Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-09-16
MISCELLANEOUS.
HEBRON.
2 J si.ArHE SOLITARY HoRsrMAN.


IT was about FIVE o'clock of fine after.
noon in June, when single traveller,
mounted upon very detected. looking
steed, might have been seen riding slowly
along the smooth highway that leads to
abe little village of Benton, quiet farming
town in the northern part of Vermont.
AsI have no desire to make Jamesian
mystery of my hero, viii at once state
that hi0 name was Laurence Hardy; that
he Was 6. young gentleman of excellent
family, fortune, and character, living in
the city of the Knickerbockers; and that
he was travelling with no special object
except to enjoy the pleasant country and
the glorious weather.
He was riding slowly on, between the
hay y-ields, sweet with clover, when he was
reused from rather sentimental reverie
by great rumbling and Clattering behind
him and, looking back, saw great, lum-
bering stage coach, drawn by four lean
horses, that looked as if they were try
ing to run away from their harness. Hardy
drew his own beast to the side of the road
to avoid the dust and as the huge thing
creakediand rocked and ratified by him, his
eye ran carelessly over the occupants of
the vehicle There were two or three com
mon-looking faces, which turned toward
him with a glance of curiosity, and ON the
hAAINlO cNdb, u otOub, bl6J 'bNdIOCQ BCuSlC
man, in wide straw hat. The figure be.
yond him was hidden by his ample per-
son; but the horseman caught the futter
OF a green gauze veil, and saw small
gloved hand clasping the side-strap OF tie
reeling coach.
The village lay Just over the brow of the
hill before him; and, quickening his pace,
Hardy reached the door of its one tavern
just as the coach was driven away. Ii was
delightful looking place, its whole aspect
promising entertainment for man and
beast" The old-fashioned, low silled
house seemed to stand right down in the
grass that almost oYerran the door-stone.
Smooth fields lsy all around-for it was a
farmhouse as well as a tavern-and
number of comfortable looking barns
were grouped in the rear. A great elm
tree stood on one side of the green in
front; and from one Of its far spreading
branches swung square sign board, which
bore, in faded yellow letters, the inscrip-
tion "Bunce's Tavern"
Hardy was conducted to large, airy
chamber, where every thing was cool and
fresh, and sweet as hands could make it.
Lighting cigar, he sat down tc enjoy the
stiffness and beauty of the evening. "In
the spring young mans fancies lightly
turn to thoughts of love" and Hardy's
GuoSSpelOlO l.idS SlAdGAOA Was UuSy Win
dreams of certain graceful, dark-eyed
enchantress with whom he had danced,
and sung duets, and taken romantic walks
through all the last moon. Presently his
attention was attracted by the sound of a
pleasant laugh coming through the open
window of the next room, and then he
heard a musical voice say:
"Isn't this charming, papa? Such
supper in such place Why, it is the
identical repast which, in old-fashioned
novels, is always set out by the virtuous
poor-'a pat of butter, milk fresh from
the COW, honey and bread, spread upon a
snowy CLOTH"
"Very satisfactory for the Arcadian
STYLE" a mans voice replied. "I'll trouble
you for another biscuit, my dear. Stage
coach riding has given me sn appetite"
"This hill country air would give any
thing an appetite. am glad that to NOR
row is Sunday, as we shall be obliged to
stay over"
HYou can stay over, my dear; but l am
obliged to push on some miles further to
place where have appointed to meet a
man on business. Tse landlord will fur
nish me with horse and wagon, and
shall return for you on Monday. You are
not afraid to be left alone?"
"Afraid, in this housei Why, it is as
innocent as Rssselas's Happy Valley
The landlord is honesty itself, and his
wife benevolence; while their daughter is
all the Christian graces combined.
Even if l were a nervous young woman,
l could not fail to feel safe here"
They said no more, and: Hardy, who had
not even the most lsnguid interest in them
or their affairs, soon forgot them alto
gether.
My hero's sentimental reveries were not
of a nature sufficiently intense to Danish
slumber. He slept like q top, and was
wakened early by The village boys driv-
ing the COWS afield. The sharp tink-
ling of the COW. bells, the deep breathing
of the.cows as they fingered to crop the
thick grass beneath his window, the
shouting of the little harefooted drovers,
and the voclferous barking of a small dog
in attendance, made chorus which would
have walked the Seven Sleepers.
AS the morning wore on, the sound of
q thin, cracked bell, swinging high in the
wooden tower of queer, barn. like struc-
ture at the top of q hill not far away, an
noUnced the hour Of worship and in an
swer to its summons the dwellers In the
village and outlying farms began to wend
their way, at sober, Sunday pace, to
meeting" "Why shouldn't l go to
meeting, too?" thought Hardy, and i'm
W
At the door he found the landlord in
his shirt sleeves, sitting with his chair
tilted back against the wall, and his spec
tacles on his nose, reading the weekly pa.
per. He brought his chair down with q
bump, and pulling off his glasses, in
quired of his guest:
"Goin' TO meetin'?'
II think | shall. Do you go, SirS"
"No, guess not, this mornin'. Drusilly,
my dsrter, has gone, though. You go
right into the meetin' house, and Deacon
Goldthwaite II show you my pew. He'll
know you're a stranger"
Hardy thanked MIN and walked away
On reaching the ohurch-door he found
that the deacon did seem to know at once
that he was stranger, and to be shown
TO the Bunce pew; for, after beckoning
with his hand several times, and nodding
Significantly, he went tip toeing up the
broad aisle and motioned the young man
to seat. One other person already oc
eupied the head of the pew, and as Hardy
seated himself by the door he threw 1
careless glance in that direction. Per
haps his look expressed q shade of thu
surprise ne felt, as he said TO himself
scan this be the landlords daughter
'"Drusilly
The stranger appeared TO be abou
twenty, and had the unmistakable air o
q lady. llardy's critical eye noted ap
provingly the pure rose-leaf complexion
the small firm mouth, the low sweet fore
head, and the wealth Of soft brown hair
and pronounced her beauty also. Hel
eyes were turned from him, but he fel
sure they were gray. Her dress, too
suited perfectly his tastidious taste. l
was all of some soft gray material, fashion
able in arrangement, but studiously plain
and everything, down to the very shade o
the iAultless gloves, in perfect harmony
Hardy sat wondering VINO she could be
when he chanced To notice green gauz
Veil that lay on the seat beside her, ani
Immediately recalled the passenger in tn
stage coach and his unseen felloW-lodge
at the inn.