Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-07-20


suspicion for which she could readily ac
count. The inquiry. however. to he
great relief was pursued no further, ant
The conversation now being directed to
other and Indifferent subjects, she re
treated from the room to hide her blush
es, and shed tears of vexation at the Sc
crets o. her heart had been exposed TO d
stranger too, the very one of all Others
before whom she would have been most
anxious 20 avoid such an exposure, coup
led as it had been with her walk, which
had put her in possession Of an unpleas-
ant secret, rs she feared it was, respect
ing him. How unucky! she thought
perhaps even now she had become the
object of his suspicion and dislike. She
had intended. before SO Unexpectedly en-
countering him on her return. TO make
known the transaction she had witnessed.
But now should she do it, and the affair
should be satisfactorily explained. she
dreaded the ridlcule which she probably
must experience from all parties for act
ing the spy and eavesdropper-and should
ii lead 10 the detection OF some viIlainy.
perhaps she would have to be called into
court as q Witness consequence which
she no less dreaded. She concluded there
fore, to keep the whole transaction care
fully locked as a secret in her bosom. -
Having come to this determination, and
having succeeded by this time ia allay-
ing her disturbed feelings. and in assum
IN in cal n
she rejoined the company. her repug
nance to the stranger being mingled with
some curiosity 10 learn more Of his char!
acter. and see whe ther he would mention
the circumstances which had SO untavor.
ably impressed her and her lover. and If
so, in what manner he wOuld explain IL.
But in this she was disappointed. as not
the least allusion, was then, OF ever al
forwards made by him TO the transaction.
May soon perceived, however. that the
stranger. had already made rapid prog
ress with his host ard hostess towards
gaining The footing of a familiar acquain-
tance, and il was with some surprise that
she learned that he was TO become for
the present, an inmate of the family
He had introduced himself. il appeared.
by the name of Cow. stating that he was
travelling with the view Of purchasing
lands; and having heard that The Har
wood settlement presented good induce
ments 20 purchasers, he had now accord
ingly paid it a visit for that purpose. -
This avowal had led TO aproffered assist
ance on the part of Martin to the further
objects Of the stranger, and soon 10 the
compliance with the request of the latter
to take up his abode with the family
while he remained in the place. Sue h
was ;hc ostensive object of the stran-
gers visit. This information May gath
cred from her mother in the absence of
the gentleman. who after supper had ta-
ken long ramblc across he farm in the
twilight Of the account which the man
had given of himself, she felt much dis
posed to discredit. for though the story
was simple and reasonable enough in it.
self, yet she was wholly unable TO recon.
cile it in her own mind with wha. she
had witnessed; and the more she reflect
ed on the subject, the stronger became
her suspicious. that there was some thing
wrong in his character. and some thing
that he WAS making no efor, TO conceal.
During the course OF the evening May
found frequent opportunities for examn-
ing the personal appearance o. Cow, tor
by that name we shall row call him
more closely than she had before the
means of doing. Though young, be was
evidently hackneyed IN the WAYS of the
world, and seemed well verSed in the or
dinary modes Of hatlery. and the ait of
insinuating himself into the good graces
of strangers. His exterior was good,
and his demeanor. with ordinary obse.v
ers, might have been Erepossessing. Bet
those who scrutinized him more closely
might easily have detected holiowness
Of manner, which showed that .he heart
was taken but little part III the wheed-
ling language Of the tongue, and sort
Of questionable expression III the glances
Of his restless eye, which like the savage
in the woods. seemed to avoid open en-
counter. and TO be continually skulking
away and back. under the steady gaze of
the beholder, Us if guarding hidden mo-
tives with a constant apprehensiveness
Of their detection. Such at least were
the impressions of May. whose scrutiny
instead of lessening had increased the
dislike she had conceived towards his
person. Besides. she was not altogether
pleased with his manner with herself
1t was evident from his remarks that his
inquiries concerning her, had been al
ready particular; and he seemed 10 ad-
dress her with too much of the air of an
old acquaintance. In short she felt. she
scarce knew, that he had some precon
certed object in view, some way connect
ed with herself. And she retired to rest
that night with sensations of displeasure
and with disquetude of feeling that
she had Eever before experienced.
While such thoughts and undef fined
appreheusions were agitaiing the guile
less bosom of May. the disagreeable OBJ
ject of her reflections was occupied in
another apartment, to which he had re-
tired for the night. in writing letter to
an associate. For the benef; Of the read
er, we take an authors privilege of look
ing over his shoulder.
"Well. Col. here am snug at Mar
tins where l remain, at present. gentle
man land-looker as | call myself, till |