Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-19
THE ATHELSTONS;
 OR VICTOR AND VANQUISHED.
BY MARY CECIL HAY.
CHAPTER I.

would rather not state exactly whether it lies in the North of England, or the South, or the East, or the West, for some old nhabitant may swoop down upon me with proof of the foggi- ness of my memory, or the inaccuracy of my local geography. But do assert that Highshire is one of Englands most beautiful counties, and that it owes its beauty chiefly to the glorious hills that guard and almost encircls the small county town of Churchill. Hill beyond hill, hill behind hill, they stretch for twenty miles. The highest of the group throughout the district called, par excellence, The Mountain-rises seven- teen hundred feet above the level of the sea. Yet its ascent is easy now, as a carriage drive has been constructed round it, railed to insure the safety of the many horses which are brought here through the summer months. The sum- init of the mountain is vast table-land, and its sides are rich in furze, and heath, and bracken but it is hardly so favorite resting place for the picnic parties which flock here from spring to autumn as is the beautiful ravine which sepa- rates the mountain from the opposite hills.
 Al tue ueAu O1 blllS 1hVlu0 Ioetl0Sb stream falls over the rocks, and forms 8 cascade of considerable height then, following its irregular course, it dances on from right to left, and left to right, through the soft green turf, while count less small streams from the hills oppo- ate ruSh, with laughing music, down to join it, swelling it at last to an imposing rivulet before it darts from the turf un- der the low stone bridge below the val ley gate. For the low sweep of level turf, lying between the mountain and the chain of smaller hills, is wide enough here (where it meets the road) to be termed @ valley, though but Q narrow and a rugged ravine where the hills close above it near the waterfall. Behind and beyond the fall, as the ravine grows wilder and more rugged and the hills tower higher still on either side, the scene is wild and desolate, the isolation complete and tho way dangerous. The sides of the hills are 70 broken into deep, narrow passes with precipitous sides. and the rocks rise, now SO sharp and pointed, now so treacherous in their smooth, sheer descent, that what wonder is it that in Churchill records there are names of those who have been lost among these hills?
 A little above the fall, and in a hollow which the footpath does not reach, though it is gradual md verdant, lies . silent mountain tarn, . still lake, which has an unspeakable gloom about 1t, be. yond that gloom which seems to belong to all water lying in tho shadow of the hills. No one who stands . moment upon it's brink, wondering at its stiffness, but is glad to leave it and pass down into the valley, where the sunshine falls so widely and so warmly.
 But we can leave the valley now. W. prss through the gate, beside which star a- N picturesqus little cottage, where te- provided for pionio parties, and taken beyond here, and find ourselves out in the turnpike-road. On our right bordering the valley, lies the steep, we'll ordered garden of tho rectory; and iron its slopins drive, or from the door of tn, nandro,As modern house, our eyes car take ia wide stretcl of the valley be low. R,h;ad, the carriage-drive rount the snonntain skirts the farm yard of tn rsctcry; for the Rev. Henry borden no mea'. farmer, and his comely wifi does Tot fancy the produce of any dalr, but her own.
 A quarter of . mile more of wide
 white road ws traverse, and then W como upon the old gray church, stand ing high and grave among the mountain shadows, looking always down upon tn
 ono steep street which forms the httl town of Churchill. Midway down thi long street stands the oli-fashione 7 pump, with it's three lamps above; an
 opposite this, . narrow side-street end
 abruptly in the railway-station. W
 pass he sleepy shops and quaint ol