days Dy lauy VINO mas since spent many
summers there:
1t is beautiful summer evening in the
year 1866, in the forest primeval of Acadia,
upon the eastern banks Of the Penobscot.
The sun is growing large in the west. Above
there are golden-tipped clouds-below, the
deep, yet calm, unruffied ocean.
The place is picturesquely beautiful in sit
uation, and the whole peninsula 1--WE might
almost say, wilderness) Is covered with trees
excepting where small clearlngs have been
made here and there, for erecting huts for
the natives.
On the southern shores Of the peninsula,
all Nature is at rest, when suddenly echoes
from distance are heard, and presently a
young girl with her dark tresses streaming
in the wind. darts tnrodgh an opening in the
woods, and her slight form clearly defined
against the blue sky, stands for a moment
upon cliff, overhanging a frightful preci-
pice. Then, drawn by the fascination of the
water. with light footsteps. she descends to
a large fiat rock below.
And now a vessel glides slowly over the
calm waters Of the bay. drops her anchor
and furls her snowy sails. A boat is pushed
off from her side, manly forms springs into
it. and steers for the spot where the dark
eyed maiden is resting. Thus meet for the
first time Baron Vincent de st. Castine and
the daughter Of the Indian chief, Modocka-
wando, his future bride.
The town of Castine is named for this re-
nowned Baron. From accounts which have
been preserved OF this place, we know some
He was borne in Oleron, France, where he
had immense estates. In the year 1866 there
was an appointment Of a governor Of New
France lin which the town of Castine was in
cluded), and regiment Of soldiers came over
the regiment, and consequently came over at
the same time. Naturally Of very romantic
turn OF mind, and charmed with the wild and
beautiful scenery. he was induced to take up
his permanent abode in Acadia. He was in
fiuenced still more by his desire to Chris
tianize the native Indians. Selecting the
peninsula for his abode, he commenced his
efforts to benefit them.
But he could not forget the image of the
dark-eyed maiden whom he beheld first on
landing, and becoming very intimate with
Modockawando, the chief of the Tarrrentne
tribe, he was attracted more and more to the
daughter. She was no darker than great
many OF our own race, her form was
peculiarly graceful, her eyes very bright,
sparkling like gems. And in this rich casket
her mind was jewel not unworthy of its
setting.
The Baron's house was rather grotesque
looking building, built partly of wood and
and high. Outside the building were
trellises with wild vines twining around
them, and garden laid out in a style which
would do no dishonor to many modern
soon brought his Indian bride.
But, through delighted with life among
the rocky caverns and by the deep-toned
neighboring ocean, accustomed as he was to
the habits Of civilized society, he could not
permit in his family the rude mode of
savage life.
We know something of his manner of liv-
ing from facts giving us by visitor at his
home few years after his marriage.
Inc Baron, although evincing so strong an
attachment for the sweets of natural liberty
that ne was willing to quit the reinments
and delicacies Of the first courts of Europe
Tor their enjoyment, appears not to have lost
any OF his love for a refined mode of living,
ard his wife, contrary to the natural tastes
Oh ner race, was only to happy to conform
to the wishes OF one whom she loved SO
deeply.
Gaspar tells us that he, in company with
a number of others, was commissioned to
visit Baron Castin for counsel in forth
some facts with regard to the lady's personal
appearance. he tells us that she was the
most beautiful female he had ever seen.
Her form was symmetry itself and her
features exquisite. Her face was full of
expression, seeming to read the soul at once.
Her dress was singular mixture of Indian
and European fashion. When they entered
the room, she was sitting upon the door with
her children, watching over them with a
mothers tenderest care. She wore a close
fitting dress of blue satin, the waist of which
was laced with gold cord and richly orna-
mented with borders of the same A mantle
of peach-colored silk thrown over her
shoulders fell in graceful folds around her,
Her raven locks were braided and twisted
around her head with strings of pearl and
gold beads intertwined, and confined with a
brooch of pearl and gold. She had earrings
OF the same and bracelets adorned her arms,
which were bare nearly to the shoulders.
Her slender feet encased in sandals, snugly-
httlng and laced with blue ribbons, were
peeplng out from beneath her dress. Two
nttle children, girls, were twining their arms
around her neck as they entered. The other
hereafter. W -'0''00
But let us leave the wife of the Baron, his
himself. W '''0 ''"ioA
We see him again, as with his sad, care