The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-10-20
The Mysterious Interfepsri
or ras MAN THAT NEVER ANsWShhp
QUESTION.
BY. Z. rACLpN9.

II was the eve of the Grst day OF May, l6f4,
as Ithink, aud the town OF New-Amsteiuau
was in a prodigious uproar, which, ior such
sober little Dutch built place, was almost uii-
raculous. News had just arrived that the Eng
| lish from the varsche river, had overspread The
eastern part Of Long Island as far as oyster
Bay. and taken possession OF ell the oysters.
| II was moreover currently Ieportesi thatthey hau
| beaten with oysterrakes two negroes oil Myh-
| heer Van Breuchelen, who had come thitneT 10
catch oysters, and sent them away with cargo
of shells, as it were, IN derison OF the dighita-
res and authority of New-Amsterdsm. In al
dition to this stirring news 1t was IumoIed that
the Indians about Pavonia, Haerem helgnis,
and Gawanus, exhibited symptoms u hostility,
and had been seen prowling about near the great
| windmill. outside the wooden walls Dung
this memorable day not pipe was smoked Dy
| the honest buIghers, nor a word spoken by Their
danes above their breath.
To add TO these appalling circumstances, The
night had set in with terrible storm nom the
north east; the thunder Iattec and the lightning
| flashed necessarily over head; the dogs howled,
and the wind whstled in concert around aud
around tho houses, and you might hear, IN the
momentaIy pauses Of the storm, the waves dash
ling lurously against the ridge of rocks which
| extended along the point of the battery. Ever
and anon the dismal sounds OF a bell mingled
in the wild concert, giving token CT some new
and unknown danger, and Tightening the peace
full citizens with vague apprehensions oil they
knew not what.
The buIom rosy-cheeked widow OF Mynheer
Van Heilig Schrilt was sitting with her step
daughter, Maritchee, covering IN corner with
fear and trembling. often did the dsconsolate
dame wish from the bottom other heart that she
had man about the house TO take care OF her
. and her daughter and 90 to market; and IN the
bitterness of her dependency she determined TO
look out betimes for such necessary INGREDIENT
in housekeeping.
1t was now waxing towards the wltching
/ hour of night, and the uproar without seemed to
; gather new vigor every moment. There was nc
soul in the house. but the dame, her daughter,
and an old black sybi, who had her hands full
every night in fighting with the vitc4es, that
] came in the semblance of cats, black, bundled
and spotted, and molested her sorely. The house
| IN which the widow sOjOurned was a sort Of fIJn-
tier post on the East river at that time ItstOOC
: close TO the bel Oh, and the waves, when The
1 wind was high at east, sometimes threw then
4 spray against the windows.
The clock struck-no, there was no clock il
| the city to strike at that tIme-but If there had
i been asclock and it had CHANGED for a wonde
0 to be night, it would have struck twelve. On
4 readers will marvel, perhaps, what could keel
= two honest, sober, well-disposed women,
u widow and a maid, up at such an unreasona bl,
hour But the truth IS, they were afraid TO go I,
n bed.
q At this moment loud knock was heard at tn
street door. II went to the hearts Of the two foI
lorn women, whose heads were full Of lndiaI
o plots, midnight robberies, and CONGREGATIONS
e They sat neutrality-suspicious. uttering word no
/. moving a step. The wind whistlei louder, tn
thunder roaTed, and the lightning flashed thrOug
the creyices Of the windows and DOORS
G After few minutes theknocking was renew
" cd with still greater force. II seemed as If tn
u person, whoever he was, seriously melita,e
: beating down the door. II reused the Old sin ne
ID in the kitchen, who feared nothing but IN
o witches. She went to the door and asked In e1
q cellent low English, who was therel
i Some one answered.
Il guess | want To know who lives herel'
'And | want 10 know who you are
; 'Why, Lord bless your soul, who are your
J. 'It's none Of your business
None OF my business that's tamal likely
What DO you calculate / came here for exceI
ID on businessi'
lie 'You must tell me who you are first
e why, you won't be bit the wiser for that a
"a far as know; but did you ever hear Of one Phi
10 Popsini'
IS 'Philo who' there's no such person in III
s. place
j. why, how should you know7 Can't ma
n be drove ashore here in the dark and you kno,
nothing at all concerning nl'
u you're no Niger, nor thief, nor any thing
e that sOrtl'
h did you ever see man as white as a lilly
with cheeks like n red spple3'
well, what if havel
'Aint the very boy, gueSsi'
D, The good widow Van Schrift listened at first
n this dialogue with fear and trembling. But whe
>. her ears caught the music Of the skin like tn
billy and cheeks like a red apple, her appreher
{ slons at once subsidized. She thought TO herse
% there could be no possible danger in admitun
- such harmless man, and accordingly forthwith
,rI caused the door TO be opened unto hum.
Then did there enter unto them a tall plum
e youth, as wet as drowned rat. lie advance
j. towards the ladies' with little or no ceIemony
), pulled oil his hat and overcoat, and sat dow
:, without an invitation. He did full Justice 10 hi
description of himself, for his forehead was fai
II to look upon, and the peltng Of the pitless stor
e mad caused his cheeks to assume the hue of ca
= lestial rosy red.
The heart OF the widow yeamed with commas
:, SION at his forlorn wet state, and she ordered
u suit Of the deceased worshipful Mynheer VA
Schrlft, her late husband, to be brought, deco
rousy retiring with her daughter into the adioin
ing bedroom while the stranger was investin
| himself Herewith. When the widow re,nrne,
|
o person of the stranger exhibited, and little Ma
II ntchee, who Was then just beginning to unfol
those mysterious sympathles of womanhoo
which wake the first sigh in the innocent, uu
: | corrupted bosom, almost wished that .'heave
e had made her such a man."
II Inc widow, as she certainly had a night 70 do
, ielt somewhat curious to know VINO her visito
was, aud whence he came. But il seemed A
7, II he had been born without the faculty of an
), swerng questions. He dealt altogether 10 Nm
| Intenogative.
$ isupposs You come from up soundF she ven
g tured to ask
J. WAS you ever up that wayl' replied the n,ys
e FERROUS VISITOR
!. 'Pve been as far as Hell-gate.'
III Alter pause the widow commenced again
while her little daughter could not keep her eve
o oil the stranger, whose forehead was so white
o and cheeks so red.
ri Il suppose you were driven in here by In
, storm2' ~
u Did you ever happen to see such gale as mi
beforea' answered Joe Bowers, for that was h;
y. secret. F'"'o~'
Did you come from Varsche river, or alop
| thereabouts7'
J, Did You ever hear of Old HadleyP
mol can't say did
'Well, didn't come from quite there Blu
did you ever hear OF East Hadley3'
'No-not that know Of
well, L didn't come from quite there mother
}. Maybe you've heard OF South Hadley9'
4 Never heard of such a place
i suppose you think come exactly right Of
g the reel from there, don't youi'
WELL said the widow, a little impatient
though she couldn't help admrins his red cheek
NJ hlttA n