The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1903-04-07
KENTUCKY GRAVE.

oldfashioned spiEet-a SCARED veteran Of
long ago, stll bearing traces Of aristicratie
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 30 years.
Why it has remained unmolested al these
years is not known. Sooner or later some
relic hunter w1n find and restore it to its
original rank.
Could this old instrument speak, a 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 vide.
It would speak Of a lone grave, where
the moonlight falls softly, throwing a halo
over all, where the mocking bird on a
nearby bough sings love songs to his nest
ing mate all through the night.
The tall trees cast gaunt shadows across
the winding paths, and a weird, uncanny
feeling Is over the earth and in the arr and
takes superztitious possession Of one.
! live again in the ~longgOne past. There
are handsome buildings before me, Ignite
everywhere, music and mIrth ring out on the
still nigat air, no dismal shadows, no scr
rOwful superstition hnger there; but com
pany, comfort, happiness and pleasure
reign supreme.
1t is 80 years ago; the south Is in its
glory; wealth. and every luxury belong BY
right Of birth and Inheritance to those ars
t~ocratic people
They came to this celebrated watering
place, seeking health and pleasure Tne
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 of in parks, With great
forest trees to cast long, loving shade, and
shelter, winding dEiveEays "a 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 m~ockingbird's love song.
There was the one main hotel and two
long rOBs 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 baimy breezes,
too late to refill the veins 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 a season
For the well there was 8 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 al lis.
0-a ~ ELa-a ~-a 70 Ike curTr~E
a beautiful young woman, alone except for
her maid; no cnaperone, 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 a picture
IN her hunters green riding habit on hel
thoroughbred. taking the lead always with
the riding parties. She was the best whII
at the springs, and the admired OF al, wher
she went out IN her light road wagon, pulling
the ribbons on the hsndSomest coal black
team in Kentucky.
On the ballroom floor she was queer
OF all; such grace of movement, supplenes
Of limb one rarely sees. q was trull
the Improvisation OF beauty. She neversa
out dances. The arst on the floor, she wa
! always the last TO leave.
One evening late IN the summer she ap
peared in the dance hall more radiant thai
usual, her dark creole beauty heightene
: BY a flush on the cheek that was foregl
to her accustomed pallor. All present note,
this: but 70 sOIicitous inquiry she said 81
was feeling quite well, with the exception
81 a sharp pain, row and again. near III
heart. Nothing at all. she would answe
in that soft. caressing tone OF voice pc
culiar TO the far south. She danced tia
! evening as never before, truly the queel
Z Of the ball. When the dance was at It
( height, there was sudden confusion; ia
: music stopped; dancers stood still; ashou
Tor water and a doctor rang out on the md
night air. The creole bell had fallen LIE
ess on the ballroom floor.
All was done IN the power Of physical
and friends; but to no purpose. The hear
stood still, the spirit was free
They carried her, with loving hands an.
sorrowing hearts. the nex evening. VIE
the shadows began to IenEraeu- IN the beau
ty and stiffness Of the hour between sur
down and twilight, and laid her to res
beneath the friendly shelteriug oak tree u
der which she loved 50 well to sit and PISS
a the happy hours away. It was her wish
50 said the maid, TO be buried there BY m
ok as she called It, and there was no On
70 Eaiusay or wish It otherwise. A hand
some monument vas placed with date an
name.
The grave for years was protected, br
:. finally vandals and relic hunters elaine
5 lit; and now, and for many years pas
the grave Of the beautiful unknown,
she was termed-for no relative or frien
from out the past ever cane to put in
claims marked only by the four roun
sandstone pillars or corner stones Of u
~sarcophagus.
The civil war came on, the south ha
neither time nor thought for mmer a
the springs. The hotel was burned. ii
~erumbling walls for many years after mari
ing the spot Of former glory. The cottage
!, were used during the war for al asylum Il
= wounded soldiers.
? Generations have passed. The name
forgotten, entirely Obliteated from Il
K stones-though there can stil be seen Il
faint trace of markings on them but Il