THE

PRINCE OF DARKNESS.

A ROMANCE OF THE BLUE RIDGE

BY MRS. E. D. E. N. SOUTHWORTH.

99.66

UTHOR OF THE CHANGED BRIDES," HOW HE WON HER,' ""THE BRIDE'S FATE

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THE BRIDAL EVE," "THE LADY OF THE ISLE," "GIPSY'S PROPHECY,"
"THE BRIDE OF LLEWELLYN," "THE LOST HEIRESS," "FORTUNE SEEKER,"
"INDIA; OR, THE PEARL OF PEARL RIVER," "THE WIDOW'S SON,"
"THE HAUNTED HOMESTEAD," "VIVIA," "ALLWORTH ABBEY,"

"MOTHER-IN-LAW, 9966 FATAL MARRIAGE, ""WIFE'S VICTORY,"

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DISCARDED DAUGHTER, THE CURSE OF CLIFTON,"

"THE DESERTED WIFE," "LOVE'S LABOR WON,"

"THE MISSING BRIDE,'
""THE TWO SISTERS,"

"A dream is on my soul!

I see a slumberer crowned with flowers, and smilin

As in delighted visions, on the brink

Of a dread chasm!"-HEMAN'S VESPERS OF PALERMO.

NEW YORK

THE FEDERAL BOOK COMPANY

PUBLISHERS

THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS;

A ROMANCE OF THE BLUE RIDGE

CHAPTER I.

THE MYSTERY.

Is this the hall? The nettle buildeth bowers,
Where loathsome toad and beetle black are seen!
Are these the chambers? Fed by darkest showers,
The shiny worm hath o'er them crawling been!
Is this the home? The owlet's dreary ory,

Unto that asking makes a dread reply --NICOLL.

EARLY in the autumn of 18-, we were journeying leisurely through the majestic and beautiful mountain and valley scenery in the interior of Virginia.

It was near the close of a golden October day that we reached the picturesque little village of Hillsborough, situated upon a very high point of land, and in the midst of abrupt, rocky, treecapped peaks, with green dents of fertile soil between. It was a town of rocks-founded upon rocks-hemmed in by rocks-the dwelling-houses,

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