The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-01-21

bewilderng confusion-With some difficulty found
a seat--just vacated by an inyad-and hoping that
had stepped in unobserved, / sent for a cold bird
and piled my knife and fork in busy silence
Birds, berries and bread and butter gave me cour-
age. had finished my meal, but sat looking up
the long line of faces the opposite side specula-
ting on one physiognomy and another, and select
ing future acquaintance from the pretty and the
piquant All at once my eye caught upon a side
face had seen before, and a sudden turn and a
mutual recognition left me no hope of escape.
There sat my old friend, and knew instantly, by
the resemblance, that the TALL magnificent creature
at his side was his sister felt the blood rush in
to my face like broken. sluice. You never saw
me blush (hank Heaven 1 never do except upon
surprise) its horrible My nose, eyes, and forehead
were purple knew it could see every vein in
my minds spectrum i Harry speak to his
sister. Her eyes were me i'm an instant; and as
turned half way, and almost burst "A blood vessel
in trying to look unconscious, i could see by my
side eye that her glass raised, and felt it go
down to my dress, and up to my red forehead and
hattened hair, and about my soveny cravat--wbat
did not suffer? had no power to move, and |
had forgotten in my confusion the commonest
by which might have avoided her. was seen
and scrutinized, and as edged out of the hall in
agony, debated whether had better insult my old
friend and so avoid an introduction, or drown my
self in the bath-ether seemed paradise to my pres
ent feelings.
Harry was in my room before could get the door
closed.
'Whatcould tempt you to come to the table looking
so like the devilr
In "A long four years of intimacy we had never
come quarreng. He told me frankly that
his sister was disagreeably surprised at my appear
ance and sat down on the bed and cursed my stars
till / was tired
Well bathed and dressed and at nine Harry
was again in my
Gertrude will never recognize you,' said he,
measuring me from head to foot you are ex-
quisitely dressed and look little like the blushng
youth at the table as like Hyperion
A thought struck me ! was always impudent
by candle light and determined on my course in
stantly. l remembered that, though very tall was
rather short bodied and looked like small man at
table, and trusting to the metamorphosc of studied
toilet, proposed to Harry to introduce me by anoh-
name Ii was agreed upon as soon as mentioned
The rooms were brilliantly lighted, and the band
playing a march. The ball had not commenced
Fifty sixty couple, however, were promcnading
round the room, and amoug them Harry, with his
sister on his arm ] settled my cravat, and with AN
assurance that would have asonishcd mysefby day /
light, lounged cooy and alone up the middle ofhe
splendid hail. and my head slightly inclined in
collected modesty, and my glass passing leisurcly
over the feet only of the gay dressed promenaders.
| felt that every eye in the room was upon me but |
was of my self-possession. As Harry came
round, caught once more, with side glance, the
gIterng of glass lcvelIcd full at my figure and
my hopes sprang like Mercury at the sound of the
low silver toned who is he 2
A college acquaintance of mine, Mr.. St Johu,
said Harry.
Does he talk well as he dresses 2
did not hear the answer, but "A moment after the
manager clapped his hands FOR coullions Harry
came to present me.
- cannot ofcoursc speak otherwise than in general
terms of my progress in my partners favor Ihad
the advantage of having read her letters for four
years, and knew every trait and taste she possess
,ed, both natural and acquired, must have seemed
ike intuition could quote all her favoritc authors
md remembered her own quotations, and did not
all of course to introduce them; and the similarity
If taste seemed wonderful. We went ont upon the
,iazZa after the first dance and paced the dim lighted
cngth till the ball was ovcr-four glorious hours
\nd parted at two--very good friends certainly.
l had my name entered upon the book as Mr.. st.
ohn, gave Phil the cue, (hc was very be-
raying me twenty times day,) none else knew me
The vcritabe Mr.. RI Harry made his regrets
o his sister, supposed to be sick in his room,
with travel. Gertrude said in my ear she
vas not sory-for she had seen him, and spite of
Iarry's euogies, he the ugcst she ever
aw.' pulled upmy g!lls and hemmcd instructive +,
y at the assertion.
Some six weeks after this | was standing behind
sofa on which sat the lady of whome have spo- :
zen. IL was fine October day, clear and of +,
delicious GOODNESS, and she had stopped at the end
# canto to look out through the low long windows
pon the beautiful lawn-imag gining apparently some :
nbidden thoughts | stood silently looking down
pon her polished forehead and musing with "A y
rcmbling pleasure on her excessive, beauty and her
obl6 mind unwilling to break the charm either of J.
er thoughts or of my Harry entered with
,tter, without looking at the superscripton she =
banked him, and was quietly slipping it under her :.
cit to be read at leisure, when he laid his finger .
pom her hand and begged her with equvocal
mile to attend to it Immediately. had stepped !,
ack to the extreme corner ofthe she broke /
ne SEAL and while she read it, stood pulling to pieces
!. IL L