Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-03
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
ONE PEEP WAS ENOUGH; OR, THE
POST-OFFICE.
by MISS L. E. LANDoN.

All places have their pecularities: now that
Of Dalton was the discourse; that species Of dis
course which Jobnson's Dictionary euttles I" con-
yersation on whatever does not concern our
selves" Everybody knew what everybody did.
and a little more. Eatings, drinkiugs, seepings,
walkings, talkings, do'nss-all were for the good
of the public; there was not such thing as a
secret in the town.
There was story Of Mrs. Mary Smith, an
ancient dame Who lived on an annuity, and boast
ed the gentility of back parlour, that she once
asked few friends to dinner. The usual heavy
anteeedent half hour really passed quite pleas
antly, Tor Mrs. Mary's windows overlooked the
market-place, and not scrag Of mutton could
leave It unobserved; so that the extravaganza or
meanness Of the various buyers furnished cop''
Gus theme for dialogue. Still, in spite OF Mr..
As pair of fowls. and Mrs. BIS round OF beef,
the time seemed long, and the guests found hun
GER growing more potent than curiosity lhey
waited and waited; at length the fatal discovery
took place-that. in the hurry Of observing her
neishbors' dinners, Mrs. Smith had forgotten to
order her own
Ii ~as in the month of March that an event
happened which Dot the whole town in commO.
tion-the arrival of stranger who took mp his
abode at the White Hart: not th,r there was
plain, middle aged respectable looking man,
AMI the incest scrutiny land heaven knows how
narrowly he was watched) failed to discover any
thing odd about him. IL was asccrtaiued that
he rHse at eight, breakasted at nine, ate two eggs
and piece Of broiled bacon, sat III BIS room at
the window, read little, wrote a little, ana
looked out upon the road good dea'; he then
stroIIeJ out, returned home. dined al hive. snnk-
ed two cigars. read the Morning Herald, Nor
the pust came in Of an EVENING" and went to bed
AT ten.
Nothing could be more regular Of unexceptinn-
able than his habits: still il was most "xtraorai
nary what could have brought him 10 Dalton. -
There we're no chaly beate- spring, warranted to
cure every disease under the sun; no ruins in the
neishborhood. lief; expressly for antiquarans and
bic-nc parties. no fine prospects, which, ike mu'
sic, people make it matter OF conscience to adj
mre; no celebrated person had ever been born or
buried in its en,iroDs; there were no races no
assizes.-in short, there was "nO no hing" II
was not even summer; SO country air aud me
weather we're not the inducements. The strangers
name was Mr.. Williams. but that was the extent
Of their knowledge; and, shy and silent, there
seemed no probability of learning any thing more
from himself. Conjecture. like Shakespeare, sex
haus,ed worlds, and then imagined new Some
supposed he vas hiding from his creditors. others
that he had committed forgery; one suggested
that h, had escaped from mad-house, second
that he had killed some one in duel; but all
agreed that he came there for no gond.
|, was the twenty third Of March, when triad
of gns,,ps ere assembled at their temple, the
most office The aff,irs of Dalton and the nation
were settled together; newspapers were slipped
frum their covers, aud not an eplstle but yielded
a norton of its contents. But on this night all
attention was conc en,rated upon one. directed To
!" John Williams. Esq al the White Hart. Da-
tam EAGERLY it was compressed in tue long
6nyers of Mrs Mary Smith, of dinner'ess I'VE
mory: the fat lantiladv Of the White Hart Wa,
on the up.toe tn peep. while the "Ntmls"esS,
whose curiosity took semhance OF oft la d!s.
nity, raised warning hand against any overt act
Of violence
The paper was closel, folded, and closely writ
ten in cramp and iiirg'ble hand; Suddenly Nrs
Mary Smiths look grew more intent-she had
sue cee,l-d in deciphering sentence; the letter
,ropped from her hand, ''Qh. the monster!'
shrieke,i the horr,fied pepper Landiady and
post mistress both snatched at the terrible scroll,
andiheyequaiiy succee ledin readI"s the following
wortIs:-.. We will settle the matter to-morOw
at dinner, but am sorry you persist IN poison
mo your wife, the horror is too great" Not a
syllable more could they make out; but what
thew had read was enough. +" lie told me-"
rasiped the landlady, "thathe expected lady
and gentleman 10 dinner-oh the villain! to think
of poisoning any lady at the White Hart; and
his wife, too should like to see my husband
poisoning me-" Our hostess became quite per-
sonal in her Indignation.
~ always thought there was something susp''
cious about him; people don't come and live
where nobody knows them. for nothing" observ'
ed Mrs. Mary Smith.
II dare saw" returned the Post-mistfess'
Williams is not his real name"
IL dnu't know that" Interrunted the landIa-
DIV; 8. Williams is good hanging name; there
was Williams who murdered the Mars and VII.
liams who burked all those poor dear children;
dare saw he is some relation of theirs, but to think
Of his coming TO the White Hart-it's no place
for his doings. can tell him; he sha'n't poison
his wife in my house; cut he goes this very n'gh
PHI take the letter to him myself"
\ N