Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1854-11-22
miscellaneous.
THE VILLAGE SLAND ERER.
BY wM. CoMsTOCK.

uel Gore, and after exchanging the usual
salutations with each other. the two gen
tlemen held a short conversation.
sDo tell me, neighbor Gore, what sort
of man is WindEam, who has lately taken
"a house hear you2"
Il don't like to speak i'll of my neigh
bor,n replied Gore, but am afraid he is
not such man as you could approve or
esteem"
Indeed why SO ?"
I" [ fear he is man Of very high tenn
Iper-a very dangerous man. In fact" said
the other.
THAT is very bad" cried Blasset, shak-
ing his head. $ The worst is his own, for
| had intended to offer him prime situa-
ton and a comfortable one-but if he is a
man of violent temper he would not answer
our purpose. 1t is pity but cannot be
helped"
Mr.. Blasset rode on and Mr. Gore went
about his business.
Two DAYS afterwards there were party
Of young people at Squire Blackwell's
house and during the evening a couple of
young ladies present, discoursed as fol
lows:
Have you seen Miss James very late
Ily?"
. No, have not I understand she is
very melancholy"
':That is not strange 1t was cruel in
her parents to break up the match. "
/ :. Not altogether cruel, when everything
/ is considered | am certain that if / were
in their situation | should not want a
daughter of mine to marry such man as
| Mr.. Windham."
But perhaps be is not so bad as they
suppose"
!. Yet only think of it To attack
| poor old man in that way Really, |
must defend the conduct of Mr., and Mrs
James. | think they would have proved
wanting in their duty to their daughter if
they had permitted the marriag, to take
place"
:. But will he not sue for such breach
of promise o.
That admits not doubt A man of
so malicious and fiery disposition will
/ leave no stone unturned He will make
/ trouble for them if he can"
| Well. it Is a sad affair How much
mischief is doUe in the world, and how
many innocent persons are made to suffer
/ by the ungovcrnable passion Of all indi
vidual l''
| On the day after the above conversation
had taken place. there was number of
persons gathered together in the village
tavern, talking politics, dscourslng about
the news of the day, aud playing at check
ers. The Post-office was kept at the tav-
ern, and occasionally some person was
obliged to run the gauntlet through clouds
of tobacco smoke. projecting and obtru
siye elbows. before he could win his way
to the bar and make the necessary in
quiry. Not much notice was taken, how
ever. of those applicants until a young
man of modest bearing with some hesi
tation. entered the room, and pressed
through the crowd for the purpose of OBJ
tanning letter. All eyes were immedi-
ately turned upon him, and his counten
ance betrayed considerable anxiety and
agitation when he overheard the remarks
which were made about him. some of
which were obviously intended for his
ear
After leaving the tavern this young man
passed quickly up the main road about the
distance of quarter of a mile, when he
turned OFT into a path leading into the
woods and then he slackeued his pace
He went slowly forward, mutterlng to
himself while his features worked with
strong emotion, an2 an occasional tear
glistened in his eyes. When he had
reached the middle of tie wood he be-
came sensible that some person was APP
preaching him from the opposite direc
ton. He would fain have turned aside
but it was too late and suddenly the min
lister of the village church stood before
him
Good day, Mr.. Windham," was the
sudden address of that gentleman, have
/ been at your house. but you were not at
home | have desired to see you for sew
eral days Nay, be not dismayed, / come
on a friendly errand l have heard of
/ your misfortunes. and desire to alleviate if
not wholly remove them. There seems
to be a strong prejudice against you IN
| this place, and | suspect that 1T Is Ill
/ founded"
:. Indeed it is" replied Windham i" |
know not what it means | have some
enemy here who has crossed me at every
turn Strange stories are reported con-
cerning me. and | know not from what
source they rise. Even now | went to
the post-office for a letter every person
stared at me as if I had been the great
giraffe from Africa, and when they whis-
pered to one another, [ could hear them
say. He has the gallows written on his
forehead 7 What a hangdog counten-
anee = See how his eyes glare am
certain don't know what it means"
Il believe you" said the minister, tax
ing his hand, sand | am persuaded that
the people of this village labor under some
mistake respecting you, 1t is said that
you are hasty and passionate, and | under
stand it was on that score that the parents
1 Of
/ Perceiving that Windham was becom-
ing much agitated, the speaker paused
/ He resumed lew moments" No mat
ter, | wish to put you in a way to remove
the imputations which have been cast
upon you If you ala innocent you have
nothing to fear. Fix upon some one per-
son who has evinced dislike toward you.
o. a. L;.,, IN n franl- and napI,- NOV