Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-09-22
HEBRON.
1.-THE gor1TAnY uoRsEMAs.

1.-THE solitary HoRsEMAH. det'
IT YVES about FIVE o'clock Of q fine after
noon in June, when single traveller,
mounted upon q very dejected-looking
stced, might have been seen riding slowly
along the smooth highway that leads 70
ahe little village OF Benton, q quiet farming
town in the 5orthern part of Vermont.
AS have 40 desire To make Jamesan
mystery Of my hero, will at once state
that his name YVES Laurence Hardy; that
he was 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 10 enjoy the pleasant country and
the glorious weather.
He was riding slowly on, between the
hay-felds, sweet with clover, when he was
reused from rather sentimental reverie
by great rumbling and Gathering 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 HE own beast 10 the side OF the road
to avoid the dust and as the huge thing
crcakodand rocked and ratified by him, his
eye ran carelessly over the occupants of
the vehicle. There were two or three CON-
mon.looking faces, which turned toward
him with glance Of curiosity, and on the
middle seat stout, gray bearded gentle,
man, In wide straw hat. The figure be-
You'd him was hidden by his ample per-
son; but the horseman caught the futter
of a green game veil, and saw small
gloved hand clasping the sde-stTap OF the
Keeling coach.
The village Icy Just over the brow Of the
hill before him and, quickening his pace,
Hardy reached the door of It's one tavern
Just as the coach vas driven away. IL was
q delightful looking place, its whole aspect
promising entertainment for man and
beast" The oi1.iashioned, low lied
house seemed 70 stand right down in the
grass that almost overran the door.stonc.
Smooth ti"lds lay all around-tor 1t was q
farm house 81 well as tayern-and a
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 ono Of it's fr'spreading
branches swung square sign.board, which
bore, in faded yellow letters, the inscrip-
ton ounces Tavern.
Hardy was conducted TO a large, airy
chamber, whore every thing was cool and
fresh and sweet AZ hands could make II.
Lighting cigar, he Sat down to enjoy the
stiffness and beauty Of the evening. I'm
the spring young mans fancies lightly
turn TO thoughts of love-" and Hardy's
susceptible imagination was busy with
dreams of cerLsin graceful, dark-eyed
encbantyess with whom he had danced,
and sung duets, and taken romantic walks
through all the last moon. Presently his
attention wag attracted by the SOUND OF a
pleasant laugh coming through the open
window OF the next room, and then ne
heard musical voice say
"Isn't this charming, papa? Such a
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
livery satisfactory for the Arcadian
STYLE" a mans voicerepled, "I'll trouble
you Tor another biscuit, my dear. Stage
coach riding has given me an appetite"
"This hin country air would give any
thing an appetite. ] am glad that to NOR
row Is Sunday, as we shall be obliged tC
stay over"
"You can stay over, my dear; but am
Obliged to push on some miles further Il
q place where have appointed to meet q
man on business The landlord will fur
nish me with horse and wagon, and
shall return for you on Monday. Youart
not afraid to be left alone?"
Afraid, In this house Why, 1t is al
innocent as Rasselas's Happy Valley.
The landlord IL honesty itself, and hi
wife benevoence; while their daughter II
all the Christian graces combined
Even IL were nervous young woman
could not tail To feel safe here"
They said no more, and Hardy, who hat
not even the most langUid interest In then
or their affairs, soon forgot them alto
gether.
My heros sentimental reveries were no
of a nature sufficiently intense TO banisl
slumber. He slept like top, and wa
Weakened early by the village boys driv
ing the cows afeld. The sharp tink
ling OF the COW bells, the Geep breathin
of the cows as they fingered to crop tn
thick grass beneath his window, tn
shouting Of the little harefooted droverl
and the vociferous barking OF small do
In attendance made a chorus which woul
have walked the Seven Slecpers.
As the morning wore on, the sound
. thin, cracked bell, swinging high in tn
wooden tower OF queer, barn-ike struc
ture ut the top Of hill not far away, an
UUuuCCu tuC hOuL Va WotChiP ohu IA 81
swer to its summons the jewellers In tn
village and outlying farms began to went
their way, at q sober, Sunday pace, 4
"meeting." "Why shouldn't l 60 L
meeting, 1so?" thought Hardy, and i'm
msAtnfrly took dis hat and went down.
Af3he door lie found the landlord II
his shirt sleeves, sitting with his chail
tilted hack against the wall, and his spec
tacles ON his nose, reading the weekly %
Der. He brought his chair down with ,
bump, and pulling of his glasses, in
quifsd OF his guest:
~0ofn' 10 meetin'"
Il think shall Do You 90, 6ir"
sHo, gness not, this mornin'. Drusilly
~ daxter, has gone, though You g
rf1Ss into the meesin. house, and DeacoI
0st1xhwxise II shOw you ny pew. Hell
iz0w you're Stranger"