Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1885-07-30
MYSTERY OF EASTHAMPTON.
A. A. Hayes, in Harper.s Magazine.

A. A. Hayes, in Harper's Magazine.
The time has come when I am at
liberty to make public one of the
strangest stories ever given to the
world-a story so strange and so ro-
mantle that if it were not absolutely
true it would be pronounced unlikely
to the verge of impossibility. Its
most minute details have been known
to me for more than four years, but
for several reasons it has not been
permitted me until now to narrate
them.
1t was April, 1910, forty-five years
ago. 1t was six years before the
Mexican War. Where San Francisco,
with its $4,000 inhabitants, now
stands, was then, and for nine years
later, the little Mexican settlement of
isTftba Buena, whittier a young man
who wrote 1too Years bejo.e' 10 Mast
went in a Boston ship for hides.
Denver, with its $4,000 Inhabitants,
was founded nineteen years after.
We SNAKE history" so fast in this
country that forty-five years with us
count for more, indeed, in the worlds
progress ethan cycle of Cathay."
In this sleepy corner of Long Island,
however, there has been precious lit
tie change for the better, and East
hampton was more important place
than now in this month of April
aforesaid. 1t was perhaps on just
such day as this-the sea as blue,
the air as clear, the sails of the old
windmills as aetive-that a high
bred, dignified gentleman, about fifty
year of age, walked up to the little
inn, followed by an attendant.
In pleasant voice, and with a
Scotch accent, he asked if he could
have accommodations. The landlord
looked at him with a certain hesita-
ton.
'1s that man your sesyant?" he
asked.
''He is" was the reply.
"Well, he must eat at the same
table with YOU
II shall conform to your customs
and regulations was the smiling
answer.
For five long years did this courtly
gentleman sleep in the cramped
chambers, breakfast, dine, and sup
at the frugal board of this humble
hostelry. Then he became an inmate,
fortunate enough he was to find such
good friends, of the home of the
Huntington family, and in that sub
stantial house (it is the fourth from
the old Presbyterian church, going
south) he spent about twenty-five
years more. He was a man of mark
ed piety and benevolence, of charm
ing manners and address, of extreme
culture, of rare social qualities. He
had been the friend and associate of
Jeffrey and the literary giants of his
day. He had ample means and re-
mittances came to Linn through a
chain of banks, ending in a we'll
known New York house, who denied
any knowledge of his personality or
belongings.
He led blameless, a lovely life, in
this quiet town. He was the friend
of all, the comforter of the afflicted,
the helper of the needy. Books and
magazines in large store came to him.
He versified the Psalms, and taught
Latin to the boys. A blameless and
lovely life indeed; but q martyrdom,
a living death, one would have said,
to a man of his tastes and antece-
dents. Think of 1t! He remained an
exile in this town for nearly thirty
one years-from early in his fiftieth
to the end of his eighty-frst year.
In all this time he never saw the face
Of relative or an old friend. He
went at first on Sundays to the Epis-
-copal church at Sag Harbor, seven
miles distant, but he was instrument
tai in the building of the little one in
Easthampton which we just passed;
he contributed largely to its support,
and he was made a lay reader, and
for long time conducted the seryi-
ces himself. With the exception of
this church-going at Sag Harbor, the
only time in thirty-one years that this
remarkable man passed the limits of
the little village was on the occasion
OF single trip to Southampton, 12
miles distant. The servant, a Scotch
valet, went to the West and married.
He made his appearance at intervals.