The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-08-27

Ing such incossant changes n other |
parts az this restloss country sweeps By |
fhis spot unobsorved. The foreign |
customs which become intermin9led |
with our own In the influx % civilixa-
ton have not disturbed this quiet pool, |
which has grown clearer and brighter |
by revolving around upon itself while |
torrents and tides went kissing and
rolling BY. Il scarcely heard the thun- |
dcrs q civil war, and the cloud 81 de- |
struction never dimmed IL serene sky.
BY far the most important building
In the valley was the sch0ol-house. lt
stood about : mile from the village
upon slight elevation In the edge Of
the wood facing 70 the east 10 the
west the land gradually sloped away
into deep holloWs, and shattered hills
which gradually grew deeper and
higher. until they became the gorges
and mountain peaks which Enclosed
the valley. There was wall Of clear
white stone inclcsing the yard Of the
school-house. Win gate and long line
Of hitch racks for the horses 10 be
hitched. for the school-house was used
for al great occasions or church pur-
poses
In this valley there came about the
year 1922 man calling himself Peter
Stewart Ney He was tall. muscular
man with black eyes and hair streaked
with gray. and possessed tine military
bearing. He spoke French well, and
English brokenly yet distinctly and
was skilled In the use Of the sword and
all war-like weapons. TO those rcsid-
ing In the valley now who remember
him. he was declared to be an extra
ordinary man. lie was man OF such
wonderful magnetism as to inspire the
love, fear and admiration of all who
came in contact with him. just when
or how he came TO the village Of
Mocksville no one can exactly deter
mine. An old lady well gifted in ro-
mances and versed in history ct once
declared him to be some king who had
been forced TO abdicate his throne, and
had come to the valley in search
Of place Of safety. The story at
the time doubtless gained
some credence. for the tall dark
frenchman was very reticent as 70 bis
past history. To all inquiries q to
| who he was. he answered he was Peter
s. Ney. Frenchman. He did not re-
main at Mocksville long, but giving
evidence Of sufficient educationto en-
| able him to open and carry on school
| for boys, he was soon engaged in the
| school-house in the valley, which We
have mention. His ability as q teacher
was never equaled in those parts. and
he commanded the respect and gained
| the love Of his pupils to an eminent de-
gree.
Monsieur New. as he insisted on be-
ing called by every one. did not linger
about Mocksville Or any Of the towns
beyond the mountains He preferred
| the quiet home Of farmer Houston. and
| for many years lived there as one OF
| the inmates. The active imaginations
Of the inhabitants Of the valley were at
once set to work to conjecture rather
than ferret out tie mystery Of the
school-master The old crone Of the
roadside hut was more certain than
ever that her theory was true in regard
to his being an escaped monarch. The
school-master was silent to all queries
as to his past history; he simply re
spondcd that he was from France and
had given his correct name. His lug
gage, which by some strange unac-
countabic means had been transported
to Mocksville, had st the time excited
much attention. 1t consisted Of two
large hair trunks, and some said
they contained Internal machines
with which the entire valley
could be destroyed, others that
they had books Of forbidden
lore on the black art The trunks dis
appeared into the home o. Mr. Hous-
ton, and comment on them soon AZ y
ceased The tall dark Frenchman was
sometimes talkative and even gay. but
his usual disposition was grave and y
lent
Occasionally when he went 70 Mocks'
vile. which was seldom, ne drank toe
much, and bis tongue was LET loose. 4
was then he narrated stories Of the
grand army, the march from Moscow
ana Napoleon ? gsi'antry ana skill
when drew crows "a wondering vi
iagers ABOUT him. ne sPoke ~ sucn
heightened coiors q me Imperial CITY
o. MOSCOW IN flames ana gave sucl
VIVID scenes o. sunering ana dar'nl
"a me army mat those ABOUT MIN wers
constrained 20 say; VINO are your