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

!. "Who are they' Miss Osgood re-
: mains yet :"
"She does"
I am glad of it," said L; "she is a
fine girl."' -
, Yes," answered Bedford drily.
"To tell the truth, Bedford, it is said
you are little in love with her." He
made no answer, but laughed sgnif
: cantly, and 1 also laughed. Heaven
knows how much it cost me
! {" But tell me truly" said I, care
you not little smitten :"
Pom, poh," said he peevishly, " II
hope you don't think l am such fool.
If you do, you will find 1 am not SO
easily done in that line. She will do
well enough to flirt with when nobody
better is to be had"
"But," l said, Il think she loves
you very sincerely" To this he said
nothing, but leaned back, rolled his head
on one side, worked the cigar which he
was smoking into the upper corner of
his mouth, and looked very much a: his
ease. | never saw on any face more
comfortable, cunning, scornful leer, than
gathered on bis as he continued to blow
the delicate wreaths of perfumed smoke
from his lips, and watch them curling
upwards towards the ceiling. "Bed-
ford, said |, fixing my eyes on his,
which were instantly turned towards me
:" Bedford, you are villain"
He was silent for moment, but his
cheek burned and his eye glistened, and
he answered haughtily, "Mr. Winter
field, your language sounds a little new
to me. am not in the habit of hear
ing SUCH"
You are not so easily done for" II
answered. "Indeed what have YOU
meant to have her understand by those
thousand and one small gallantries you
have so industriously bestowed upon
her. Or, to be little more specific,
what did you mean to have her under
stand last evening, when you walked so
lovingly beside her, and swore you loved
her better than life 7 Bedford, you are
all l said, a villain, an accursed
scoundrel."
" Peace, caves-dropping fool, or l
will stop your cant for good" cried he,
springing up and shaking the chair in
which he had been sitting towards me,
as if about to strike. You do not un-
derstand me yet"
81 understand YOU" replied, "and
ifyour baseness needed any confirmation
your present conduct would furnish it.
Leave my ROOM"
He eyed me moment and then
dashed down the chair with enough
violence to break it, left the room with
out saying word.
The next morning he was absent from
prayers and recitatiols, and learned
that circumstances had come to light
which made it necessary for him to
leave college for time. He never re-
turned.
Several years passed away had
finished my studies and became pastor
of small church in the country, when
as l was one evening sitting alone by my
fire in the parsonage, q messenger came
in haste. A stranger lay sick in the
village inn. lie wished to see minister.
He had come for me. AS / entered the
sick room stopped short, for / saw that
it was Bedford He was quite delirious
and did not recognize me. As sat
down by his bed he took my hand say
ing, II am glad you came. They t
to the corner, " have been 7
waiting for me ever since dark. Iwant
to rest, but do not dare to. You will
stay by me, won't you 2" promised,
and he turned towards the wall as If to
sleep, but he soon burst out singing. 1t r
was startling to catch the gay measures
he tried to follow with his strained and
fever cracked voice. Then he began to
sing a ribald song and the words came
with shocking distinctness from his ashy
lips. Then as some sudden pain seized
him. he broke into oaths and impreca-
tions, and never was more relieved =
than when at last he lulled away, and :
finally dropped asleep. He still held .
nv hand, aud | burst not withdraw it Il
for fear of awakening him. SO sat p
beside him for about an hour-I need q
not say with the most painful thoughts
busy in my mind. i could ca,eely re-
alize that the dying man before me was K
nv old classmate. At length AZ / turn b
I'd my eyes towards him saw his fixed n
,u me with piercing gaze. He was a
silent for more than q minute, still look I,