The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1853-01-06
R. l., THURSDAY, JANUARY s, 1859

as teakettle and nearly as indigestible
At last finding that l was growing some
what thinner and paler than was neces
sary even for college STUDENT, l deter
mined to change my quarters, and &C
cordingly took board at a moderat,
charge with Mrs. Gray; who kept q
boarding house in pleasant and retired
part of the village. The first time 1 sal
down at her table, was a little sur.
priscd to see nearly opposite me my
classmate Bedford. He greeted me
with more freedom and cordiality than
usual with him. He said he was glad
to see me there, and he hoped l should
long continue to make one Of their num-
Der, that he doubted not l should find
my present situation pleasant, and many
more polite things which / cannot now
remember. l did indeed find Mrs.
Gray's much preferable to the place l
had left Bedford and I became some
what intimate. We usually walked to
and from our meals in company and
frequently visited each other at our
rooms. There were eight or ten other
boarders at Mrs. Gray's but We were
the only students. My friend was some
thing of favorite among them, but it
so happened that became much ac-
quainted with only one of them Zone
evening a sudden rain had detained me
for while after tea, and while waiting
or it to clear away, Bedford came into
the sitting room with one of the board
ers, young lady whom he intro duced
to me as Miss Osgood. I had often
seen her with Bedford, and supposed
her to be an old friend of his. To me
she proved an interesting acquaintance.
She was then engaged as teacher of
French in a school for young ladies',
situated near by. She knew little of
the classics, but in the more modern
and lighter branches of literature she
was quite my superior. Her manners
were polite, her mind sound and vigor-
Gus, and her requirements by no means
contemplate, and although I never felt
quite at ease in her company, it certain
y did much to sSeeten my six months
stay at Mrs. Gray's.
Towards the last of my stay at Mrs. |
G's walk was proposed one evening
after tea, and nearly all our company
sailed out to take stroll by the side of
the river. 1t was beautiful evening in
the prime of Autumn, when the oppres-
sive summer heats had given way, aud
the pinching cold of winter had not set
in, when the woods had decked itself
out in its lovoliest attire, like a bride
for her lover, or rather like fair VIC
tim to die. Some ladies of our number
amused themselves with gathering few
pale, pitifal looking flowers, that still
fingered in the sheltered corners of the
wood, and some of the gentlemen who
rad smattering of the patural sciences,
hunted for specimens among the ledges
BY the side of the river
Bedford and NJ IS Osgood gradually
fell behind the rest of the party; who
kept on, some appearing very merry,
some very scientific, and all very talka-
tive. Feeling just then no disposition
to be enlightened by their erudition, or
pleased by their merriment, sat down
by the river and suffered them to pass
On. had sat there some little time,
when Bedford and Julia came by. 1
had remained behind without any design
Of seeing them, without indeed any de-
sign whatever. They came close by,
but did not perceive me. only glanced
1t her. l noticed only that her color
was heightened by either her feelings,
DR. the crimson canopy under which she
was passing-that her rich brown hair
lad fallen over her shoulders, aud that
her blue eye that usually shone bright
md restless as the lazulite, was soft and
,ubdued. Bedford's ann was about
her, and while his slight form bent fond
y over her, his eye was brilliant and his
very motion as graceful and supple as
hose of the ma -ni6cent Indian snake
was never listener, but l was made
o hear few words whether would or
,ot. Whether l would or not,
knew myself, but l could not
lrive them from my ears for the long
ime / sat there alone. At length j
down, threw the cold water in
. shower over my forehead and hair,
Ind as if I had startled from dream,
,ook my way towards my room.
The next evening Bedford called at
ny room. You we're not at the rsclt-
'tion to-day" he said, after the usual
"No.n I answered, CT have been