Year: 1878

made the acquaintance of Manthorpe,
remarkable man. and heard his singular story
in the autumn of Is. | was on n visit to
friend in the Virginia mountains and passed
the time in that pleasant do-nothing which is
n cordial TO the man of the cities. worn down
by business tolls and cares. Riding was,
above all. my great resource, and | conceived
a sort of passion for il. There was no part of
the surrounding country that | did not oN-
plorc in my solitary horseback expeditions.
In one of these l came upon the spot and the
man am now about to speak of.


had ridden out on a fine autumn morning,
and allowing my horse to choose his own road,
found myself toward afternoon in little val
ley hemmed in by mountains. The landscape
was wild and beautiful, too The slopes COW
cred with eVergreens seemed to lean over the
valley. in the depth Of which | could see from
the spot where | had halted small farm
house, nearly buried in laurel and mountain
ash. All beneath was quiet and peaceful, but
over the mountain to the west a heavy cloud
dropped, and as l was looking at it it darken-
ed. extended its hanks and swept forward,
ribbed from base to summit by shadOwy rain
streaks. 1t was plain that storm was near
and looked around for shelter. There was
none and ms my only resource | rode rapid
" down the mountain road, toward the house
in the valley which ] soon reached 1t stood
on green knoll under great ash and poplar
trees-a wcather-hoard cottage of moderate
size, with small porch, and grounds enclosed
by paling fence A narrow gate gave en-
trance. In front was a horse-block About
the whole spot was an air of peace and home.
The small house seemed to have nestled down
here under the mountains, though to es-
cape completely from the outer world.


1 had Just dismounted and thrown my bride
over the fence, and was taking off my saddle
to protect it from the rain storm rapidly ap-
preaching when heard steps behind me. |
| turned round and saw a man coming toward
me at a long swinging walk, carrying rifle
on his shoulder He was apparently from for
! ty to forty-fve years of age. tall muscular
and sunburnt. His dress, which is apt TO at
tract attention first when we meet stranger,
was half civilians, half hunters; and pow
| der horn made of polished cows horn swung
| at his left hip by cord passed around his
right shoulder. He was so near Inc when |
| turned round that | saw his face distinctly. 1t
was n very striking one, with bold features,
| tanned by sun and wind, heavy brown NOUS
tache, and a beard thick and matted reaching
nearly to his breast Under his fur cap pair
of calm blue eyes looked me straight in the
face and this was the controlling air of the
whole man-calmness. Accustomed to study
| physiognomy, and to form my conceptions of
| character from mems faces, | fancied that
| detected in that before me a reserved power
ana innate honesty. Beyond this ! was puz-
zled. The dress of tine mountaineer was that
of hunter; his whole bearing was that of a
man of education; | might add, of man of
| the world


A word explained why I had stopped at his
| home, and he replied with grave cordiality
that l was very welcome, quietly taking my
saddle from me and leading the way into the
house. We reached it just in time. for at the
very moment the rain rushed down, and
congratulated myself on the good judgment
which had shown in seeking shelter.


A man accustomed to the uniformity of cit
les is fond of looking narrowly at new scenes
characters and modes of life. / looked with
curiosity at the objects in the room ON the
right of the little porch into which my hos
led the way. Like the master of the mansion
it had contrasts, and puzzled me. The fool
was covered with a rag carpet and the wall,
plainly whitewashed; but in the centre of the
room stood a mahogany table dark with age
and against the wall were ranged some ma
hogany chairs with straight high backs, rich
ly carved, apparently heir-looms. The man
tel-piece was of pine, painted brown, but OF
the narrow ledge was an ebony clock evident
ly of considerable value. In one of the al
coyes beside the mantel- piece was bookcase
full of books. Opposite hung a netted bird
|
the stone back and side, bright blaze flick
cred showing the rude masonry of limestone


but the andirOns were large, heavy, of orna
mented bronze, and indicated "better days.


A rustic came behind me as l was LOOKING
at the objects, and l turned round. Befor
me stood very beautiful woman of abou
thirty, a girl of twelve or thirteen, with blu
eyes and brown curls, young fellow of abOu
eighteen, tall frank and fine-looking, and


little tottering creature in pink, grasping tn
lady's hand l say ''the lady's"-there coul,
be no doubt whatever of the social status o
the mistress of the house l had already mad
up my mind as to her husband. These peo
pie living in the humble mountain home wer
not 'mountaineers." They belonged neithe
to the region nor to the rude society whicl
surrounded them.


remained until the storm passed over
nearly sunset. The visit was quite delight
full certain atmosphere of sunshine ant