The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-01-09
the thick branches, garlsnded with delicate


leaves, dropping about us, and the sunset
streaming on the ripe fruit, clustering n
'nong them like large carbuncles wreathed
with a profusion Of stirring enierslds. IL
was one of those hours aud seasons that
charm one 10 Happiness in spite of circum-
stances, aud most delicious was our enjoy
menl oft. Mrs Bell and her grund-dnugh-
ter joined us before our meal was over, and
were invited to take seats ut the table.
How delightful :" exclaimed Mary,
throwing her straw bonnet on the grass,
Grandmother, shall help you to n peach :"
She sprung into chair, and thrust her
hand up into the green branches, pressing
her slender fngers now to a golden, and
then to a crimson checked peach, ia her
eagerness to secure the best. She would
balancing herself on The tips of her slippers
ard grasping a slender branch with one
hand, while the other wandered amid the
thick foliage in searci, of the ripest fruit
Her bishop sleeve had broken loose, and
falling back to the elbow, exposed an ex-
quisitiely modelled arm, glimnering amid
the green leaves, like winter snow seen in
the branches Of the evergreen. While she
wns thus engaged, Betsy had ushered two
gentlemen through the garden to our re-
treat. An exclamation from one Of our
party warned Mary of their approach Just
MS she had secured her mellow prize. With
a bright blush she sprung to the ground !;
but the sudden motion entangled her hair
with the leaves aud drew the end of the
branch after her. With crimsoned face
she was striving to extricate herself, when
the talest Of the two advanced with quiet
gracefulness and released her; then apollo.
gizing for the liberty, he turned aHd was in
troduced to us as Mr.. Edmund Stone,
Of -
The blood which was jus: ebbing from
Mary's face, rushed back in torrent rs she
heard the name Of the stranger. IL wss n
familiar one; and during our late school
term we had too often heard it coupled will,
accounts of wildness and diss,p~,,a, hv
means creditable to the possessor. he.
of good family, and we'll received in soci-
ETY.. This we knew, but nothing could e.
quail our surprise when the handsome collie
gian, Of whom we had heard so mach, was
Unidentified with The superb young fellow be-
fore us, whose u1ostentatious and gentle
manly manners were letters patent in item
selves, and who possessed one Of the hand
soonest faces my eye ever dwelt upon. His
compassion was an oil acquaintance, resid-
ing about three miles from us, very rich,
toIerably good looking, and n very gene
rous, open-henrted young gentleman whom,
it was said, almost any girl would do well
to marry, he having the wherewi,hal to pro-
vide an establishment.
The gentlemen were seated, and joined
in conversation with my father, who was
acquainted with old Judge Stone, the father
of our visitor, and welcomed his son accor.
dinghy. Mary seated herself demurely by
her grandmother, and proceeded to dives,
her trophy of its downy coverins--to cut 1t
up and sprinkle it with sugar for the old la
dy, now and then stealing a glance at the
stranger from under her long lashes, and
hlushing when she found herself detected.
Before we returned to the house the flow
crs had folded themselves TO feposc, a show
er Of glowing stars besprinkled the heavens,
the leaves stirred heavily under their weight
Of dew, and the dark shadows Of the hill
lay like drapery along the valley. The las,
hour had been delightful. My father had
conversed familiarly with the young gentle
men, who had found time respectively 10
Join him IN bis opinions, to drop word now
mud then to us, and to pay such little n,ten-
lions to the mutrons as elder ladies like TO
receive from young gentlemen. II was very
evident tha, the quiet attentions Of Mr.. Stone
had in one short hour ingratiated himself
into general favor with those who: on his
introduction, had certain feelings of preju
dice floating in their minds, altogether at
variance with the cordiaty with which my
father shook hands with him on his depart
urc. Mrs. Bell rose TO depart. Mr.. Nichols
carefully folded her merino about her, while
Mary blushed and smiled Ms she clssped her
gloyed fingers over the offered arm Of Mr..
Stone.
Early the mex, morning Mary came
dancing into my room with face full OF
animation. "Ob, Sarah, have something
so pleasant to tell yon Nichols has pu,
up at the tavern for week-be is to over
look the workmen on his farm up the val
ley. Mr.. Stone will stay with him, and our
vacation will pass delightfully."-. Nichols hns
brought his horses md flute, and we shall
have such rides and walks, and little music
pnrties-will it not be beautiful Mr.. Stone
sketches and sings, and 10 an amateur
painter-therc is nothing IN the world he
can't do-Nichols told grandmother so last
night But you don't look glad, Sarah,
what is the nss'ter r'
Nothing-bn, mama has Just been into
my room, and requests me In be cautions
and enter into no iniimacies with Mr..
Stone"
"wbyT inquired Mary in extreme as
tonishment
"Tbose reports We heard about his COL /
lege life."
al don't believe n word of lbem," inter- I
rnpted my friend, tapping the csrpe, i'm
patiently with her foo, and gathering her