The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1852-06-17
Original 5ketfbes.
SKETCHES OF
GRIPEVILLE AND ITS DENIZENS
BY L'INCoGNITA.

4
other reached the ears Of Lionel Gay,
perhaps through the medium of the will
age gossips, that Miss Victoria G. d.
Eftwold had departed from her fathers
residence and gone to spend the winter
with distant relative Of her mothers
who resided in Boston in the midst of
great wealth and splendor, moreover this
intelligence was accompanied with the
still more important information that her
third or fourth cousin, Mr.. Napoleon
Bonaparte Addlepate, who came with a
splendid equipage to carry her to Boston,
was her to-bc-husband. If, after all the
insight which Lionel had gained of the
character of Victoria Eftwold, and his
own election of Violet Maydon as the
future guiding star of his life, there re-
mained in his fancy any vestige of the
air-castles of future conquest which the
first sight of Victoria had created, they
were entirely dispelled by this latter
item of news. As we have said before,
his first boarding-place was at Deacon
Maydon's and consequently the first
young lady in Gripeville who had the
extreme honor of his acquaintance, was
Violet, and when we consider that her
beauty and sweet temper was greatly
enhanced by near acquaintance, it is
no wonder that the admiration which she
had at first inspired in bis bosom, con-
tinually increased, and, as he imagined,
ripened in few weeks into pure un-
changable love.
Notwithstanding his uncommon share
Of native pride, his great respect for
monied men and his exquisite taste for
luxury and splendor, he did actually
begin to indulge fantastic dreams of
/" love in cottage" to dote upon the
beauties of country life, and the
pleasures of moonlight,rambles and sem
timental music; and the Dymph which
always gave to these imaginary delights
their sweetest charm was no one else
but the pretty Violet. At singing
school-Lionel taught the singing-school
whose weekly sessions were held in the
school-house-somehow it al
ways happened after Lionel changed his
boarding place, that the road leading to
his home, even if it was situated in an
entirely opposite direction, went directly
by Deacon Maydon's dwelling, and con-
Violet never went home alone,
Henry, contrary to his
former custom at such times, walked
along behind with the other boys" or
now and then attended some girl of his
who happened to be minus
a beau. The favorite nook beneath the
willow, where Violet and Henry, and
sometimes the whole family were wont
to spend the pleasant Sunday evenings,
now weekly received another guest and
often at such times, while Violet and
Lionel were singing some favoritc duett
or Lionel was relating some thrilling
tale in his own melodious tones to which
Violet listened with kindling eye and
attentive ear, Henry would steal away
unperceived, and wander in some lonely
retreat where he could indulge the sad
thoughts that seemed to oppress him.
1t was a pleasant evening in the last
part of fall. True the brilliant tinted
verdure with which fair autumn decks
the forest trees, had all faded and fallen,
and the green carpet of grass was scared
and embrowned with the biting frost,
but the soft mild breath Of the I" Indian
summer" was floating over the blighted
landscape, and the sweetness Of the air,
and the beauty Of the sunset sky had
tempted the younger portion Of the