The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-05-27
CHATTER N\

June in Massachusetts = the loyelie-t Of the
summer months. The fierce heat 81 the sun
j. pmucrrd hv the southern breeze and the
heavy fors that hang lows ON the seacuast ara
d~isslpated by the soft south WIND before reach
lng the interior counties. The sterile hiIls'des
are kep, green by numerous showers, and
nature for "A brief period shows that she can
make even rugged New England beautiful.
" wayside farmhouse. thrown among the
granite boulders Of Berkshire county, and
nearly los, 10 sight IN their surrounding gray,
Lucy came To pass the summer vacation. The
month wa> but half gone, and N" lew weeks
she had been there had been I" her a season OF
quiet ENJOYMENT
W,sper was frverlsh with anxiety to be at
work clearing mp the mystery of her birth. but
for the present h. could make absolutely no
move. 70 do So would have been Ia call down
death upon HIM, for ni course his interest would
have pointed TO llCv's ibera'or II would
have been SECULAR and "pprohr,ons enough
anv tame.
The farm where Lucy made her home was
owned and occlpled by stephen Nalhridge.
n man some ~ wears oi age, ol fht common
type Of New England farmer. hard working;
honest, shrnwd and keen. not very we'll versed
IN the WAYS of the world. u little -ll-plC.ou- ana
perhaps Tor thar reason easily deceived by ont
sido appearances. ite believed that the Gov
eminent Of the | uited States could do no wrong:
hated everything British With a. thorough
Yankee hatred, for his grandfather had fought
N Lexington, and IN the loW-cetird ktchtn.
on the very same hooks where the old man put II
eighty years before, hung the old ~rintoCk he
Carried ~ the Concord fight, still able 10 throw
a charge Of blrd-hOt. though VI" 0lnt needed
a deal Of picking
Mrs Walhr dgr was a pattern New England
farmers VITO, smart, neat and cauahle, n good
hous"kroucr, and IN her lullf"hold she .r"lRned
supreme vi their children, ono Mary n
INTO the world to FIGHT their own battles.
stephen Walhrldcr beat his living ont of his
sterile farm ana Tar wa" in, n r Is,T gTi" n,,snSirs
the same school with Lucy. had her parents
consent to invite her home for Tho vacation.
except that, she was a southern girl. received
remittancos from tho South and had plenty Of
money,
,nQ The Young ladies had left the house. and
we're enjoying q horseback ride over the grassy
country roads Together they cantered along.
enjoying the fresh morning air The day was
beautiful. and reminded lncy Of far on and,
strange TO say, beloved Attakapas. Overhead.
seen througd the vista Of trees, were the soft
white clouds floating in the, warm hlne sky;
told no tale of the snow and zee Of the past win
ter II" said Lucy, ~ could but see a hi2-
zard circlinR over my head, and shut my eyes
"a those enormous honld"r- II would not he
difficult ~ fancy myself in the South Mary
Wnlbrjdgo, who had bur little Of the romantic
in her composition dearly loved riding. and
tia, line. An active, life. passed among the
rugged Berk shire Hils, had 50 hardened and
strcngthened her muscles that sh" f"lt herself
equal 10 IN" control Of III" most spirited horse.
1 lie III w NlNfNtlt~ INlAl lNfll INV ' =
riding school. and her early lessons had been
| taken on the back Of an Indian pony. %gniltlpss
of saddl" or bride" Together the two girls
cnntered along. laughing and talking by
SnatcheS
Lucy" said Mary, "whoro did YOU learn TO
| ride"
20. did not have ~ learn. II came 10 mo
when n child. and ! have not forgotten. The
prairie whore was raised was well stocked
with ponies
Illcv here turned Tho conversation, for she
| wished 10 avoid all raferonces 10 her former
life. her plantation education had taught her
| aelf-r"liaucc and Nesr"r had cautioned her
10 hn dis'rNet md silent
In NIL Massachusetts lived bur ono man who
| knew her trll" story md tho history nf her ro-
mantle escape from slavery no was n friend Of
| Wnsner. and TO him. luckily for Incy. Wesner had
had trusted III" secret, not, however, divulg-
ing his own agency IN tho affair.
Tn" rough ride had loosenad its fastenings,
and the wealth Of InCy'- black. wavy hair,
| glistpninG With drops u dew brushed from the
overhanglng bushes, flowed n rs glossy bright
ness lnCOniined over her shoulders. Frame
In this setting, the dark cheek tinge width the
red glow OF exercise and shaded nv the long
lasheS Of her soft dark eyes. she made n pic
tlre 80 beautiful that Mary Walhridge thought:
she - the most beautiful woman ever saw
and a. good n beautiful What j. her lifes
history would not ask " woman can
love her N"r" a man would risk NV life TO
| win her
InCy. unconscious of tho admiration she had
1 excited. rode quietly beside her companion.
chatting and admirlng the scenery through
which the road wound IT, tortuors way.
tnlucklly another party was moving upon