The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-09-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
HEBRON.
1.-THE SOLITARY HoRsEMAN.

noon IN June, W1en single traveller,
mounted upon q very detected looking
steed, might have been seen riding slowly
along the smooth highway that leads to
4he little village OF Benton, aquiet farming
town III the northern part of Vermont.
rs have no desire to make q Jamesian
mystery Of my hero, viii at once state
4 at his name was Lsurence Hardy; that
he Vas young gentleman of excellent
isDily, fortune, and character, living in
the city Oi the KriCkCTbOckers AID that
nc was travelling with no special object
EXCEPT t. enjoy the pleasant country and
toe Glorious weather.
he was riding slowly Gil, between the
hay-tlelds, sweet with Clover, when he was
reused from rather sentimental Ieyerie
Dy great TumohrIg and Gathering behind
MIN and, ioCkliJg back, saw great, lum-
beTlnS Stage .-oSch, drawn BY four lean
norSeS, mat looked SIS if they were try
ing 10 re away frOg. their harness Hardy
are" ais own beast to the side of the road
10 avoid the dust; and as the huge thing
cveaked.aDd rocked and ratified by him, his
eve ran caTelessly over the occupants Of
sae vehicle. There were two or three COM
nCn-lOOking faces, which turned toward
aim with glance Of curiosity, and on the
mlGdlc SCAT, "a stout, gray bearded gentle
Inac, IN q wide straw hat. The figure be-
3ond him was hidden by his ample per
son; but the horseman caught the iutter
ii a green gaUZe veil, and SAW q small
slowed hand clasping the side strap of tie
Keeling coach.
The village lay Just over the brow of the
hit before him; and, quickenin Q his pace
hardy reached the door of lis one tavern
Just Is the coach was driven away. 1t was
ttt Frrl ~ y l.,
promising entertainment for man and
beast" The oIj-fashioned, low siled
mouse seemed 20 stand Iight down in the
grass that almost overran the d00r-stone.
smooth fields ley al around-for it was a
farm house as well as a tavern-and a
nupaber Of comfortable locking barns
y ere grouped IN the rear. 4 great elm
tree stood on one side of the green in
FROM and FROM one of its far spreading
branches swung a square sign board, which
bore, II faded yellow letters the inscrip-
tioG Bunce's Tavern"
Hardy was conducted TO large, airy
Chamber, where every thing was cool and
fresh, and sweet as hands could make il.
Lighting a cigar, he sat down tc enjoy the
stiffness and beauty Of the evening. ON
The spring young mans fancies lightly
Urn To thou hts Of love; :" and H.rdy's
susceptible imagination was busy with
dreams q & certain graceful, dark-eyed
ench2ntre9s with whom he had danced,
and sung duets, and taken romantic walks
through al the last moon. Presently his
attention was attracted by the sound of a
pleasant laugh coming through tee open
Winuo y OF the next TOOIa, and then he
hcs.rd a musical voice say:
isn't this charming, papa? Such q
NOR IL
identical repast which, in Old fashioned
novels, is always set out by the yirtuous
poor pat OF butter, milk fresh from
the COW, honey and bread, spread upon
snowy CLOTH"
Very satisfactory for the Arcadian
sly mans voice replied "I1l trouble
you iqr another biscuit my dear Stage
c.ac. riding has given me al appetite"
jhts hill country air would give any
taIng Al appetite. am glad that to NOR
rSw is Sunday, as we shall be obliged to
ativ over"
You can stay over, my dear; but am
obliged TO push on some miles further to
pace where i nave appointed to meet a
man on business. The landlord will fur
nish me with a horse and wagon, and
sbalireturn for you OF Monday. Youare
not afraid 70 be left sl0ne?"
" Afraid, in this house, Why, It is as
innocent rs Rssselas's Happy Valley
The landlord is honesty itself and his
wife bcneYo!enCc; while their daughter is
al the Christian graces combined.
Even If | were a nervous young woman,
could not fail to feel safe here"
They said no more, and. Hardy, who had
not even the most languid interest in them
or their affairs, soon forgot them alto
gether.
Ny hcro's sentimental reveries wers not
al nature sufficiently intense to Danish
slumber. He sept Ike a top, and was
wakened early by the village boys driy-
ing the CONS 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 hare footed drOvers,
and the VOCifeTOus barking of small dog
IN attendance, made q chorus which would
have walked the Seven Sleepers.
IS the morning wore on, the sound of
? thin, cracked bell, swinging high in the
wooden tower OF p queer, barn-lIke struc-
ture at The top Of hill not far away, an
nounccd the hour of worship; and in an
swer TO It's summons the dwellers In the
village and outlying farms began TO wend
Their way, az sober, Sunday pace, to
Il
meeting, too thought Hardy, aud i'm
medately took lis bat and went down.
At the door he found the landlord in
his shirt sleeves, sitting with his Chair
Lifted back against the wall, and his spec
taclcs on MS nose, reading the weekly pa
per. He brought his chair down with q
bump, and pulling OFT his glasses, in
qulrcd of his guest:
"GOin' 10 meetin' -
81 think shall DO yOu go, Sirs"
mo guess not, this mornin'. Drusilly,
my Garter, has gone, though. You 90
right into the meetin' house, and Deacon
GOldthwaite II show you my pew. He'll
know you're Stranger"
Hardy thanked him and walked away.
On reaching the church-door he found
that the deacon did seem to know at once
that he was a stranger, and to be shown
70 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
70 seat One other person air ady oc
cupied the head of the pew, and as Hardy
seated himself by the door he threw q
careless glance in that direction Per
haps mis- look expressed a shade OF the
surprise he felt, as he said 10 himself
Can this be the landlords daughter
'Drusillyf'"
The stranger appeared to be about
twenty, and had the unmistakable air o.
a lady. Hardy's critical eye noted ap
prOyingly 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 fell
sure they were gray. Her dress, too
suited perfectly his fastidious taste. Il
was all of some soft gray material, fashion
able in arrangement, but studiously plain
and everything, down to the very shade o
the isultless gloves, in perfect harmony
Hardy sat wondering who she could be
when he CHANGED to notice a green gauzs
veil that Law on the seat beside her. anl