Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-10-13

He was in such hurry to be gone reckon
that as soon as he heard my window open and
knew he had reused me, he set off. His voice
came round the east corner of the cottage as
though he went Exeter way. Wouldn't have
got up at such time, and at such a sum
mons, for many other folks but you, do as
sure you, Master Philip"
% Thank you" said l. though by no means
quite convinced ; you're good fellow, aud
here's five Shiilings for you. And now put me
across, and show me the nearest way by which
can get to the city"
Now, if by some inscrutable means the fer
ryman-who had become the leading figure in
my mind because of the mysterious warning
or any accomplice of his had played me a
trick, or trumped up story for my further
bewilderment, they had not, fattered myself
very much cause for boasting. had evinced
but slight curiosity about the unknown gentle
man who had heralded my approach at day
light, and | had real object in my early riS-
ng-that of reaching the capital city, at least
ten miles away. But my own brain was, for
all that, prey to the most conflicting sugges
tions not one of which was of iual service
toward an explanation of the events of the
morning
u n
walk before me of ten, and walk behind of
three good Devon miles, breakfastleSs without
the least desire to reach the place he was
bound for-and all because of couple of roT-
et-pr0eterea- nihiis, voices without a body be-
tween them. / consumed the way in mentally
reviewing all the circumstances of the case
again and again, and by no means in a credu-
louS spirit but when ! at length arrived at
the city upon the hill, was as far from the
solution of the matter as when started. That
the ferryman himself, a simple countryman,
should be concerned in any practical joke upon
me, mere fly-fshing acquaintance of couple
of weeks standing or that such persons as the
Courteneys should have permitted the playing
of it upon guest at CowlcsS, was only less
astounding than the perfection Of the trick it.
self-if trek it really was. But neither my
| feelings of anger, when | looked on the matter
| in that light nor those Of mystery, when |
took the more supernatural view of it, in any
wise interfered with the gradual growth of ap-
petite, aud when l turned into private room
at the Bishops Head in the High Street, the
leading idea in my mind, after all my cogita-
tions, was breakfast If seven and forty mys-
! terouS voices had informed me that the ferry
man was waiting then, | should have responded:
Then let him wat-at all events, till | eat
my breakfast and sundres."
Although Exeter is as picturesque and ven
erahle city as any raven conld desire to dwell
in, it is not lively town by any means, in
general way. A quiet, sanity, solemn spot,
indeed, it is excellently adapted for a sinner
to pass his last days in-although he would
probably fiud them among the longest in his
life-and peculiarly adapted to that end in its
very great benefit of Episcopal) clergy nut
for hale young gentleman of nineteen to find
himself therein AZ nine O'clock on a fue sum
mer morning, with nothing to DO, and all the
day TO do it in, was an embarrassing circum-
stance.
"Nothing going on as usual | suppose ?
inquired |, with yawn at the waiter, when |
had finished a vast reflection.
Going on sir Yes sir. City very gavin
deed, sir just now ASSizeS sir, now sitting
Murder caSe-very interesting for young
gentleman like yourself, indeed, sir"
How do YOU know what is interesting7" re-
torted |, with the Indignation of hobbledehoy
hood at having its manhood called in question.
Young gentleman, indeed . am q man,
sir But what about this murder Is the
prisoner convicted 2"
OOuNlCleu, SIT No, SlT uOb YET, w z
hope he will he convicted this morning, sir
It's very bad case, indeed sir. A journey
maa carpenter, one Robert MoleS, have been
aud murdered tollkeeper killed him in the
dead of night, with atchet and his wife'S
the witness against him
That's very horrible" remarked /. i
didn't know a wife could give evidence
No sir not his wife, sir; its the toll
keepers wife, sir. She SwearS to this MoleS,
although it happened two months ago or more
sir Murder will out, they say and how true
it is He'll be hung in front of the Jail, sir, in
a hopen place upon au III, so as almost every
body will he able TO see it, bless ye!"
81 should like to hear the end o: the trial
very much indeed, waiter"
'Shoud you, sir ?" fondling his chin. 1t
couldn't be done. sr-it could net be done the
court is crowded into a mash already. To be
sure I've got d. But 10, sir ; it could not
be done"
&" l suppose it's merely question of q How
much 2" said |, taking out my purse. Didn't
you say you had -"
a cousin as javeiiu man, yes, sir. Well
| don't know but what ii might be done, sir,if
You'll just wait till I've cleared away. There
! they're at it already y
While he spoke, fanfaronde of trumpets
without proclaimed tha! the judges were
about to take their seats; and in few min
utes the waiter and | were among the crowd.
The iaven-man turning out to be amenable
to reason and to the ties of relationship, as
we'll as not averse TO small pecuniary recon-
pense, ] soon found standing room for myself
in the court house, where every seat has been
engaged for hours before As had been in
formed, the proceedings were all but conclud-
ed. save some uuimportant indirect evidence,
and the speech of the prisoners counsel This
gentleman had been assigned to the accused