The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-12-23
5etefte0.
. From the Star spangled Banner.
IN THE FOREST.
BY GEORGE l.. AIKEN.

The inmates of the little hostellerit
gathered without the door, awaiting the
approach of horseman, the distant
sound of his horses tread having appris-
ed them of his coming.
He rides rapidly up and springs light
ly from his saddle, giving his horse in
charge of the hostler, who, after receiv-
ing his instructions, lead his way to the
stable.
The new conner observed the look OF
wonder cast upon him, and was at loss
to account for the curiosity he excited
He was man about thirty-fve years OF
age, of medium height, well formed, ,'and
tolerably good-looking. He was attired
in the uniform of dragoon in the Ger
man service. .....
swell, my good people," he exclaim.
ed at length, " what do you see in my
appearance so surprising that it makes
you gaze upon me with open mouths g
6 Is it possible you are alive 7"
The astonishment Of the host caused
this somewhat singular interrogation t.
escape from him.
Faith, to the best of my belief, !
am So" replied the dragoon pleasantly
Do look like dead man 20
I" No, no, l meant not that" said the
host, as he seemed to be revolving
some matter in his mind which puzzled
him. You came by the forest road Z"
"Certainly, and gloomy enough it is
too; a lonely path to traverse when d
man has no companion but his Owl
thoughts"
" Better have your thoughts than tn,
fearful companion some have met in the
forest"
"Indeed! what sort of person is he y
eve know not; none that have seen
him have lived to tell their encounter y
"This is strange affair you are tell
ing me-"
"Did you see nothing on your way
through the forest ?" FL75f. -l..l..l
I" Nothing yet stay-nowI 1 bethink,
l do remember noticing in the forest, a
short distance from the, road, "a small
cottage window"
I" Ah /. window :"
I" Yes; thought it singular that a
cottage should be situated in such q
peculiar and lonely neighborhood."
Z" You did not approach it 7"
" No-I should not have observed i
but for the glimmering light of a taper
which betrayed it to my eyes. / was toe
hungry to stop and examine it knew
of the locality of your inn, and hurried
on, as / wished to pass the night here" /"
"Ah! 1 remember you now; is il
not Capt. Ernest Z"
"The same" ,.......
"You stopped here on your way tc
join the army for the last campaign"
"Yes; the war is now over, the En-.
pcror has concluded'a peace, and l au
on my way home. But come, serve mt
up something in the shape Of repast
and while l satisfy the cravings of nature
you shall narrate to me the particular
of this strange story. What little
have heard has greatly excited my cur.
iosity."
The host led the way into the prin.
cipal apartment of the inn. A hasty
meal was soon spread upon small table
and Capt. Ernest commenced a vigorous
attack. uYrn
You must know" said the host
seeing that his guest was prepared t.
listen, cit is now nearly year sine,
that window was first seen"
"Then / presume that the cottag,
was built about that time" interrupted
Capt. Ernest. rr.l.
Cottage! there is no cottage there p
What, no cottagei oh, my goo,
fellow, l saw the window of it myself.
True, yet still there is no cottage.
We'll, / have heard of houses with
out windows, but 1 never before hear,
of a window without house."
"Yet it is the fact. Traverse tn,
road by daylight; carefully examin
every portion of it; penetrate shor
distance into the forest on either side
and you will find no vestige of any human
habitation."
"There is some mystery in this"
"Aye, and deep one, for as soon a
the shades of evening begin to fall, tn
traveller beholds the light shining wit
sickly lustrc amidst the dense foliag
around."
All, ! have IL; this is nothing NOR