The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-03-12
CHAPTER XI.
"And ne'er did Grecian chisel trace
A Nymph, a Naiad, or Grace,
With finer form or lovelier face"

A Nymph Naiad, or a Grace,
With finer form or lovelier face
With good deal of curiosity,
Ernest entered the uncouth apart
ment where Mis-. Darly was seated
on an old arm chair, coming over
a musty volume of Blackstone.
The hag raised her eyes above her
round -glassed, antiquated specta-
cles, and returned the young mans
salutations, fixing, at the same time,
Il scrutinizing gaze on his person,
as he Obeyed the request to be
seated. In all his rambles, Ernest
thought he had never beheld SO
curious an object of the feminine
species as the Hag of the Wallo
wish. Her tall, commanding, mas
culine frame, slovenly attired in a
loose, dirty habit-her long, griz-
zled locks-her wrinkled visage,
and cheeks pinched inward, aided
by her dark, forbidding look, and
squeaking, shrill voice, when not
modified into those soft and liquid
sounds which long practice in
hypocritical cant had enabled her
to assume-was in perfect harmony
with all else around.
Ernest made the hag acquainted
with the purport of his mission
with as little ceremony as possible,
for he felt it difficult to approach
her with his accustomed ease and
familiarity.
She rose hastily from her seat,
when informed of the officers mes
sage, and tossing the ponderous
volume aside, gave a loud scream
for Christianna, who instantly pre-
sented herself from an adjoining
apartment.
"Keepthe young gentleman com
pany, Chrlstianna, while l attend
to Mr.. Stuyvesant," the matron
said hastily, as she quilted the
loom.
Peculiar sight strange situa-
ton! Ernest found himself in a
moment relieved from the Odious
presence of the old woman, who
was reinstated by a maiden of the
most exquisite form and loveliness.
His romantic wish was now graft
fed, and that the famed beauty, OF
whom he had heard so much, stood
before him in all her retiring mod
esty. At glance he confessed
that Fame this time had at least
been niggard of her praises. The
maiden's form had attained the
fullness of womanly perfection
was perfect in its symmetry, and OF
the medium size. Her hair would
have been auburn but for the gol-
den glow that mellowed it to the
rich, indescribable hue so rarely
seen, and the voluptuous eurls
rolled in silky ringlets down hel
snowy neck. Her breast, proudly
swelling and gently heaving in its
respirations, and the unexpected
presence of stranger so yolng and
chivalrous in bearing, produced
that slight and natural confusion
peculiar to maiden sensibility-
deepening the damask blush thai
mantled her cheek beneath a Skin
of transparent whiteness. But hel
deep blue eyes were the heaven o.
love, and shaded by their dark
long lashes, they had a melting
tenderness about them which sheG
a soft and melancholy expression
over her striking beauty. Her curt
sey and musical voice, as she re
turned Ernest's greeting, discovered
the ease and natural grace of tn,
maiden, harmonizing with all hel
other attractions.
Perhaps it was the sudden shift
ing of the scene, and the remark
able contrast between the repulsivt
harshness of the matron and capt.
waiting charms of the maiden, which
robbed Ernest of his wonted ease
e fol- moment, when the fair vision
I burst upon his view, for he was NJ
e stranger to the most choice produc
= tionS of female beauty, both by
nature and art. But all that thu
artist could execute, and more thar
!. the painter express, Nature had be
J slowed on Christianna, and th'
spirit of Immortality, which no ar
may equal, wrought out every lint
r and lineament to living perfection
Ernest gradually drew his fai
companion into conversation, anC
found her possessed of much gOOC
sense and natural delicacy of tast
the latter, however, is a constan
dependent on the former endow
ment.
I 81 perceive you have a goo,
many poetical works, Miss Darby,
he said, taking up volume o
poems, when the general topics o