A Daughter of Maryland — page 113: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

94 A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. vanguard, Aurian rode on her favorite horse Maze, attended by S’posen Jones. At least she was supposed to be favored with his attendance, but between his desire to be near his sable sweetheart and his pretense to duty, as his mistress was not willing to go at the slow pace of the team, it was never certain to count upon him at either par- ticular place, but more likely to find him somewhere between these objective points, with a decided nearness to the last. Sper But this fact gave Aurian no concern. In truth it afforded her greater pleasure to be alone in her existing state of mind. The clear, crisp air gave new vigor to her thoughts, as she rode along the unpeopled road, often lead- ing for long distances through the arcades of the forest, with the tall, straight trunks of the pines forming the columns and the dark-green foliage the arches of the prime- val galleries. The dismal croaking of a crow perched on a crag in the distance fell with a softened cadence on the ‘stillness of the autumn day, while a gay songster, con- cealed somewhere in the matted crest of a neighboring oak, thrilled all Nature with his melody. Looking up from those dim aisles through the ragged rents in the tree tops, the September sky seemed to have taken on the hues of the wildwood, the deep-tinted azure of space reflecting the alternating shades of green of the pines, the russet and brown of oak, maple and beech, while farther away toward the westering sun lay in bright bars the silver of the birch and poplar. . Though called the Graymont road, this way really left that notable estate half a mile off to the right in going toward the south, the old building looming up on the sum- mit of an eminence of land that commanded a wide view of the surrounding country like some castle in ancient story. Kven at that distance it showed its neglect and long deser- tion. Aurian resolved to ride up to the old homestead on her return home, as she had not been nearer than she was then to the buildings for a long time.