Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1833-04-13

Afew dayselapsed, and the stranger
was almost forgotten; for there was to
be subscription assembly in Hodnet.
which engrossed entirely the minds Of
men. 1t was one Of the most impor-
tant events that had happened tor at
least a century. Such doings had ne
yer been known before. There was
never such a demand for milliners
since the days Of Ariadne, the frs. mil
liner Of whom history speaks. Needles
worked unremittingly from morning to
night. and from night to morning. Fid-
dies were scraped on in private, and
steps danced before looking glasses.
All the preparations which Captain
Parry made for going to the North
pole were a mere joke to the pTepara-
tons made by those who intended to
go to the Ho1net assembly. At length
the great, the important night arrive d,
''bis with the fate" Of many rustic
belle. The three professional tiddlers
Of the village were elevated on a table
at one end Of the hall, and every body
pronounced it the very model Of an
orchestra. The candies (neither the
oil nor the coal gas company had as yet
penetrated SO far as HodneD were
tastefulIy arranged, and regularly
snuf1ed. The floor was admirably
cha'ked by a travelling sign-pa'nter, en-
gagged for the purpose; and the refresh
ments in AN adjoining room, consisting
of negus, apples, oranges, cold roast
beet, porter, and biscuits, were under
the Immediate superintendent Of our
very excellent friend, Mr.. Gilbert
Chcrryripc. At nine O'Clock, which
was considered a fashionable hour, the
hall was nearly full, and the first coun-
try danCe (quadrilles had not poisoned
tine peace, and stirred up all the bad
passions, Of HodneO was commenced
ny The eldest son and presumptive heir
OF old Squire Thoroughbred, who con-
Quoted gracefully through its mazes
the chosen divinity Of his heart, Miss
" Dnelmina Bounccr. only daughter
OF Tobias, Esq. justice of peace in the
county of Shropshire.
enjoyment was at this height, and
the tnrcc professional tiddlers had put
ID spirit OF life into all things. when sud-
denly one might perceive that the mer-
riulent was for Il moment checked,
whilst more than usual hustle per-
vaded the room. The stranger had en-
tered it; and there was something SO
different in his locks and manner from
tnosc Ut any Of the other male crea-
lures. that every body surveyed him
with renewed curiosity, which was at
first slightly tinc,ured with awe.
'.Who can he be!'' was the question
that instantaneously started up like a
crocus in many throbDIng bosom.
"iie knows nobody, and nobody
knows him; surely he ill never think
OF asking any body to dance"
s.Dance!' said Kiss Coffin, the a.
rothecary's daughter, II wonder who
would dance with him! a being whom
we know 10 more about than we do Of
the man in the moon. Aapa says he
looks for all the world like quack
DOCTOR"
ii rather suspect" said Miss Blue-
bite, 4 starch spinster ot lty, VINO was
considered the MADAME de Stael Of
OF the vlllage-''l rather suspect that
ne is al irish iortune.nunte come for
the express purpose of running away
with some OF Us. We ought to be up
on our gauro, assure YOU.
Miss BlueDlte was said 10 have pro-
perry to the amount OF seventy pounds
per Anl.um, and, no DOUBT, concluded
that she was herself the leading object
Of the advcnturers naChinatlUns. a1ad
ii been so, he must have been bold
auventurer indeed.
For long time the stranger stood
alooi from the dancers in a corner BY
himself, and people were almost be-
g'ning to forget his presence. But ne
" as not idle he was observing attentive
~ every group, and every individual,
that passed before him. Judging by the
various expression that Cam cover his
coun.eDance, one would have thought
that he could read character at single
glance-,hat his perceptions were sim
ll,r to Institutions. Truth obliges me to
confess that il was not with a very favor
aaIceye that he regarded the greater
majority OF the inhabitants Of Hodnet
andi IS neig hbcrhood. Probably they did
not exactly come up 10 his expectations
but what these expectations were, it is
difficult to conceive.
At length, however. something like
a change seemed to come over the spir