Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-05-05

What reason the distance appeared
twice its real length.
evening had quite set in. and thu
dusk was so heavy that. l could distin
gulsh little of the passing Landscape
nau let down one of Inc wi ldows
and the wintry air came I'm with q
rawness and bleakness which seemp,
20 oespeak high altitude. Then. too
the position of the carriage was such
that L knew we must be constantly as
'cendtng, and 1 wondered IL The Ivies
Were perched like an eagles eyrie on a
Smountain top.
Vlnally, when 1 had about conclud.
Ned that the drive would never end. the
carriage turned abruptly to the right
ano, passing between two high granite
POSTS, whose grim outlines stood forth
Gise shadowy sentinels IN the gloom
we entered dark. heayilv-shaded
avenue, which formed n considerable
interval between gates and house.
An overwhelming desire to learn
what l could OF these close surround.
sngs or my new home-for so, despite
my occasional lapses from absolute
convection, i still confidently believed
my destination was to become
prompted me to lean far out of the
WINDOW and challenge the more pro-
nounced features OF the landscape to
reveal themselves to my gaze.
We were still ascending, more grad
Tally now, however, and on the left,
Shrough spaces intervening between
tan aud heavily trees,
which 1 later discovered to be porlars,
4 could discern n steep embankment.
shelving abruptly away from the road
along which we were driving. 1t was
impossible to determine it's depth. ow-
ang TO the obscurity OF the fast-de-
seending night, but that 1t was con-
siderable i OWNED from the fact thar
as we passed along its poplar-fringed
brink, saw, quite below me, the dim
and distinct silhouette of what ap-
peared TO be either a white or grey
house. A little further on, and the al
ways moderate pace OF the horse de-
generated into a walk, and then into
q mere pretence OF movement; the driy-
~er called "Whoaw in a subdued tone
In harmony with the hush that pervad-
ed the whole place; and i knew that I
mad reached my place Of destination,
and that The Ivies, in all its mystery
and strangeness, lay before me.
shall never forget that one moment
OF misgiving and trepidation which l
experienced while the driver was dis
mounting from his perch. A very pan
&c OF irresolution and diffidence took
possession OF my being. / scored my
self for rash and audacious fool; I
took heed OF all the remonstranccs
which had ever been directed at me by
my mother and sister; 1 shrank like
a timid child from the indefinable pros
pect that confronted me: / meditated
retreat, ignominous flight, shamefaceti
ceturn to even that roof beneath which
my mother had sought refuge, AMI
where 1 knew that my abject failure
would meet with scant sympathy and
copious comments of the 81 told you
so" variety. Then / made n supreme
effort and pulled myself resolutely to
gether. The driver opened the carriage
door, and in another instant l found
myself standing before a short flight
OF broad stone steps, with bearing as
composed and assured as If had never
known a qualm or scruple In my life.
No sooner had my foot touched terra
firma than I felt myself again re-
assured by that strange, mysterious
inner consciousness that ! was being
directed by an invisible agency ac-
cording TO a preordained and unerring
plan.
AS paused there briefly, surveying
with eyes that were rather contem-
plative than curious the imposing pile
OF stone and granite that reared its
huge proportions high into the dark
ness, a sense of well-being and restfuI.
ness stole insensibly over me; l felt
that this was in very deed home that |
had come to; that the previous con-
ditions of my life had been artificial
and ill-adapted; that / had heretofore
been miscast in the role which had
been given me to play; that for the first
time since my birth 1 found myself
properly circumstanced and congen-
sally disposed. 1t was most singular
sensation that pervaded me; l can best
describe it as one of calm and peaceful
satisfaction, as an intuitive perception
OF means at hand to crafty vague
tongings and aspirations which had un
to the present time caused me to ap-
pear q creature of fitful disposition
and unsteaoy purpose. felt as might
feel an animal that has for years been
exposed to false element, and that feels
itself suddenly transferred to its prop.
-er habitat.