Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1858 — Original Tale. [ARTICLE]

Original Tale.

INKLINGS OF IBLEVILLE. WRI XT C R.ESBL Y TOR THE RENSSSI.iKR a A ZLTTE, BY QUIZ.’ ' (conclude*.) CHAPTER XXX. A young, unmarried man, with a good name And fortune, has an awkward part to play; .For good society is hut a gable, “The royal game or goose." as I may say, Where everybody has some separate aim, > An end to answer, or a plan to lay.—Dos Jcas The Tiext morning at ajn early hour the young man,-was traveling in a rail car toward the scene of - his *_arlv adventures. Though he could not get-within fifty miles of his dest4natioii__by ’tins | mode- of conveyance, yet even this shortening of the distance was a decided i'mpnpveinent, and he could not hut contrast itcAvitJi, that of a few years back, when he camcj jolting over the rough road, in a rickety cqaeh, to the metropolis llis situation, : compared to what it was at the time coaches were in vogue, and what he had gone through since the eventful day of his arrival, afforded subjects for contemplation, which occupied him till near the point where he must leave the cars and adopt the yellow, mud-stained vehicle, probably with its quartette of wind-broken quadrupeds and.drunken driver. The bell on the locomotive ringing, Reminded him he had arrived at the chafiging-place; and with his valise over his shoulder, he was standing, the next moment, on the platform at the station, watching the train as it was again set in motion. “Passengers for Idleville!” was the exclamation that first greeted his ears after the cars had started, and on looking from whence the voice proceeded, as though it was occustomed to the expression and couldn’t say anything else half so well, he observed the vehicle he was to occupy. As he approached it, he was joined by a gentleman who had also alighted from the train at the same time. ‘The stranger was rather he.yond the middle age, large in size arid richly, though plainly, dressed. His face was intellectual, somewhat bronzed, hut pleasant in expression. He saluted George {courteously, and the latter acknowledging 4t, the stranger ventured to ask him it he was going to Idleville, to whiqh the latter responding in the affirmative, the oilier continued:

“As we are bound for the same point, it would he more pleasant, perhaps, to be better acquainted. My name is Walters, sir.” There Was something'* in 'the plain, frank manner of our old acquaintance that won the-confidcnce of Master George immediately, which the blunt style of his introduction seemed to highten. Expressing his gratification at the proposition, the two shook hands and stepped into the coach. They were the only passengers, pnd the lumbering vehicle was immediately after lurching and jolting over the uneaven road. “This is an execrable mode of traveling,” exclaimed George, recovering himself the lap of his companion, where lie had been thrown in consequence of the f6re wheels sinking suddenly into a trench. “Not quite so smooth as sailing before a fair wind,” replied Mr. Walter* with a smile. ; I“You hear it with ah equinimity certainly commendable.” “And, if you take mv advjice, you’ll do the same now, and reserve yoitr maledictions; for, if curses are any relief to you, you’ll need them more after awhile,”

| “You have traveled this road before, then J” “I passed over it twiice several years ago, |and, if I remember rightly, it was mudh ‘worse as we neared Idleville.” ! “I passed over it myself, about twelve years since, but it did not seem so bad as now—there we go again,” he continued, ns the coach suddenly tilted and remained stationary, “Hallo, driver, what’s the matter now!” a$ jehu climbed flown from his perch ’*nd pul hi» iicad in at.the window. | “Only Broke down. I wish you’d get out |and help me fix a rail tej this hind axel.” ‘“Only broke down!’ Y r ou talk as if that were a common occurrence—we’ll comply with your request, however;” and he dis- | mounted, followed by Mr. Walters. After considerable swearing ion the part of the driver, and hard work by the two passengers, a rail was lashed to the axel, one end resting on the ground while the other sup- | ported the corner of the coach. Mr. Walt- ; ers kept himself in a good humor, and, not I to be out of fashion, Master George did the I same. j “I vie heard of men biting ridden.on a rail, I but never thought I should experience the unpleasant manner of transportation,” said the elder of the two, as. seating themselves, they were prepared for A more violent shaking than had been received previuusly—nor were they mistaken.

