Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1851-06-27
Gbuitr Iittratnrr.
From the Saturday Express.
JOHN JONES THE PEDLAR,
AND
SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE.
BY Z. LAMDoRN.

BY E. LAMBoRN.
In the village Of Newtown, Ohio, is an Inn,
or hotel, known as the Washington Hotel"
The original sign had been portrait of Gen.
Washington, which was subsequently chan
ged to the Washington Inn" and still la
ter, to the Washington Hotel" In the
year Is, it was Questionable stopping
place for travellers. 1t was then called the
aWashington Inn," and was the principal
tavern in the village, b tn for the accommo-
dation of travellers, and for the residents, it i
being the fashionable boarding house Of the
village gentry.
Here in this house commence my story,
the narrator of which makes no pretensions
to Cenius-the events being literally true.
In a room of the Washington lnn,' sat
a young man; pale, wan, and with trou-
bled countenance.
"In study there
Immured, he trimmed his lamp;
And morn, unmarked upon his pallid cheek,
Oft flung her ray, ere yet the sunken eye
Reluctant closed, or sleep around his couch
strewed her despised poppies."
Beside him sat beautiful young woman
Snoozing in the corner, sat Galphin, their
faithful old servant. William and Mary Mus
grave were the names Of these soiourners, ae-
cording to the books Of the Inn" At first
they were looked upon with favor as travel
les ofstanding and respectability: and they
soon became favorites, not only with the in
mates Of the Inn, but with the residents o
the village He was open, frank, and inge-
nuous in his manners; his countenance demo
ted honesty and his whole appearance wai
that Of a gentleman. She, too, seemed the
perfection Of loyehness and innocence. He
countenance though not sad, was almost mel
ancholy, but which heightened the lovelines
of her charms. She seemed too pure to har
Dor even a sinful thought Yet respecting
them wers dark suspicious upon them wer
watchful eyes, and around them were listen
ing ears. Who are theyp and what i
their business 7 we're questions asked by tn
gossips. The wife of young lawyer Of til
village, a lodger in an adjoining room, ba
heard them in strange conversation and sh
hinted that they might be counterfeiters G
swindlers; and perhaps robbers or murder
ers; which did not lessen these suspicious
Writing seemed to be their employment
they had but few visitors and they SCENE
to live for themselves alone As to the
business, they had not been directly aske
the question; which the suspicion that a
was not right prevented. Yet, more an
more the wonder grew with the multtud
as to who and what they were. That the
were of the iterati, was said, but Willial
and Mary Musgraye were names unknown
the literary world; or at least to that pa
of it at Newtown. Suspicion increased al
some ventured to surmise that they we
part of gang Of thieves that had been "a
ging through the country and committil
depredatiens upon the inhabitants. In t
third week of their residence in the villae
when anxiety had risen almost to fever hei
and had begun to extend to the more int
gent part Of the population, and also to t
surrounding country circumstance
Cured which aroused the passions Of I
whole community. This same listener, W
had before overheard the mysterious eony
sation, hearing a murmur Of voices in /
strangers room, arose quietly from her b
and putting her ear to the door, heard
following conversation
Pm afraid we'll be suspected 'Pc
there's no danger, and if they do, what
they prove
Il do not like your disposal of the be
Had we not better Hush what's
the doorgn
Horror struck at what she had heard,
listener left the door, and went quietly b
to her husband, and with trembling emot
informed him that the suspicious stran,
were murderes! and she could hardly
persuaded to REMAIN in the room until m
ing. But the strangers retiring to bed
became more calm; and at length sank
a troubled sleep. Indeed, her disco,
made strong impression on her husba
who In the morning, reported the disco
70 the astonished landlord of the Inn.
but for the lawyer, would have immedi.
given the strangers notice to quit his pr
ses- The village was as you NAV sun
in no small degree of excitement. anfl
populace could hardly be restrained from
lence. This excitement however. was
down by those in authority, until some
ample proof should be found against /
That night, the lawyer and a few Fl