Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1875-09-22
Written for this Paper.l
Tried for Murder :, Or.
The Fatal Diary.
BIZ GEORGE f. FOGG.
By GEORGE +. FOGG.
CHAPTER I.


t Towards the close OF cold aud dis
nal day in Nov, 1856, a lumb9rsomc
ratlling old stage coach, drawn by
four iaded horses, drew up in front OF
the sod Red Inn" in Eyansdalp
Ohio and three male passengers aight
cd. Ofthpse one wa, a gentleman
evidently not more than one and twen
ty years OF age, possc3Sco Of q tall
graceful, commanding torm, and Of
features Ill which intellectual ability
vas prominently revealed. Their,
was also peculiar air Of refinement
atlabiIity and ease in his whole conlou
and department, which could hardly
have escaped the eye even Of the ordi-
nary observer.
Having given to the driver certain
directions concerning the disposition
Of his baggage the stranger was--to-
gether with his fellow trayelers-ush-
cred into the bar-room by the open
featured, gent'emanly proprietor,
where Il comfortable fire greeted them,
and to which they instinctivcly drew
up their seats. This room y6S n spa.
cions, old fashioned apartment, which
answered the triple purpose OF Il bar
room. post Office and country store, OH
It smal scale and being the only
place IN the ucighborho0d, that held
any pretensions to comycniracrs for
loafng respectfully at inclcment sea-
sons WIS, natural J enough, well pat
ronized by the latter very necessary
class OF individuals.
Among those who. on the partlru-
lar occasion referred to, were seated
around the room, was large man OF !!
somewhat tlorid complexion, and
Of noble and commanding presence,
eviden,l y a little past the meridian Of
| life : whose benevolent features were
Giomontarily passive to an expression
IN which curiosity, hope and perplexi-
ty apparently were blended, as, at +he
entrance cf the aforementioned slran-
ger he chauced 10 look up from the
newspaper he had been reading,
I The young man had taken such Il
position by the stove as brought him
nearly face 10 face with this old gcn-
tlemun, although a dozen feet, or
more, of space interviewed and had
you been present, to have noted tie
frequSnt and otJ prOtracted glances
which that person Ta.d tie you 9
man, and die constantly deepening
study which seemed to cnNrap his
mind. yon would have been induced,
quite naturally, TO believe that the old
/ gentleman had at lass fouud some
thread Of tAncy---a, il were which
| led away back, peichanc2 into the COL
don memories oi happier, brighter
days oul which he evidently fJuId
it not the most easy matter TO Olsen
tangIe.
His melitations were, at length,
interrupted by the landlord, who an
uounced "Supper.' At this announce,
ment the ranks Of the loaters were
materially depopuIated, who were
thus suddenly reminded that some
thing, in the shape Ola good, squar,
meal. awaited them at their several
homes. And Of the patrons and
guests of the Inu' those whose re.
cent arlivalby the old stage coach which
we have noted, were among the last
to enter the dining room, pausing as
they did so, to sbook" their names on
the register. The Young man when
| have already described to the reader,
was the last to register his name !;
and as he stepped up to do so, he laid
on the desk Il small pocket diary in
which he h1d just made few notes.
and which thel eater evidently escaped
his mind for the time, for he passed
on without recovering possession oft.
The old gentleman, who still sat be.
mind his newspaper, though manifest
ly less intent, inst at present, with Its
contents than with some other matter,
upon being left alone in the bar-room,
eagerly seized the diary, and resuming
his seat, proceeded carefully to exam,
Inc the name on the fly leaf, and which
he afterwards compared with that on
the register. "Sbange y he ejacu,
lated, after he had pondered overit for
moment. "Yet it cannot be he
No, of course it is only fancy And
yet. SO impress'ce, SO mysterious---
such remarkable coincidence, in
deed But why has he omitted the
place Of residence ? Il neither appears