“The first , man I hejar complain of the I diapepsia, I ! ll recommend him to travel this way,” answered Georgb. “Do. you know how much further we have to no!” 1 : t? “About twenty miles; and you may think I yourself fortunate if you do not have to loot j part, of th,at.” « “And carry a pole to pry the coach out of ; the mud-holes, eh!” | “If it was Spring, ypu might, perhaps; j there has been but little rjtin of lute, I judge.” ! So, chatting of commion places, they cni deuvored to make toe ride as agreeable as i • ) ■ ithe circumstances would admit, and arrived almost in sight of the flown in high, good humor and on excellent terms, “The town can ’.m .syen from thq .:op oT j this bill wo are nearing.'? said Mr. Walters; :“suppose we get out and walk up?” | “With all my heart.! I'm, inclined to j think some one’s larder vtill be considerably I lightened of its content's before night,” con- | eluded the younger, following his companion into,the road. “I don’t know whether there is a good tavern in the town or no ;, at present; when I was here las’, there was one; but the landlord, poor iellow, died lbng since—or was killed rather.” “Killed! how!” By an accident, lie was coining Irons his daughter’s funeral, the horses took fright, and, running off, crushed the vehicle in which he rode, killing him, almost instantly.” "A sad affair, indeed; where did it happen !” “In , some ten yeajrs since.” “What took him so far from home as that!” Mr. Walters related, Ljriefly, the story of the old host and his child, concluding as they neared the summit oif the hill. “Who was the villain that had the conscience to break in upon the happy fireside so rudely? ’ inquired George, his heart heating with sympathy tor the unfortunates, and at the same time indignant at the originator of so much evil. “You may.well call him; a villain—he was a finished one—but Jie obtained his reward here. He went mad threjughthe weight of misery brought on by his misdeeds and died the inmate of an asylum, without a single friend to sootli his last moments by a word of comfort. Stop! look there!” exclaimed Mr. Walters, suddenly halting and pointing to an open space shaded by a few beech trees on the side of che road. “I see nothing hut a jjirl there,” replied the other; “nothing upCornmon. that you should start so. She has pretty curls; winder how her face looks? <she has her back to ,us. I’ll ” “Hush, man, for God’fe sake! Are you blind? look on the grass behind her; remain where you are, till I can in front of her; take this stick,” and the next moment Mr. Walters had run back borne distanco and struck into the woods-, while George stood gazing, first at the coil of a huge snake, not two feet from the unconjscjious girl, and then at the dark curls falling down beneath the. sun-bonnet. In a few mamehts ho saw Mr. Walters a few paces in front of hor. He spoke gently; she raisfld her head—the snake moved; George heard him tell her not to stir, and at the BBnic time saw him motion with his hand. The young man walked deli berat.-ly up to the reptile, which seemed to manifest no uneasiness at his approach, and struck it a heavy bliow with the cane. A few more strokes dispatched it; and then

he spoke to the female who had been regarding Mr. Walters the few seconds it required to perform the feat, in amazement. She turned round just as Master George dealt the final blow. “What did you do that for!” she exclaimed hastily, fixing her eyes, which the young gentleman thought particularly dark and brilliant, directly upon his own. ‘ What did I de it for?” he repeated, gazher in astonishment. “Why, if you hii <r ‘ moved ” “'lt would have come round to. me,” she answered, interrupting him. “Where are | your eyes; don’t 1 you see the string and ] stake it was fastened to? I wish— ’’ she stopped suddenly ind her face colored. “I mean, I beg youij pardon, sir, for being so precipitate; I did Pot think for the moa cut of the motive that prompted you in the act, i ot being aware olf my regard for the ieptile.” “I regret very much having deprived pou of so fascinating |a pet,” replied George, eyeing the female snake-fancier curiously, and unable to prevent a slight tone of irony creeping into his voice. “Do you not Consider such companions dangerous?” he continued, after a momentary pause, during which Mr. Walters had gazing inttntly into the young gjirl's face. “Not when their teeth are drawn.” “But we have evidence that their tongues are dangerous.”

