The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-07-13
Popular Gales.
A DREADFUL MYSTERY.

Welchville was as pleasant little
village as you could find anyShero for
fifty miles, but for the unfortunate cir
eumstance that the people were cursed
with an iuordinatc curiosity.
II there was one person in the place
more deeply infected with tho disease
than another, it was Peter Wright.
Peter was an old bachelor. If he had
had a wife, sho would have kept him
straight, perhaps, but his sister Sally,
with whom he lived. rather pridod
herself on Brother Peters" talent for
investigating things.
Next TO Peter, Mrs. Jemima Briggs
carried oil the palm as a person of an
inquiring disposition.
She was the widow of Jacob Briggs;
respectable stone mason, who went
and hung himself one day to escape his
nightly curtain lectures.
Mrs. Briggs went into Grape and
bombazine heavily, and kept her weather
eye open for second husband. She
felt the need, she said, of having some.
body to find fault with, and she fixed
her mind on Peter Wright. But Petor
was little shy, and the widows course
Of true love did not seem TO run very
smoothly.
One day, early in March, Welchvillc
had a new sensation. A stranger, a
man whom none of the natives had ever
seen, moved into the old Swan House
at the foot Of the village, and it was
most unusual circumstance for any
stranger to come to Welchvillo to settle.
MIR. j. James was the name of the
newcomer; and he was a man of mid.
die ago, with long face, a sharp nose,
aud a little pair Of grey eyes, impcr.
fectly shaded with whitish eye elashes.
He was very taciturn, and seemed to
shun all his fellows. lie bought his
groceries in the city. He never smoked.
lie refused to take drink Of whiskey
with the landlord Of tho Red Pigeon.
He never went to church in the day.
time. Ho always put new ten cent
scrip In the poor-box. He wore striped
stockings. Hc kept his coat invariably
buttoned close. His two little fingers
turned up at the ends. He always went
to bed in the dark.
These things and various others, the
people had learned about him, and
taken altogether, they considered them
very remarkable and mysterious fats.
IL was supposed that ho had lami-
ly, but no one ever saw any of them,
and this was, in itself, very peculiar, to
say the least.
Figuratiyely speaking, Mr.. j. james
was in evcrybody's mouth. Many were
the tea drinkings, aud private iudigna.
tion meetings held in respect to him,
and at these gatherings tho most jealous
workers were always Peter Wright and
the widow Briggs.
Indeed, Mrs. Briggs went to unlimi.
ted expense Of suppers, and afternoon
teas, to discuss Mr. j. James aud his
affairs.
His walk, his manner, his very
cough, and the way he blew his nose.
came under discussion.
'Now," said Peter, sentcntiously.
Hdid ever any of ye sec him sueeze
There's something dreadful mysterious
in it The way he throws his head
back, and when he says ah oioo he
looks over his shoulder as if he was
Altered somebody had hcord him."
"Yes," said Mrs. Briggs, al have no
doubt but Mr. Wright is right. But
did ever you see him step over mud.
puddle2 It's wonderiul-wondcrlul
declare, couldn't hardly believe my
eyes! He went right through it ker.
plash And his boots just blackcd,
too I! It's my opinion that he has got
guilty conscience A man with a
Clean conscience could think something
about his boots p
-"He's dangerous character" said
Peter. "Thcre hain't no doubt of il.
Aud when | think Of the helpless wo-
men and children that arc unprotected
IN this place, it makes mc-ycs, il
makes me--that is to say, it makes INC
my triends-I am too full for wordslp
All the "friends" groaned in con
cert, and before the party broke up il
was unanimously decided that Mr.. j
James ought to bo looked after. Peter,
the widow Briggs aud Seth Watson