The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-10-07

pnlr oI "asl'S Oh dressed ueer-SRln, seWed WIN
strings formed of the snews of the same unima,
and wearing on his fee, II pair of moccasins curl.
onsIy wrought and orramenIed--" 1t was late on
stormy rght, seven Years ago last winter that he
arrived at Browns tavern, which was then and for
n good while aGer, the only puh; house in Edgar
ton. was deputy sheriff that year. and had reach
ed town from hard riding just after night set in
| There was Joe Somerdikc, Major Whiicsides, and
me, and we all sat late, enjoying glass together,
when we were startled by u loud knock at the
door. 1t had set in 10 snow hard, soon after |
Ing and moaning around the house, as loud and
f!rce as pack Of half furnished prairie wolves
"'Who the deli can be out This time onghr.
saiC Joe SonIerlIhe, turning as white rs a bucks
tail. It's the wild hunter, said Major White
sldes with succr on his IL, in der>ion of joe
cowanlice, and ut the sane time staggering tow
AIDS the door, where the knocking was now re-
po0led, white the landlord Brown, who had been
sleeping in the corner, also aroused by the noise,
started to his feet and demanded what was the
matter,
"Wh'icsldCs gave 10 answer, hnt jerking open
the door, admitted the stranger. He seemed near
" frozen with The cold, aud in lhint voice asked
if himself and family conld he accommodated. A
ready assent was OF course given, and every assis
tance rendered 10 provide for Their wants Ills wife
was II young and delicate woman scarcely more
than eighteen years Of are, hpugh evidently in III
health, and as pale as The snow midst which they
had been wandering She was accompanied by
female much younger Than herself whom we az
forwards learnt to he the sister Of Wilson, as The
stranger called himself (lhough have often sus-
pecled that that is hot lis namc,) and Ly n negro
man.
When suitable PROVISIONS we're made for the
irra'es, Wilson returned 10 the fire in the bar
loom. We asked few natural questions, suchas
where he was from, where he meant to settle,
and the like; but his answers were confused and
unsatisfactory, and conversation not encouraged.
we soon fell into silence. | noticed once TIM,
evening, and several times Afterwards, that he dm
not pay any h3ed when spoken To hy name, and
would start when he perceived thu question hid
been addressed to him. His little sister, too, on
one occasion, when asked hy some one what was
her name, answered. something else lhn wilson.
c,' have lhough' and i, is as you know The gen.
cral opinion, that there ia mystery uhou, him
which he is unwilling 10 explain; and for nly own
pnr have never hld enough curiosity 10 press the
subject. There IL a manncSS and opcnnrss ahonr
him in every thing that does rot relate 10 his own
history, which, in M honest mInd is sufficient 10
vague suspicion, aud ii is imn @.
noGah Ia make Investigation when there are more
positive grounds than the unrjundrd rumors which
NrC abroad"
The companion Of the honest and open back
woodS-nan seemed not entirely TO concur in hi,
opinion, as was manifested by twisting and turning
in his chajr; though he din nat rive uircrancc To
his thoughts les, he should defeat his nwn ohlcrl.
which appeared to be to got some still farther in
formation concerning the SQlarcr, who, rs the
reader will perceive, was The subject Of ccnycrsa-
ton.
low long did he remain in the settlement. ar
ter his ARRIVAL" asked he in a softly moduurcd
tone.
BIN, few days" replied his sturdy compnn.
ion. AS soon aS the snow was off the ground.
himself and negro went out 10 place where h.
now lives, and worked continually until they had
completed their Iiilc colin. lie then removed hi,
family and has dwell, there ever since"
"Dih he seem to have plenty of money!" again
demanded the other,
ole had none, Mr. Iarias," (ror it was he who
was thus questioning the hackwoods J che
had noac. On the very morning aicl he reached
this place, he explained his poverty to Mr. Brown,
telling him that he hid nothing under heaven but
the miserable horse and wagon in which he had
travelled, together with few articles Of apparel
thu, belonged TO his wife,"
"liow did he support himself, them" asked the
lawyer
For the few DAYS that he would he Obliged to
tarry at his house, he offered Grown his horse and
wagon. But Brown WAS IN old hunter, and
white man. lie tod him that he wa, welcome ia
stay rs long as he chose, and need not lrorhl,
himsc'T about the pigment Ill It should be conye.
nlrui. The tears stood in The poor mans fine blue
eyes when he haard that friendly speech. lie
sraspcd Blown by the hard; tod him that he WIS
a ruined man, who had sought the scrlusinn Of the
western wood' to bury lis woes and shame; lhlr
he did not look any more l"r hrppness in the
world, and all 'hrl he hoped for was TO fluid some
retired spot where he might live and die unnoiiecd
aud unknown"
"SurPosc ii SHOULD turn out" said The LAWYER
in heslaling aud cautious nranner that this yer,
Wilson, rs h. calls himself. is a murderer, m a.