Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-06-03
THE IN.KEEPER'S STORY.

a principal town in one of our eastern States
and, ON being shown to respectable public
house, informed the landlord, whose name
was Jefferson, that it was his intention to re.
main there several days. There was moth
ing extraordinary in the arrival of strange
in town; and yet, the landlord of the inn
could no, help regarding the stranger with
peculiar attention He was rather inclined
towards the valo of years, aud evidently in
! Ill-health. And there was something in his
coun'enance and air, that forcibly drew the
attention OF the worthy Jedson towards him
and which seemed 10 call the ar-oif remem.
brances of other scenes; he communicated
his feelings to his wife, and added, ''If i,
were possible, Mary, should say tina, have
seen this stranger before, and on the very
night when we first saw our poor Eva"
"Bu, il is not possible" echoed the good
Mrs. Jedson; she would have known you
at once; besides, such n wretch would NO,
have been permitted TO cumber the earth SO
long. 1t is only fancy, dear husband; and
for PHYS sake don't speak of II to poor
Eva; it will put her in mind Of all her
iroubles!"
The good man promised caution, and
wen, TO take one more look at the stranger
Woman's curiosity is proverbial; and the
excellent wife of the in-keeper was not
without her share, but stronger motive
han mere curiosity impelled her TO enter
The parlor appointed for the stranger, and
then forthwith followed her good man. -
Long and intense was the scrutiny with
which the usually modest and quiet dame
regarded the elegant looking guest, who
reclined apparently buried in thought, in
IN armchair, which occupied recess
near the fire place. The stranger looked
up, met her earnest gaze, and startled
Seventeen years had not wrought SO great
, change in the person of the landlady as
nigh, have been expected; for an innocent
md active life had aided a constitution
naturally robust, and she appeared much
the same as she had seventeen years back.
The stranger felt that he had seen her be-
| fore; he passed his hand over his flu she'd
face, and addressed to her some trivial
questions. The tone Of her voice, in an.
s"ering, seemed 10 strike upon his ear as
one remembered, bat he said nothing.
ave hare seen him before, Joshua"
said the landlady TO her husband, when
alone. "I1e has not met the punishment
due to his misdceds What shall we say ?
Something sc must do
sit is indeed him." returned Jedson;
"what can have brough, him hcrel II
would kill Eva 10 see him; luckily she is
confined by cold, up stairs, but tomorrow
Fanny returns. He shall see Fanny; she
is the image Of what her mother when we
first saw her; if he is the person we sup
pose, he must be struck with the likeness.
My mind misgives me strongly, but think
he has come here TO die
81 hope he will render Justice, before he
goes to his great account" returned the
jealous matron."
Gle will, wife, he wilt" replied her
husbands; "thcre is that in his face which
bespeakes Il broken spirit; he has con,r.ie
heart, depend upon it; and if i, is him, he
will do justice as far as he is able"
The mex: morning, the stranger was
much indisposed, and Fanny, who had re-
turned from an excursion, was sent by her
grandmother, as she called Mrs Jedson, 10
his apartment, wih some relreshment. -
The guest started as she enntered; and as
she drew near, he became dreadfully agi
iated. Fanny was much alarmed, but. IN
willing 10 leave him thus, remained rivet, d
to the spot where she stood. At length
the invalid, conquering his emotion, made
and effort TO receive the refreshments from
the hand Of The unconscious cause Of his
agitation; and, and, as if impelled by some
irresistible motive. inqui.> I her name.
Fanny, sir Fanny Jedson." answered
the agi,ated girl, as, blushing and curisyiug
she withdrew.
sit is her very image" murmu red the
guest; "who is this girl; so beautiful, SC
fair, recalling form never 10 be forgotten?
la few moments, he had summoned the
landlord, who was prepared, by Fanny's
strange agitation, 10 hear interrogations
which he was resolved to answer in his owr
way. The gentleman requested Jedson tc
be- seated; said he was lonely, and shoulc
like little chat; and after n few prelmi-
nary remarks, inquired Of his companion
i! the pretty gIr, who had just left, was his
daughter or granddaughter.
"She is neither" answered the man;
''but love her rs much as if she was"
.'But she bears your namc," resumed
the stranger
"She Does" returned the inn-kceper:
"because, poor thing! she had no other
However, il is an honest name, and never
was coupled with treacherous deed; sc
perhaps, il suits the child as well Us an
other"
"She is, thon, an adopted chld!" in
quired the invalid, in humid voice.
"Why, sir" replied Jedson, "lll 'sl
you the story, and how come by the girl;
and if you do not join with me in saying
that her father was villain, you will bt
the RS, who has differed with me in the
opinion. But, as sad before, Ill tell YOU
the story"
at was at the time when the British
were about leaving Boston. | did not live
here, then, sir, kept an inn on the Boston
read; and, somewhere about that time, one
evening, a chase drove into our yard, ana
an officer, sir, British officer, al GIFTED,
and handed out young lady, sweet. pref
,y creature; she appeared melancholy, and