The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-27
An Awkward Predicament.


took place as to put the matter entirely out
Of the question. | was young undergradu-
ate, spending the summer with reading par
ty at the Irish lakes, when | met with-with
Lucy, and got, in short, to be accepted. She
was residing with her mother, in the same
hotel in Killarny as ourselves, and we all met
every day. We boated on the lake together,
and tished, and sang. and read. We landed
on the wooded islands in the soft summer
evenings. to take our tea in gipsv fashion.
and to sketch; but she and | mostly whis-
but of the weather, and the rubric; only it
seemed so sweet to sink our voices and speak
low and soft
Once in a party over tia. hoors, while l
was leading her pony Over some bogsv
ground, caught her hand by mistake instead
of her bride, and she did not snatch it away.
1t was the hcyday and the prime of nv life,
my friend. and that youth of the spirit which
no power can ever more renew: | knew
what she felt. and what would please her, as
soon as the feeling and the wish themselves
were born. Our thought-my thought at
least-'lcaped out to wed with thought. ere
thought could wed itself with speech. She
took fancy to huge mastiif dog belonging
to fisherman. and | bought it for her at
once, although it was terribly savage. and.
Except for I.ucy's liking it, not either good
nor beautiful. Its name. al>o-the only one
it would answer to. and sometimes it would
not to that-was Towscr. not name for a
ady's pet at all. and scarcely for gentle
mans. There was a little secluded field.
hcdSed IN hva coppicc, which >lopcd into the
lake. about a mile from the hotel; and there
Lucy agreed tor the first time) to meet me
alone. WAS to hc there before breakfast. at
eight O'Clock. i'll the morning. and YOU NAV
be sure was there at >iX-with TowScr.
Perhaps was never happier than at that
particular time The universal nature seemed
in harmon: with my bli>>.ul feelings. The
sun >honc out bright and clear, so that the
fresh morning brcczcs could scarcely cool tie
pleasant throbbinS of my blood but the blue
rlpplng waves of the lake looked rrcpre>Si-
bly, tempting. and | could not resist a swim.
Just 4 plunge and out again. thought |: for
though had such plenty of time to spare.
determined to be dressed and ready for the
interview al hour at least before tn" appoint
ed time. Lucy might like myself. be little
earlier: and at all events. with such an awful
con>cqucnccin possible apprehension. | would
not run the shadow of risk Mind nv
clothes. mind thcm.' said TO 'Towsrr who took
his seat thereon. at once. >agaciou>lv cnoush)
for had heard of such things as clothes be
ing stolen from unconscious dippcrs before
then, with results to be though, Of. and in |
went. remember the delight of that bath
even to this day. the glow. the t.e>hncs>. the
luxurious >ottncs> of each particular wave.
Just as the last view which his ewes rested on
is painted on the memory of one who has
been stricken blind. or the las, heard melody
- measured II that ci' 1. nan ~,uncd dc, lv
a fall; it WAS my last perfect pleasure. and
succeeded by . shock that shall never. |
think. quite get over
When had bathcd us long as Judged to
be prudent. landed and advanced towards
the spot where my garments and Tow>cr Law !:
as did so every individual hair upon his
back seemed to lri>tlc with fury his ewes kim
died with Goals OF fire. and he gave me notice
by IA low determined Srovl that he would
spring on ne and tear me into fragments if
! approached nearer: it WAS evident that he
dld not recognize me. at least without any
clothes. Tow. Tow. Tow. Tow. Tow said !
pleasantly good old Tow, YOU remember
me: but the brute. like the friend whom we
have known III Il better day. appealed to when
III different apparel. shook his head in 4
mcnac!nS manner. and showed his teeth the
more. 'Iowsrr. be quiet sir: how dare YOU
-Tow.Iow. Iow.-Tow>cr-(hcre he near
lv had bit of my calf oF-you nasty. bru-
tai dog 90 away. sir-so: amt YOU a>hamcd
OF !our>elf.' Drops of foam oozcd through
the teeth OF the ttrociouS monster as hc stood
up with tail erect at these rcproving words.
but hc'maniicstcd 10 sign of rcmorsc or sor-
row. My situation became serious in the ex-
trcmc; what if he chose to sit there, ON nv
personal apparel until--?
At this idea. too terrible to be concluded. 4
profuSc pcrSpiration broke out all over me-
Presently. feeling a little cold. went back
INTO the lake again to consider what was to
be done, and resolved upon the fell design of
cnticing Towscr into the water and There
drowning him. Abuse and ha,tery being
equally thrown away upon him. l tried
stones; hcavcd at him with all nv force
the largest pebbles | could select. the major
lty of which he cvadcd by lcaping from side
to side, and those which struck him rendered
him so furious that believe he would have
killed and eat me if he could, whether was
dressed or not, but he would not venture into
the water after me still.
At last the time drawing on apace for III.
appointed interview which had once looked
forward to with such delight and expectation
l W was faln' IN a" agony of shame and rage, to
iiiue myself in dry ditch in the nciyhborinp
conse, where could SEQ what took place
without being seen, and there covered nv
self over, like the babes in the wood, with
leaves.
Presently my Lucy came down. a tr;1e
more carefully dressed than usual and look
ing all grace and modcsty the dog began
to howl as she drew near she saw him, and
she saw my clothes, and the notion that
was drowned Il could see it in her expressive
countenancc) flashed upon her at once: for
one instant she looked as though about to
FAINT, and the next she sped off again to the
hotel with the speed of deer. Grac;ous
Heavens . decided upon rescuing \ nor
ton of my garments, at least, or unon ncr;sb-
ing IN the attempt, and rushed out of thc
thlcket !. Il, tor the purpose but my courage
tailed me as heard the savage animal. and
found mysclfGn some confused and palnitat.
ing manner) back i'll my dry ditch apain
with the sensation of loss of blood and main
my retreat had not been effected-pcrhans
because there was nothing to cover it-witth'
out loss, and the beast had bitten me severely
protest that, from that moment, frightful as
my position was, it did not move me 50 mich
as the reflection of the honors that would no
Sho"ered down upon that vile creature. I