Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-05-14
M1SCELLANY.
THE STRANGE GENTLEMAN.

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including the portcrs along Market
street was rejoicing in its rays, when
gentleman, apparently about twenty
one years ofagc, was observed, stand
ing in a melancholy attitude, at the
portal of mine host Of the Cross Keys.
Sundry words we're exchanged be-
tween him and little man in gray,
and his dcmcanor became as mysteri-
ous as before. A stage rolled by;
and its inmates started at fur cap,
it passed on rapidly, and underneath
the fur cap were developed the fea-
lures Of the mysterious stranger.
"How romantic ~ whispered girl
Of seventeen summers, during nine Of
which she had mastered romances
from "Prince Arthur" TO the STRAY
els of fLicutenant De Roos" inclusive,
land had then in her reticule "Thc
Midnight Assassin.") "Do not speak
SO loud, Clara" softly uttered her
maiden aunt Rebccca, her pale fea-
lures attesting her surprise at this un-
expected intrusion.
The busy driver fourishcd his whip
Sacre," exclaimed little man in
a. snuff -colourcd surtout, "you shall
put out my eye" The strange
gentleman sat motionless, his eye
heavily cast on the western horizon.
"What is he looking at ?" said Clara.
"Who % said her aunt-Clara blush
cd
John Weitzcr was countryman,
S,4 S%Aoa al in addition to the tact of laugh
some shrcwd observers, off"fhfGSsa 81 hGS@ u"yy Dy
then perpctrating one: encouraged
4 by his presence, the driver cracked
his whip and his jokes, while Wcitzer,
BY a rap on Jehu's head, manifested
that he duly appreciated his wagge-
rics. "Who can it be?" said Clara,
bending her dark eyes on the strange
gentleman. "Somc gentleman" an
swered aunt Rebccca.
"Wcll sir" said the driver, point
ing TO stone twenty-five feet from
the road, {" lcapcd about as far as
from here to that stone" Wonder
if it's true," said Wcitzer. "You are
driving too FAST" said aunt Rebecca.
"DeIightful!" exclaimed Clara. The
horses dashed on; the strange gentle
man sat silent; Weitzcr investigated a
a watch five inches in diameter, the
Frcnchman pulled out his snuff.box,
and the rest of the passengers were
buttoning up their coats and blowing
their noses, when.the coach, making
a sudden lurch, overturned.
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The stage rolled on. go heavens!
there's blood on your face" cried
Clara. Aunt Rebecca wiped it off,
and discovered that Clara's hand was
severely cut. "Jcsus au dcscspoir,"
cried the little man in the snuff. COL
CURED surtout, 81 shall lose my snuff
box" Safe and sound" quoth
Weitzer, complaccntly returning the
hemisphere TO its fob. The strange
gentleman sat silent and motionless.
" What pretty COTTAGE" cried Clara
l." Wants repairing" observed her
aunt.
The light fcecy clouds, seem
ingly tired Of chasing each other over
the sky, were now rapidly giving way
to darkening masses, which by
degrees spread over the horizon /;
and as the road wound along the ro-
mantle banks Of the Schuylkill, Clara's
imagination lnxuriated on the scenery,
and even her placid aunt expressed
her admiration. AS the wearied
stecds toilcd up steep ascent, the
river was left at distance, when, at
a sudden turn, the will age Of Many
sunk, cmbosomed in a vale Of the
Schuylkill, arrested the attention OF
the passengers. " Magnifque, " ex.
claimed the Frcnchman. every prct-
ty," observed aunt Rebccca. "lIur-
rah! for Manyunk," shouted Wei.zcr;
while Clara was in raptures. The
strange gentleman sat silent and mo-
tionless. A country schoolmaster, q
very Orbilius among the urchins who
were doomed, by parental ambition,
to classical educations, man whose
tbread-barc coat betokened genius
and crudition, was commencing with
"hic inter silvas," when his quotation
was nipped in the bud by a general
'nterrogatory stare. lndistinctly NUT