The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-01-31

when apparently in perfect health, not six Q
hours previous.
Be this as II may, our hero returned home
with the bewidored feelings of one who has ,
suddenly drawn capital prize. The almanac
was daily consulted with the eagerness Of one
who would fain move forward the shadow on
the dial and the long weary days, which in.
teryened before the appointed time, were
eked out in the sickness Of hope deferred.
IIe would occasionally kill lingering hour
by projecting princely improvements on his
little farm, which lay meanwhile like the gar
den Of the slpggard; the conjuror's ta'isman,
like the wand Of Prospero, seemed at stroke
to have converted his humble tenement into
the dwelling Of prince and air castles
swan before his heated agnation in all the
gorge BUSINESS of romance. But it was in his
dreams, "spoke like Sybi's Of the future" that
he reyeed in the full fruition Of more than
oriental sumptuousness-- boundlessness OF
wealth that would have beggared the kings
ofthe genii. Chests Of gold and silver. mines
of ofcaverned riches, avalanches ofjewels tumb-
ling around him, gnomes and goblins, whole
cosmorama of Sinbad fantasies mocked his
slumbers, till the good woman at his side in
innocent ignorance Of the latter day glory
that awaited her, deemed him, as he lay tos-
sing around, the prey Of some fearful and
damning secret. He had az yet lisped the
revelation in no mortal ear, sensible a. he was
that participation in the hazard Of the ad
venture would induce participation in the
spoil. Besides his mind had hitherto been so
absorbed in the disposal Of she anticipated
prise, that he had scarcely bestowed a thought
on the means by which it was to be obtained.
But az the appointed day grew nigh, Difficult.
ties began to present themselves which filed
him with misgivings. His unasslsted efforts
might prove insufficient for the removal of the
ponderous treasure land he could not conceal
| from himself that q companion OF flesh and
blood, would, to say the least be very con-
yenient in an adventure which might call for
the interposition Of an incorporeal agency.
Gladly would he have aysiled himself OF the
ca. operation Of the partner Of his worldly
thrift but the injunction Of the coniuror that
not word should be spoken-alack! "icha-
bod" was written on the very face OF It.
From this dilemma we leave the good man
to extricate himself; promising at the same
time that his nearest neighbor was on elderly
| bachelor brother, whose heir presumptive ne
flattered himself to be and who, in case o.
h;s erlisting his services, would still, as the
saving is, retain the property in the family.
. It was now the green depth Of snmmer, ant
the broad banks and meadows OF the Con
necticut were teeming with the luxurIance o
vegetation. As yet, steamboats, were IN the
/, womb of futurity, and the light water-craf
with which tho followers Of the adventufoui
Ledysrd navigated this beautiful river, hat
: but recently given place to the numbering
. batteau of the merchant. Ever and anon, a
its huge sail hung lazily tapping over tht
dark waters, the rude song OF the boatmoi
might be heard as he wrought At the oar
swelling among the numerous coves ano IN
= lets which bordered its margin, or answered
in echoes, family multiplied among the noun
! tains beyond. Even this was OF so rare oc
y curycnce az to attract attention and the hon
= est rustics on the banks, as it swept along
would lean for a moment on the implement o
Z his labor, to dream of distant voyages, ship
wrecks and the perils Of the water. Th
. shout and merry laugh of childhood was hear
= among the clustering elms that bordered tn
! stream and the pattering Of little feet cam
y across the water from the smooth line OF beat
en- sand along its margin. But there was on
who gazed on all this with silent eye,-h
= |, was revelling in the immateriality of a wor!
! of his own creation. He called to littI
urchin who was clambering the thick vine
with group of his fellows, and mnttered,
= he parted the haxen curls from his forehe,'
= "to. o.morrow--and the young rogue WIZ 90 IN
!, son Of a nabob."
u Il was late in the brilliant evaning ensuing
i th::ss small boat might be seen to push fro'
!. tho shore, and shoot noiselessly scross IN
:, river in the direction Of the island. In
70 moon was noar her zenith, and long line
!. light cleaned across the water, broken onl
~ BY the ripples that circled around the stern
's the little craft, or followed dancing in III
wake. Approaching the island, It drew
~ in the shadow Of q small cove, and two dar
forms stepped on shore; landing spad
= mattock, and bar, and an old queens arm
: which might have been loaded with silvt
!" bullet. Making the boat fast, they cautlous
D. assembled the bank, and deposited their in
elements at the foot of an old elm, whic
threw the shadow OF its spreading branch'
- far around over the smooth sod. The young
u of the men appeared far the most active, q
~ ternately consulting an old timepiece. wnle
!. he continually drew from his pocket III sn'
e ious rcstlessness, and throwing fearful glal
~ ces among the bosky thickets at hand, whic
:, lay motionlesJ a. death. The lonely stilne
= Of the wild spot ut this "witching time
= night" tho air Of mystic thrown over the
's conversation which like the mutes Of I
" eastern seraglio, they carried on only BY sign
where al! beiitting some unholy deed, viii
- "a "rhe setting Of the eye and cheek, proclaimed
A matter from them.
q. At length, measuring few PAGES from q
v. tree, and once more cyeing all around n
Of with cautions scrutiny, they commenced di
nd ging in its shadow. At this moment an o
&c ject appeared rounding an angle OF the sho
ef below. and in On instant vessel OF war und
ia full ss;l rnshed bv the island Not o 90