Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-03-01
ny WIN. E. RYTHER.]
THE INNKEEpER,s STORY.

About seventeen years after the close of
the Revolutionary war stranger arrived at
principal town in one of our eastern states,
aud being shown to respectable public
house, informed the landlord, whose name
was Jedson, that il was his intention to re-
main there several days. There was moth
ing extraordinary in the arrival o! a stranger
in the town, and yet the landlord of the inn
before mentioned, could not help regarding
the stranger with peculiar attention. He
was rather inclined towards the vale Of years,
and evidently in i'll health. And there was
something in his countenance and in his air
that forcibIy drew the attention Of the wor-
thy Jedson towards him, aud which seemed
20 recall the far of remembrances of other
scenes; he communicated his feelings to his
wife, and added, IF it was possible Mary, |
should say that have seen this stranger be-
fore, and on the very night when we first
saw our poor Eva 7 But it is not possible
echoed the good Mrs. Jedson; he would
have known you at once besides such
wretch would not have been permitted TO
cumber the earth so long. 1t is only fan
cy, dear husband /; and for PHYS sake don't
speak Of it to poor Eva-it will put her in
mind of all her troublesp The good man
promised caution, and went TO take one more
look at the stranger.
Womans curiosity is proverbial; and the
excellent wife Of the innkeeper was not with.
out her share but a stronger motive than
mere idle curiosity, impelled her to feign an
excuse for entering the parlor appointed for
the stranger, and she forthwith followed her
good man. Long and intense was the scru-
tiny with which the usually modest and quiet
dame regarded the elegant looking guest
who reclined, apparently buried in thought,
in an armed chair which occupied recess
near the fire place The stranger looked
up, met her earnest gaze and started Sew
enteen years had not wrought so great a
change in the person ofthe landlady as might
have been expected for an innocent and
active life had aided a constitution natural
Iy robust, and she appeared much the same
as she had fourteen years back. The stran-
ger felt he had seen her before; he passed
his hand over his flushed face, and addressed
to her some trivial question. The tone oi
her voice in answering seemed to strike up
on bis ear as one remembered, but he said
nothing.
Owe hare seen him before, JOSIAH said
the landlady to her husband when alone
'He has not yet met the punishment due to
thinp we must doP al t-
1t is indeed him, returned Jedson what
can have brought him here? 1t would kill
Eva to see him; luckily she is confined by
cold up stairs-but tomorrow Fanny re-
turns. He shall see Fsnny; she Is the i'm
age Of what her mother was when we first
saw her; if he is the person we suppose, he
must be struck with the likeness My mno
misgives me strongly, but think he has on
" come here to die
Il hope he will render justice, before he
goes to his great account, returns the zeal
Gus matron. " rf
b. He will wife, he will 7 replied her hus
band; there is that in his face which be
speaks broken spirit; he has contrit'
heart, depend upon it, and il it is him h
will do Justice as fac as he can
The next morning the stranger was mucl
indisposed, aud Fanny, who had returne'
from an excursion, was sent by her grand
mother, as she called Mrs. Jedson, to hi
apartment with some refreshment TIL
guest started as she entered, and as she drew
near he became dreadfully agitated. Fam
was alarmed, but unwilling to leave hr
thus, remained rvted to the spot where sh
stood. AT length the invalid, conquerin
regreshment from the hand Of the uncor
scious cause Of his agitation, and as If in
relled by some irresistible motive, inquire
her name Fanny, sir, Fanny Jedson, ar
swered the agitated girl, as blushing an
courtesying she withdrew.
1t is her very imagep murmured tn
guest; who is this girl SO beautiful S
fairr recalling form never to be forgo
3 In few moments he had summoned II
landlord, who was prepared by Fanny
strange agitation TO hear interrogation
which he was resolved to answer in his ow
way. The gentleman requested Jedson
be seated, said he was lonely, and shou
like little chat, and after few prellmlnai
remarks, inquired Of his companion if II
pretty girl who had just left was his dang
Ter or granddaughter
'She is neither answered the old ma
but love her as much as if she was
But she bears your name, resumed Il
stranger.
she does, returned the innkeeper, 'b
cause. poor thing she has no other. Ho'
ever, il is an honest name, aud never W
coupled with treacherous deed SO perha
Il suits the child as well as another"
she is then an adopted child inquir
the invalid in humid voice.
.Why sir, replied Jedson, I'll tell y
the story, and how came by the girl, al
IL YOU do not Join me in saying that her
ther was villain you will be the first w
has differed with me in the opinion
But as said before, I'll tell you the stol
1T was at the time when the British we
about leaving Boston, did not live he