Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-01-03
miscellaneous.
trop, ike k,.n,ak,
rom tss heePsaks.
ONE PEEP WAS ENOUGH, OR TIE
PoST-ofFiCE.
ny MISS L. T.. L,xpox.

~ f'''' H. LhNDoN-
All places have their peculiarities now
that OF Dalton was the discourse, that species
Of discourse, which Johnson's Dictionary en-
titles conversations on whatever does 40,
concern ourselves" Every body knew what
every body did, and little more. Eating,,
drinkings, sleepings, walkings, taikinss, do
inSs-ah were for the good Of the public
there WIS no such thing as n secret in the
town.
There was story Of Mrs. Mary Smith, an
ancient dame who lived on an annuity and
boosted OF the gentility OF back and front
pariour. She once asked few friends to
dinner. The usual heavy antecedent half
hour really passed quite pleasantly, for Mrs.
Mary's windows overlooked the market
place, and not scrag Of mutton could leave
II unobserved so that the extravaganza or
meanness OF the various buyers furnished n
copious theme for dialogue. STILL ia spite
oil Mr. As pair Of fowls. and Mrs. B.'s
round of beef, the time seemed long, and the
guests found hunger growing more potent
than curiosity. They waited aud waited, nj
length the fatal discovery took p!ace-that,
IN the hurry of observing her neighbors' din
ners, Mrs. Smith had forgotten TO order her
own.
Ii was ia the month OF March that an event
happened which put the whole town in
commotion-the arrival of n stranger who
took up his abode at the White Hart not
that there was ans thing remarkable about
the stranger; he was n pain, middlc-ayed,
respec tabie-lookiDg nan, and the incest scru-
tiny (and the heavens know how narrowly
he was watchedD fail TO discover any thing
odd about him. II was ascertained that he
rose Al eight, breakiastcd at nine, ate two
eggs and piece Of broiled bacon, sat in his
room at the window, read little, wrote lit
tie, and looked upon the road good deal he
then strolIed out, returned home. dined at five,
smoked two cigars, read the Morning Herald
Uor tho post came in OF an even!ug,) and
went to bed at ten. Nothing could bc more
regular or unexeeptionab.e than his habits
still II was most extraordinary what could
have brought him to Dalton. There was
no ch2lybe ate-spring, warranted TO cure eve
ry disease under the sun; 10 ruins in the
ncighborhood left expressly for antiquarians
and picnic parties; no fine prospect, which,
Iike music, people make Is matter of cor
science to admire no celebrated person had
ever been born or buried ~ its cnyirOns there
wero no races, M assiZcs-in short, there
was "nO nothing" !. was not even sum
MGR; 80 country air and iinc weather were not
the inducements. The Strangers name was
Mr. Williams, but that was the extent Of
their knowledge and, shy and silent, the sc
seemed no probability Of learning any thing
more from himself Conjectures, Ike Sbaks-
pcare, "eNhausted worlds, aad then imagin-
cd new" Some supposed ho was hiding from
his creditors, others that he had committed
forgery one suggested that lac had escaped
from a rnad-hou,r. Second tina; Ice had kill
I'D some one IN a duel but ali agreed that he
came there for NJ good. -
IL was the tweaty-ih.rd Of March, when
train Of gossips were assembled at their
temple, tic post-oiIicc. The affairs of Dali
ton and the nation were settled together
newspapers were clipped from their covers,
and not an epistle but yielded a portion Of u
contents. But on this night all attention vas
concentrated upon one, directed to " John
Williams. Esq at tlr> White Hart, Dalton
Eagerly u was cotnpres3ed in ths long ho-
gers Of Mrs. MARY smith. Of dnneriess me
mory TIC flt land!ady of the White Hart
was OF the tip-tOe 10 peep, while the post
mistress, whose curiosity took sc81ianee vi
Official dignity, raIsed warning hand gains
any covert act Of violence The papoi
was closely folded, ard closely written ~
cramp and illegiblc hand. suddenly Nirs
Mary smiths look grew more inirnt sh'
had succeeded 10 deciphcring sentence
the letter dropped from her hand " oh. th'
raonsteTl" shFioked tic hoIr.,iei pepper
Isandlady and posi-mistrCss both snaichcd a
the terrible scroll, and they equally sue
cseded IN reading t,c following words r.
1--WE viii settle :he matter Tomorrow a
dinner, but ! am sorry yuu persist in pCisOn
Ing your wife, the horror - too great" Ma
syllable more could thcy make oft, bot wbs
they had read sas enough. lie tsid me
CAPPED the iaBdiady. that he expected
lady add gentleman q diBBer--Ob the villaiI
20 think of poisoning ans lady az the Whit
Hart and his wife, too. ! should like to se
my husband poisoning me Our hostess b,
ear1e quite personal 20 her indignation.
- always thought there was sOmeihin
suspicious about ban people don't come an
live where sobody kHows them, Zoe nothlDg,
deserved Mrs. Mary smith.