Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-11
From ne PhL.delphio Ladi,,' Port Es,o.
THE INNKEEPER'S STORY.
BY MRS. HARRIEr Muzzx.- !.


the Revolutionary war, stranger arrived
al princiPai town in one of our Eastern
states, ana on being shown TO q respectable
pubic mousse, informed the landlord whose
name was Jedson, that il was his intention
TO remain there several DAYS. There was
nothing. extraordinary in the arrival re =
stranger In the town, and yet the landlord 81
the nm before mentioned, could not helm
regarding this stranger with peculiar atten.
tion. lie was rather inciining towards the
vale OF years, and evidently i'm Ill health. and
there was something in his countenance and
IN his air, that forcibly drew the attention
OIL the worthy Jedson towards him, and
which seemed TO recall the far off remem
ORANGES OF other times and other scenes; he
communicated his feelings TO his wife. and
added, ''if il was possible, Mary. I sbouId
say that | have seen this stranger before
and on the very night when we first saw our
poor Eval' But it is not possible" echoed
the good Mrs. Jedson; she would have
known yeu at once; besides, such wretch
would not have been permitted TO cumber
the earth so long. 1t is only fancy. dear
husband; and for PHYS sake don't speak Off
to poor Eva--it will put her in mind of al
her troubles!'' The good man nron,;soJ
caution-and went TO take one more look ~
the stranger.
"oman's curiosity is proverbial; and the
excellent wife of the innkeeper was NOT
without her share; but a stronger motive
than mere idle curiosity, inpelled her 10
teign an excuse for entering the parlor an
pointed lor the stranger, and she forthwith
followed her good man. Long and intense
was the scrutiny with which the usually
modest and quiet dame regarded the elegant
LOOKING guest, who recned apparently bu-
nnh 4
pied recess near the fire place. The
stranger looked up, met her earnest oa1e
and started. Seventeen years had not
wrought so great change in the person of
the lahdiady as might have been expected:
Tor an innocent and active life had aided n
constitution naturally robust, and she still
appeared much the same as size had fourteen
years back. The stranger felt he had seen
Der before: he PASSED his hand over his
flushed face and addressed to her some fri
vial question. The tone of her voice in
answering seemed to strike upon his ears as
one remembered, but he said nothing.
! we hare seen him before, Josiah, sa
the iandlady, to her husband, when alone.
lie has not yet met the punishment due to
MS mlsdeeds. What shall we say? Some
thing we must do!''
Ut is indeed him, returned Jedson; sswhat
can have brought him here1 1t would kill
Eva to see hIm-luckily, she is confined with
colu up staIrs-but tomorrow Fanny
returns. He shall see Fanny: she is the
image of what her mother was when we
FIRST saw her: If he is the person we supnose
he must be struck with the likeness. NV
mind mlsgIves me strongly, but I think he
has only come here to de-
II hope he will render Justice before he
goes TO his great account" returned the
Jealous matron
"He will, wife, he Willis replied her hus-
band; "there is that in his face which he
speaks broken spirit; he has a contrite
heart, depend upon it, and if it is him he
will do justice as far as he can"
The next morning the stranger was much
lndlspo>ed, and Fanny" who had returned
from an excursion, was sent by her grandma
Their, as she called Mrs. Jedson, to his apart
ment, with some reireshment The guest
started as she entered, and as she drew near
he became dreadfully agitatcd Fanny was
alarmed, but unwilling to leave him ts,.s,
renamed riveted to the spot where he stood.
al length the invalid, conquering his emo.
uon' made an effort 10 receive the refresh
ment from the hand of the unconscious cause
OF his citation, and, as If impellcd by some
irresistible motive, inquired her name. "Fan-
ny, SIR, Fanny Jcdson,' answered the agitated
girl, as, blushing and curtseying, she with
drew.
at is her very image!'' murmured the
guest; "who is this girl! how came she herel
so beautiful! so fair to conjure up remenl-
ORANGES so painful! recalling form never to
be forgotten
In few moments nc had summoned the
landlord, who was prepared by Fanny's
strange agitation, to hear interropatjons
which he was resolved TO answer in his own
way. The gentleman requested Jedson to
be seated, said he was lonely, and should
like little chat, and after few preliminary
remarks, inquired of his companion, if the
pretty girl he had just left was his daughter
or granddaughter.
"She IS neither" answered the old mans;
but love her as much as il she was"
but she bears your name," resumed the
stranger.
"She does. ~ rpfurned tho ;,,pL o...e- 81