Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1870-09-15

HEBRON.
s.L--THl soIdrARY hoAsEatAN.fo

1-rtL @-~r-S-r---Ne--- ~ ~ A12ftE
ssE--rHn so11rleRT Il .Ho1ssratAz.7o
IT was about ave O'Clock Of fine after
noon in June, sWhenaa single traveller,
mounted upon q very detected looking
steed, might have been seen riding slowly
along the smooth highway that leads. TO
ahe little village of Benton, q quiet farming
town in the northern part OF Vermont
As have no desire-to make a Jamesian
mystery, Of my hero will at once state
that his name was Lereuce Hardy; that
sanhenyRs . young gentleman of excellent
- AmilYss fortune. and character, Hyingssin
the city Of the Knickerbockers; and that
he was travelling with no specialrobiect
except to enjoy Che pleasant country and
so He was riding slowly on, between he.
hay-fields, sweet with clover, when he was
reused from rather sentimental, reYerie
y by great rumbling and Gathering behind
=. him. and, looking back saw great, lum-
bering Btage-cOach,, drawn by four lean
horses, that looked as II the3sWeres try
ing to run away from their harness. Hardy
drew his own beast to tine side,of the road
to avoid the dust; andlas the huge thing
,.-s creakedhnd rocked and ratified by him, his
ks.rs eye ran carelesHly over the occupants of
-ss the vehicle. There were two or three CON-
mon10oking faces, which turned TOWARD
him with glance of curiosity, and on the
-. - middle seat 9 stout. gray bearded gentle
. syond him was hidden by his ample per
. 3 sons but the horseman caught the fufter
OF green gauze veil, and saw q small
Rloxed hand clasplng theside-strap OF the
The village lay Just over the brow Of the
hill before bim,s and Quickening his pace, ]
Hardy reached the door of its one tavern
=, Just as the coach was driven away FIt was
delightful looking place, its whole aspect
promising entertainment for man and
beast" The old.fashianed, low. .slledsl
house seemed to stand right. down inr the
grass that almost oYerTan the door-etone.
Smooth fields lay an around-for it was a
: number Of mfortablsaookfn barns
- were grouped IN the rear. = "A greatEelm-l
tree stood on one side of the green in |
sss mont and from one. Of its far spreading |
branches swung q square sig board. HhicI
bore, in faded yellow letters the ikscrip-
tion Bunces Tavern. -7a1 s'AsS
Hardy was conducted to a large, airy
= chamber, where every thing was cool and L
= reeh, and sweet as hands could make it.
y Lighting cigar, he sat down to enjoy the
stiffness and beauty of the leEening5 '1n
~, the spring young mans fancies lightly
i'saturp to thoughts of love;"S and Hsrdy's
susceptible Imagination was busy with
dreams of q certain graceful, dark-eyed
enchantress with whom he had danced,
and sung duets, and taken romantic walks
10 through all the last moon, Presently his
~ attention was attracted BY the sound of a
pleasant laugh coming through, the open
heard musical voice say -, - - e Il
Isn't this charming, papa? Such q
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
- 80 Very satisfactory FUF- thee Arcadian
style, & man's voice feplied g N trouble
you for another biscuit, my dear Stage
coach riding has given me an appetite."
1s-s % This hfn country air would give any
thing an appetite. I am glad that to NOR
row is Sunday, as we shall be obliged to
You can stay oyer, nv y dear lear but I am
obliged to push on some miles further to
place where have appointed to meet a
man on business. The landlord will fur
nish me with horse and wagon and
shall return for you on. Monday. You are
not afraid TO be left alone "a sea.aj
Afraid, in this house Why, it is as
innocent as Rasselas's Happy Valley
The landlord is honesty -itselfy and his {
wife 6eneV0Ience; while their daughter is
all tho Christian gracSss -cdmbined.
- Even IL IWere nervous young woman,
could not fail to feel safe here.h
They said no more, andiHardy, who had I
not even the most Slanguid interest in them
or their affairs, soon forgot them alto
. : nv heross sentimental reVeries were not
of nature sufficiently intense TO Danish '
slumber. He slept like. g. top and was
wakened early by the village boys driv-.k {
ing the COWS aield. The sharp tink- r
ling of the COW bells, the deep breathing
> aof the cows as they 1ingeted TO crop the1 /
thick grass beneath his window, the I
shouting of the little harefooted drovers,
and the vociferous barking of small dog {
in attendance, made chorus which would s
have walked the Seven Sleepers. /
AS the morning wore on, the sound of
Z tim, cracked bell, swinging high in the '
wooden tower Of queer, barn like struc-I /
ture at the top of hill not, far away, an
nounced the hour of worship and in an I
sMer 70 its summons the dwellers IN the I
village and outlying farms began to wend I
their way, at SOBER Sunday pace. to &
meeting" Why shouldn't I 20 to
meeting, too? ?" thought Hardy, and i'm
mediately took his hat and went down. 4
AT the door he found the landlord in ! {
his shirt sleeves, sitting with his chair /
t1ited back against the wall, and his spec {
tacies on his nose, reading the weekly pa j
per. he brought his chair down with .
bump, and pulling off his glasses, in {
quired OF his guestsa "a -es.F
- "Goin' to meetin'So