Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-10-04
THE STRANGER.
AN INTERESTING TALE OF RraL IIr

On the road between Shrewsbury and
Market Drayton in Shropshire, England,
lies the beautiful and picturesque village of
Hoduct. II consists of but one street on
the declivity OF tho sunny side OF hill the
principal, or rather the only Inn in the place.
is the Blue Boar; il is situated nearly on.
posite 10 the public market hall or place in
which all sorts Of meetings. are held being
alternately converted into dancing.schoo
theatre, methodist chapel, a ball room.
@e. as occasion may require The church
IS little farther off, and the parsonage is,
as usual, white house Surrounded with
trees, at one end Of the village. A stage
coach passes through the village three times
week and one evening in the month of
February it stopped as usual at the door o f
the Inn, and strange gentleman wrapped
IN blue travelling cloak alighted; the dr-
yer handed him a portmanteau, and the
coach drove on. The stranger entered the
Blue Boar, was shown into the parlor, and
desired thelandlord to bring him pint Of
wine. The order was quickly obeyed; the
wine set upon the table, and the host procee-
ded to rouse the sumbering embers Of the
tre, remarking at the same time that il
was cold, raw night. His guest assented
with nod-then said inquirngly. you
call this village Hoduct, do you not 81 yes,
Sir" said the host "and prettier little Mace
IS not TO be found in all England" $50 |
have heard" said the stranger, land as Won
are not upon any of the great roads, |
believe you have the reputation Of being a
primitive and unsoph;sticated set of people,
why, as to that Sir" said the host, II can
not exactly speak; but, if there is no harm
IN II, IL dare say we are-But, you see,
sir. I'm only a vintncr and don't trouble nv
head about matters" $50 much the better,h
said the stranger, smiling you and I
shall become better friends | may stay
with you for some weeks, perhaps months.
In the meantime let me have something
comfortable for supper, and desire YOUR
wife 10 prepare me clean good bed.n IL
will sir said the host, and making one of
his profoundest bows, retired to give the
requisite orders inspired with the deepest
respect for his unexpected guest.
The next day was Sunday. The bells OF
the village church had just finished ringing,
when the stranger walked up the aisle and
entered at random, pew which happened
to be vacant. Instantly every eye was turn
ed towards him. for new face was too i'm
portant an object in IIoduct to be left unno-
,iced. "Who is he ? When did he come ;
With whom does he stay2 How long will
he be here2 Do you not think he is hand
some 2"-These and thousand other ques-
tons flew about in whispers from one to an
other. whilst the unconcious object of all
this interest cast his eyes calmly, yet pene-
tratingly. around upon the congregation.
Nor was il at all to be wondered at that his
appearance had caused sensation among
the good people OF Hoduct, for he was not
that kind of person whom one meets with
every day. There was something both in
his face and figure that distinguished him
from the crowd You could not look upon
him once. and then turn away with ndiffer-
ence. When the service was over. the
stranger walked out of the church alone,
and remained seated in his parlor at the
Blue Boar the remainder Of the day. AS
may be supposed. speculation was busily at
work, at more than one tea table in Hoduct
that morning, and conjectures were poured
out with the tea, and swallowed with the
toast.
A few days elapsed. and the stranger was
almost forgotten for there was subscription
assembly 10 Hodut, which entirely cngros-
sed the minds Of the villagers: so impor-
tant an event not having taken place for
nearly half century before. Great pre-
parations were made. and at length the i'm
portant night arrived; at nine o'clock. which
was considered a fashionable hour, the hall
was nearly full. and the first country dance
flor quadrilles we're not then known to the
villagers of Hoduct,) was led off by the ell
dest son of the squire OF the village, who
conducted the chosen divinity Of his hear
the only daughter of one of the justices o.
the peace for the county of Shropshire, gra
cefully through its mazes. Enjoyment was
at its height when suddenly the merrimen
was checked. and more than usual hustle
pervaded the room. The stranger had en-
tered it; and there was something so differ
ent in his looks and manner from any Of lhs
other male creatures present, that every body
surveyed him with renewed curiosity. which
was at first tnctured with awe. "Who car
he be 2" was the question that instantly
started up like a crocus in many maidenl
throbbing bosom. "I3e knows nobody. ant
nobody knows him surely he will nevel
think OF asking any bodyto dance.
For long time the stranger stood aloo
from the dancers in corner OF the room
by himself and they were almost begin
ming to forget he was PRESENT.. But he was
not idle; he was attentively observing every
group and every individual in the room
And judging by the various expressions o
his countenance, one would have thought h'
could read character at a glance He die
-. aoann ~ ranaxd IN. Oanaralitv Of thu