The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-07-04
THE OLD BELL TAVERN.


known as Bells Tavern. Nothing bu
ragged ruins Of heavy stone. slowly
crumbling in spacious yard thickly
set with venerable trees, now remain
OF that once celebrated stage stand
What famous people have gathered
about the great log fire in the mair
sitting-room OF Bells Tavern. Henri,
Clay entertained many n company
there, and old Tom Marshall, half full
of liquor. and wholly full Of wit and
eloquence, was frequent guest.
In those days the stage coach, In
communities remote from waterways,
was the great agent OF civilization, and
the governor of state, while he nigh,
have been admired for his manly vir-
tues, could not hope to rival the stage
driver. The driver may have been q
man OF no education, may have been
surly in disposition and boorish In
manner, but he was surely the greatest
individual that stopped mt Bells Tavern.
The most pronounced type Of driver
was 10 Hatton. There was always a
crowd to greet him when he arrived.
People that were eager to hear from
the outside world would gather about
the coach when 1t drew up, and would
ply 10 with questions. but he disdained
any answer until he had gone into the
bar-room and taken drink. There
was no man too proud to take the hand
full OF lines that 10 threw to him. II
vas an honor TO catch the reins, and
1t was said, though of course cannot
vouch for its truth, that Henry Clay
used to shove himself forward to dis
charge this envied office.
One evening, many years ago, a
bright company was gathered about
the famous fireplace. There was Hem
ry Clay, who having come from great
convention held at Nashville, had
stopped mt the tavern to rest before
going on to his home; there was Tom
Marshall, who was on his way to at
tend murder trial in the southern
part OF the state; and among the rest,
and not an unimportant factor, either,
was Miss Levenia Moss niece of old
man Bell. girl who had charmed
Washington society with her beauty
and wit There was also present n
young lawyer named Green, devoted
admirer OF Miss Moss.
II wonder what can be keeping 10
Hatton SO long this EVENING"" said old
man Bell. 1T is after eight and he
ought to have been here by seven"
IL reckon it's because the roads are
so bad" Green answered.
The turnpike is never bad. replied
Bell. There's not street in Louis
vile as good"
Old.Tom Marshall was doing. The
old fellow had INDUCED freely in apple
brandy and, having poured out his
eloquence, was now resting. Clay, to
the annoyance of Green, was paying
compliments to Miss Moss. II am
anxious to know what's going on"
said Bell. Il can't get along without
news"
WELL" responded Green 'we'll
have news after while for / hear
that the young fellow that wrote Mr..
Clay's life is going to edit news
paper. Oh, tell you when you'll get
news, Mr.. Bell"
.Whenp"
) why, when they put up that tele-
graph line. You won't have to wait
for stage driver then"
The old man grunted contempt
uously. Telegraph line," he repeat
ed. .Fll bet ten dollars that l can
walk and carry letter from here to
Louisville quicker than that thing can.
How the deuce are they going to shove
letter along a wire without wearing
It outp Doa's talk to me about no such
fool thing. There's the stage horn"
The company ran out to the front
gate. Tie night was cool and crisp,
and the echo Of the horn rolled far
away down the valley. The young
lawyer caught the lines when the stage
drew up Whats the newsp" they
all began to cry. 10 did not answer,
but leaping to the ground went into
the bar room. He was eagerly watched
as he stood. stirring his hot toddy.
Tom Marshall was now wide awake.
whats the news belowP" he asked.
'.Oh, nothin' OF much account. ]
reckon you all heard about the Cogs-
well murder down yanderp"
Yes, we have heard of that, but we
nave uOt ueuru JudJ tuc Hiurucrcr huS
been caught"
He hasn't been. It was this er
way: This Teller Donnell-you all
know him, lived down in this neigh
borhood an tended crap OF con fur
old man Mumford last year"
Il know him as well as l do any
body" said old man Bell. Heavy set
black eved felloxv ~
Yes, that's him. Well, you see,
he went to live with his grandmother,
old Miz. Porter. She was thrifty old
soul as ever lived, and after her hus-
bands death, she wanted Donnell to
come down and crap 1t with her. Well,
he hadn't been there long till he found
out some way that the old woman had
a lot of gold, but he couldn't find out
where she kept It. Finally he diskiv-
cred that she had IL in old stoclsin',
but 10 save him he couldn't find out
what she did with 1t in the day time
He worried along this way for some
time, and at last he was determined TO
have that money whuther or no; 80