j “Their tongues aire as blunt as your w t,” and the young lady turned away, noticing, for the- fir-t time, tlia close scrutiny of Mr. Walters. A blush suffused her cheeks, i.nd gathering up a quantity of wild flowers i he had been arranging, turned into a by-puth leading to the toy,'nj, with a numn»r so replete with dignity.that Master George felt, quite abashed. Hi* companion watched her till neatly out cl sijght, and would have remained longer, perhaps?, had hot jehu, who had arrived at the top of the hill with lis jaded team, called Dustily aider them. On a riving at tjhg end of jtheir journ ?y, George pul lip at the tavern, and Mr. VVt It J ets repaired to his sister’s. He had been made aware of Mr. Wise’s demise, by letter, and that was the principle causa of hiss ’eturn. Though he had attained 4 a position equal to that of his brother-in-law, in a pecuniary point of view, before the lat.ter’s death, he could not prevail upon himself to pay another visit tp Idleville, until niter ill possibility of their meeting had! been out off. The meeting betkvebn brother and sister happy one,, though iltere were a few sad thoughts to cjomrnunicate on her part, -sh.e found a sympathetic heart and good i|dviser to receive her grievances and sooth her mind. They were talking in the porch that run along the side of the house, when Mr. Walters saw thej young lady lie and lis friend hail encountered on the road, approaching them, with the flowers still in bohand, and her bonnet swinging from h!;r ; wrist. When he met heron the hill, tliejre was something fajrniliar to him in the expression of the dajrk eyes; he thought then it might he his niece, but she went away ho quickly and dignilipdly that he refrained from 1 saying aught, lest jie might be mistaken and offend. Ho was sure of it now, but said nothing-untii she came near the porch. As Edith recognized him, she stopped uml looked first at her irotheri and then at her uncle, f “Come, Edith, can’t you shake hands vvi|h j your old play-mate?” said he. smilingly, j She approached still nearer, and dropped her flowers. “I do believe it’? uncle Harry;” yet hesitatingly. The next moment, however, sijje had her arms-about his neck —there was rio mistaking it when lie held out his hands |o he A J “What’s become of your friend?” she inquired, after a little. “The Don QuixoteS” | “He’s at the tavjern —-only a fellow-pas?- i enger—do you want to see him?” “Not I; the horrid'fellow killed a fir|e specimen for me, amd I don’t wish to him any mure.” “He’s not a horrid fellow, by any means j” answered Mr. Walbcrs Vr _“On the contrary, I thought him handfeome. Besides; my pejt, I must hear a greater portion of the blame, having directed him! to kill it, while I- endeavored to keep you from moving, knowing that The moment you did so it would spring!’ “What did you say his name was!” “I didn’t say anything about his name.!” “Oh, I was mistaken then! What is it??’ “Crimple, I believe he told me.” “Crimple! that’s an admirable title. If I see him again I’ll call him Don!” “Then you think you’ll see him, do yojj?” “What a tease you are; if by accident I ' mean.” - j “Accident! oh, yes,‘l understand— cci-j dent!” “Uncle Harry, you are a plague, pokitivc-

