American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-24
JEN NY RAY.
A New England Sketch.
By ELLEN GRAHAM.

/
sleigh, while Dick drove the young ladies and
Will in the double sleigh. Miss Gray was SO
agreeable and entertaining that the dismal
young gentleman began to open his heart little
for sunshine. His moody reserve wore away
by degrees, and by the time they arrived ut the
church steps, he mentally decided that he had
been too hasty the previous evening During
service some part of the harness became disar-
ranged, 30 that the church was quite empty by
the time he had repaired the mischief and driven
round to the steps. But alas for comfort now ;
whom should he see but Garland, standing
earnestly talking to the young ladies, keeping
them entirely absorbed by his pleasing conver-
sation. A cloud gathered on Dicks brow in an
instant lie cast q half furtive glance from
under his knit brows towards Miss Gray; but
she was completely occupied in listening. This
was enough for our sensitive hero, his dreams
were all over now, and he began to despise
Garland, innocent though he was Of any inten-
tion to injnre him. In his vexation he nearly
upset the sleigh, but the undaunted music.
teacher, unconscious of giving offence talked
on in the best of spirits, gallanty assisting the
ladies into the sleigh, arranging the buffaloes
with care, and then to crown his audacity, as
Dick thought, jumped in himself and rode down
to his boarding house with them.
few days passed, and the first disturber of
young Thornton's peace of mind left and went
to the next house to board her allotted time.
But instead of restoring his wonted cheerfulness
and bringing back his old smiles, jokes and
songs, he seemed all the more depressed and
gloomy. The house appeared to him intolerably
dull and lonely his time hung heavily on his
hands; he had no heart for business his very
countenance bore the expression Of moody,
| dissatisfied man. His mother was truly alarmed
| at his unwonted behaviour, and, attrbuting it
all to the weakness of his nervous system, re-
| commended ralerton, as usual. What remedy
for his disease! So matters stood when it was
arranged that the two singing-schools should
meet-the singers of Dalton riding over to
Woodstock, and joining their voices with their
neighbors'. The evenings were bright moon
light, the sleighing fine, and all the young peo-
pie were anticipating anxiously the appointed
evening. The girls were busy preparing some
thing little extra to wear, and the beaux were
employed in negotiations for sleghs, horses
bells, ETC., so that there might be conveyances
| for all.
| Dick met knots of young men talking eagerly
every time he passed through the village, and
saw signs of the approaching festivity with no
very enviable feelings. new sleigh, lustrous
with fresh paint and gliding, was pointed out
to him by some communicative individual, as
being engaged for the occasion by the master
himself. $50 he's going to take Miss Gray"
thought Dick, with sigh, as he turned away,
and feeling of envy flashed through his mind,
as he suffered himself TO think of the enjoyment
it would afford him to be in Garlands place
He had just turned his horses head toward
home on the very morning when the important
ride was to take place that following evening,
when hearing his name called he looked around,
and saw no other than Mr.. Garland approach
ing him. Dick gave him a very cold nod. ac-
companied by look which might have told the
schoolmaster had he not been too busy to study
expression, that he was not regarded with much
| affection in that quarter. But intent Oh his
own affairs he begged Mr.. Thornton's pardon
for OBTAINING him, but wished that he would
oblige him by taking a message to Miss Gray
on his way home, as he was too much occupied
to go over himself Dick looked more majes
tic, dignifed, and awful than ever while Gar
land went on.
"Oblige me then" said he, after Dick had
muttered something expressive Of his willing
ness or rather unwillingness, to deliver the
message, "by telling Miss Gray that Mr.. Con
nor, who is going to take his niece, Miss Willis,
TO the singing school to night, win call for her
This arrangement will be much more pleasan
for her, than being crowded with q dozen other.
into a double sleigh, ms she expected 10 go al
first. / would take her myself he added, "but
| can only procure a single sleigh, and that
will Of course be filed with Lucy and myself"
new light flashed over Dicks mind, his
eyes frightened, and he became wonderfully
cordial in taking leave of Mr.. Garland. 'What
Ounce / have been ~ thought he $50 it is
Lucy, only Cousin Lucy he admres Why
didn't see it before?" said he, as he called to
mind certain bushings and stammerings, which
had affected her whenever Gsrland's name had
been mentioned, and which he had been too
much blinded TO construe Alright.
Young Thornton rode toward home in the
best of spirits, delivered a certain message to
Miss Gray, at which she turned "deligbtful,
rosy red," and he looked very much pleased
and very happy. As may be supposed, Mr.
Connor was informed that Miss Gray was en-
gagged, and everything looked bright to our
hero" Richard was himself again" His spir-
| its we're little damped by finding that his old
friend, Aunt Clary, was favoring his mother
with q visit that afternoon, and no doubt, rely
ing on his constancy, anticipated ride in his
sleigh that evening.
"Why, Richard you are in haste" said
| Squire Thornton, as Joe led his horse to the
door; "perhaps Aunt Clary will spend the even
| ing with US; you can drive her home by and
by; the evenings are almost as bright as day
now"
"Father, IL am going away tonight,
stammered Dick. "Will must take old SorreP
and drive her home"
| A meaning smile gathered about the squire's
mouth as he saw how affairs we're turning out.
What the result of this ride to Woodstock
was, may be inferred from various circum-
stances. After the school closed in the ''Thorn-
ton district" Dick seemed to have great deal
| Of business at B, the residence Of some
one--I can't say whom. Two or three times a
week his horses head was turned that way,
and his horses feet allowed no rest till he ar
rived at little white cottage, a very comfort
able place, if we may judge by his unwilling
ness to leave it.