The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-07-05
LEGEND OF OLD SOUTH MOUNTAIN.
hcw Two Loving Hearts Were United
in Death,

In Death.
At the foot of South Mountain. along
the National road, stands large white
house, known to the people of today as
the white House." but during the
Civil War it served as an inn under the
name Of the ''South Mountain Tavern. :"
In the spring of the year 1913, Ma
thaniel Bright, who was then the young
landlord of the Inn, brought his bonnie
blushing bride, Honore, to be mistress
of this domain. They were both very
young, but loved each other so dearly
that the days that followed were ones
of rare happiness. Two years later,
when the arbutus was waiting it's fra
GRANGE down the mountainside, little
blue-eyed daughter came to share their
happiness. The proud father insisted
upon calling her for her mother, Honore,
the dearest, sweetest name in the lam
guage, he had said. When little Honore
was but four years old, her mother, af-
ter only few days illness, was taken
from them. Honore was almost too
young to comprehend her loss but poor
Nathaniel was heart broken, and had it
not been for the little daughter now
doubly dependent upon him, he would
soon have followed his loved one. Under
her fathers loving care, Honore passed
from infancy to girlhood and was just
emerging into sweet, pure womanhood
at the time of our story. She was now
eighteen, above the average height,
her rounded figure having dainty Wild
flower grace. Her black hair fell in
curls to her waist, making more perfect
her pink and white complexion. Ho-
nore's chief beauty lay in her eyes
deep, honest blue eyes, now modest and
retiring like the violet, then again
dancing and laughing with fun.
One stormy evening during the latter
part of February, while Honore was
singing to her father, the servant came
IN with the news that a man who was
evidently in need of medical assistance,
wanted shelter for the night. Of course,
the wish was granted. That night the
stranger became seriously i'll and for
days his life hung in the balance, but
thanks to the kindness of Nathaniel and
a strong constitution, he began to make
rapid strides toward recovery. As he
grew stronger, Honore became his com
panion and one day he told his story.
His father, mother and twin brother
comprised his family. Richard was his
brothers name and Robert Marvel was
his. His brother had always lived at
home and had enlisted in the Uuion
Army. Robert had always lived with
his uncle in Virginia and had also en-
tered the army but had been wounded
and invaded home. He was homeward
bound now but was detained by his i'll
ness. During their walks through the
mountains, HOnOre had told him of the
sweet little maYfloWer and Robert had
decided to wait until it had arrived be-
fore taking his departure. On Honore's
nineteenth birthday, while out for g
stroll, they wended their way towards
Honore's favorite nook, under the pine
trees, where the arbutus loved to nestle.
The soft wind brought the fragrance of
the arbutus to them and there in the
shade of the pines her the old, old story.
Without word, Honore held toward
him spray Of the little waxen flowers
and in the glory of her eyes he read her
answer.
AS he took her in his arms and bent
his head to press the first fond kiss on
the dear lips, bullet came whizzing
through the pine trees and in that first
moment Of bliss two souls were hurled
into eternity. The blood from the two
wounds stained the arbutus on which
they fell and even now the arbutus I'M
der the pine trees is family tinged
with red. AS the two lovers breathed
their last, soldier emerged from the
neighboring thicket and saw the two
locked in last embrace. He could not
believe that his carelessness had caused
their death.
Nathaniel Bright, hearing the pistol
shot, came hurrying to the scene and
with cry of agony threw himself
down beside his daughter. The soldier
said that he was looking for Richard
Marvel who had deserted from the I'm
ion Army at the battle of Antietam. A
few days ago he had heard that he was
i'll at the Mountain Tavern and had come
there Immediately. The servant at the
house told him where Mr.. Marvel was,
and ne had started out to meet him.
While getting through through the
thicket, the gun had been accidentally
discharged. When the soldier discov-
cred that instead of killing Richard
Marvel he had killed Robert Marvel.
who was innocent, and also sweet Ho-
more Bright, his grief was pitiful.
They were buried there in the shade
OF the pines where they were so cruelty
torn apart when life was brightest.
The moons soft raUC foil o,o,,4I, -.