St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-03-05
An Agents Story.


A storm was raging without, and a
company of us had collected in the old
inn for shelter and nights lodging.
There were six in all-twO drovers, one
agent, two travellers and myself, an az
tist who was roaming about for sketch
es in this picturesque region. The wind
and rain were accompanied by vivid
flashes of lightning and deafening blasts
of thunder. The old inn shook and
shook again, aud the rickety windows
ratified as if with ague.
Those who have been there know
that strangers who meet under these
circumstances are like soldiers in war !;
they soon become as acquaintances of
long standing. 1t was so with us on
that memorable night. A few words
had been exchanged, but now that the
storm had increased to violence that
was appalling, we felt drawn together
as a soldiers mess, and it wasn't long
before two or three had told incidents
in their lives that this tempest recalled.
1t came the agents turn to tell story,
and after brief pause he said:
"Gentleman, | am reminded of an in
cident that happened within so miles
of this place, some five years ago, l
think. / should term it an adventure,
for such it was, and it happened in an
old inn on a stormy night"
"Let's US have it, by all means," said
one of the drOvers.
"An inn adventure is always worth
listening to-" added one of the travel
ers.
At this moment tall man entered
the room from the outer porch, who at
tracted our attention only as he wore
blue glasses and was an addition to our
company. A heavy beard covered well
his face, and his body had a slight
| stOop, as one of studious habits. He
threw off his waterproof evercoat, which
all such men carry in travelling all the
year round, and signifying in rather a
high voice that he did not wish to in
terrupt us, silently drank a glass of ale
at the bar, near one of the travellers
the one who had just spoken. The
agent began his story.
"Well, gentlemen this was some five
years ago, as have told you, and il
was in an inn about so miles north OF
this place. l had been ont on some
business of my agency, and was over
taken by storm. 1t was wild coun-
try, but as luck would have it, soor
reached an inn as old as this, but more
dilapidated."
The landlord grimly smiled from the
bar in appreciation of the compliment
of the agent. Just then a flash of light
ming blinded us all, and crash o.
thunder lifted us to our feet, but a.
there was no sign of damage we re-
sumed our seats, and the agent con
tinued the story. The new conner will
the blue glasses had changed his place
so that he was further removed from
the narrator. l saw a pair of sharl
gray eyes glance from the spectacles
but paid no attention to it.
"At the door of this inn raped will
my hickory cane," continued the agent
''and it was opened by tall man, wh,
attracted my attention at once by hi
large hands, and scar on his cheek
which gave to his face very singnla
aspect. In response to an invitation
delivered in deep, bass voice, enter
ed and sat down by the fire to dry M,
clothing. A crooked old crone, VIII,
seemed to play the part of house keepe
in the inn, was all the living thing
saw, beside the inn-keeper, that night