Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-08-30
A KENTUCKY GRAVE.

/ fgHE dEO, rtBi DcdfNBR traces OF dIK1t4EtAblC
lineage. The small twisted legs OF ma
hogany SHOW beautiful carving, and the
keys, though almost entirely innocent Of
ivory, are not wholly mute from their long
unbroken silence and the accumulated dust
| of so years.
Why it has remained unmolested all these
years Is not known. Sooner or later some
relic hunter viii find and restore it to its
original rank.
! Could this old instrument speak, tale
it would tell Of former glory, when it was
| the central figure in the parlors Of the once
| famous Graham Springs-the antebellum
mecca for the south, and the virtue of whose
| healing waters was known far and wide.
| 1t would speak Of a lone grave, where
the moonlight falls softly, throwing halo
syer all, where the mocking bird on a
nearby Dough sings love songs to his nest
ing mate all through the night.
Inc tall trees cast gaunt shadows across
the winding paths, and a weird, uncanny
feeling Is over the earth and in the air and
takes superstitious possession Of one.
live again in the long gone past. There
are handsome buildings before me, lights
everywhere, music and mirth ring out on the
still night air, no dismal shadows, no sor-
rowful superstition hnger there; but com
pany, comfort, happiness and pleasure
reign supreme.
1t Is so years ago; the south is in its
glory; wealth and every luxury belong by
right Of birth and inheritance to those aris-
tocratic people.
They came to this celebrated watering
place, seeking health and pleasure. The
waters of the then famous Graham Springs
gave health and happiness to many an in
valid brought there from the south.
Three hundred acres Of beautiful rolling
blue grass land, laid off in parks, with great
forest trees to cast long, loving shade, and
shelter, winding drsveways and romantic
walks, where lovers fingered hand in hand
and talked of future plans, building their
castles in Spain" while hearts kept time
and tune to the mockingbird' S love song.
There was the one main hotel and two
long rows OF cottages, where cooling breezes
fan the hours away, and the healing VIZ
tues of the water that brought color to the
cheek, luster to the eye and strength and
suppleness to the limbs. An ideal place
in which to live and love and perhaps to die
for many came too late to reclaim health
from the healing water and balmy breezes,
too late to refill the veiss with new life
blood, and came only to be carried away
after all was over.
These people came in carriages, with chill
dren, dogs and saddle horses and a retmue
OF servants, to take up life for season.
For the well there was round of gayeties;
for those not strong enough to share in
the ballroom and other pleasures, there was
scenery and water, a solace and sure cure
for nearly all ills.
One summer there came to the springs
hoo .f,l a1o for
her maid no chaperone, no friends She
was young, beautiful and alone, three things
that appeal strongly to the sympathetic
southerner.
She was wealthy, if one could judge by
her appearance and the prodigality with
which she spent money. She soon won
the heart OF everyone in the hotel and
cottages; all had something kind and
complimentary to say of the beautiful
stranger.
She had her own saddle horse. Being
a perfect horsewoman, she made picture
in her hunters green riding habit on her
thoroughbred, taking the lead always with
the riding parties She was the best whip
at the springs, and the admired of all, when
she went out in her light road wagon, pulling
the ribbons on the handsomest coal black
team in Kentucky
On the ballroom floor she was queen
of all; such grace of movement, suppleness
of limb one rarely sees. She was truly
the impersonation Of beauty. She never sat
out dances. The first on the floor, she was
always the last to leave.
One evening late in the summer she APP
peared in the dance hall more radiant than
usual, her dark creole beauty heightened
bv a flush on the cheek that was foreign
to her accustomed pallor. All present noted
this: but to soicitous inquiry she said she
was feeling quite well, with the exception
of sharp pain, now and again, near the
heart. Nothing at all, she would answer
in that soft, earessing tone of voice pc
culiar to the far South She danced that
evening as never before, truly the queen
of the ball. When the dance was at its
height. there was sudden confusion; the
music stopped; dancers stood still; shout
for water and a doctor rang out on the mid
night air. The creole bell had fallen life
less on the ballroom floor.
All was done in the power of physician
and friends: but to no purpose. The heart
stood still, the spirit was free
They carried her, with loving hands and
sorrowing hearts, the next evening. VIXEN
the shadows began to lengthen, in the beau
tv and stiffness of the hour between sun
down and twilight, and laid her to rest
beneath the friendly shelterng oak tree UNI
der which she loved so well to sit and pass
the happy hours away. 1t was her wish,
so said the maid, to be buied there by my
oak" as she called it, and there was no one
10 gainsay or wish it otherwise. A hand
some monument was placed with date and
name.
The grave for years was protected, but
finally vandals and relic hunters claimed
IL: and now, and for many years past,
the grave of the beautiful unknown, as
She was termed-for no relative or friend
from out the past ever came to put in
CLAIMS marked only by the four round
sandstone pillars or corner stones of the
sarcophagus.
The civil war came on, the south had
neither time nor thought for summers at
the springs The hotel was burned, the
crumbing walls for many years after mark
ing the spot of former glory. The cottages