: ly; k a ep your insinuations for those who deserve them.” “I have not insinuated anything.” j “One’s manner sometimes speaks more forcibly than words.” “Very well, I won’t say anything more about him. But tell me, how came this penchant for such odd pets?” ! “I will tell you,•come,” ar.d leading the way, she showed him to her apartment. CHAPTER XXXI. Manners with fortunes, humors turn with climes, Teuets witb-looks, aud principles with times. Pope. Oh! friends regretted, scenes forever dear, I Remembrance hails you with her warmest tear, Dropping, she bends o’er pensive Fancy’s urn To trace the hours which never can return. Byrox. In varioua parts of the foregoing pages we have alluded to a certain propensity existing in the disposition of most of those dwelling within the limits of Idleville. Not that this failing is peculiar alone to this particular town. It exists more or less in all communities; for there are those in all who are born, it would seem, with an innate prejudice against minding their own affairs; >vh:ch faculty, being cultivated from swaddling clothes to long gowns, attains something near perfection. In ldlevillc, however, this bent of mind seemed at a certain period to have reached the acme. So far did it go that the gossip-loving an! tale-bearing* portion of the comm..nity, not satisfied with their occasional congregations of two or three, or more, must adopt other me ms to facil tate the circulation of news, so this end; one of the most inveterate supporters of the system suggested the propriety of organizing a club, for the purpose of “social intercourse.” As this was exclusively for the males, the ladies, under the veil of charity, adopted “sewin? circles,” the benefits resulting therefrom to he so bestowed as would appear most advantageous in arriving at the end publicly proposed. Between these two hot-beds for the incubatiiig of mischief, the more peace-loving portion were at times sorely annoyed; and even tlie participants in the associations did not escape each other’s venorn. The effects at one time manifested a probability of terminating in a manner particularly detrimental to the pecuniary interests of many, and the votaries of fihickstone began to congratulate themselves in prospect of reaping a harvest whose gulden sheaves would prove as remunerative as speculation. Aflairs assuming such a threatening aspect, that the “sewing circle's” were suspended lor a time, and the members of the association of “congenial Spirits” dropped off one 1 by-one, till t|ie records alone remained to inform posterity, ii>it took enough interest in the matter, that such a body once existed. On the minute-book was afterward found the following report: “Mr. -President—Your committee, appointed to investigate the particulars of the matrimonial.affair which took place in our vicinity, have “attended to said business, and beg leave to report as follows: “On the 27th inst., a Mr. George Crimple, of S ,was united in marriage to the daughter of the lute laaiented Mr. Wise; that on said occasion, through one Henry Walters, uncle to the bride, a fortune —the exact amount of which we have been unable to learn, but presume to be large—was bestowed; that said George Crimple is an eminent lawyer of S , and possessor of considerable wealth, all of which is respectfully submitted,” &c. A little further below, upon the same page, appeared the following: “ Resolved, That the name of Ezekial Tibbs bo stricken from the roll, for reasons here set down: First, that owing to his extreme laziness, he i« negligent in the performance of his duties toward this association. Second, foWnon-paymeDt of duos, having possessed the requisite amount to liquidate his indebtedness upon several occasions, the sums being borrowed for that purpose.— Adopted.” “What a fall was there!” The man who had once stood so high in the estimation-of the idlers of Idleville, to be at length discarded as an unworthy associate of thosu ho had so long watched over with patronizing regard. Poor Tibbs! much injured individual as he deemed himself, had borne his misfortune—removal from office—with that dignity none other than a man of his lofty sentiments could put on. His sensitive heart could not brook pity, though he was aware that the world at large seldom sympathize with the unfortunate; and he determined to remove. Some malicious idler insinuated, a for ward, that Mr. Tibbs had fo'und Idleville too contiacted a field, for the exercise of his surperior abilities. Be that, as it may, he borrowed till he could

borrow no more. His “occupation being gone,” his credit followed it in the same path; and it was thought, upon his suddenly absconding, that he had migrated to a more appreciative community. His doparture, though a gratification to his landlord, also caused regret that he aver had admitted him to his house. It was eventually ascertained that Mr. Tibbs found a resting-place among strangers; and that he ever labored” under the conviction that town corporations, as well a» “republic, are ungrateful.” Here endeth the Inkling# of Idleville; no myth, though the name be fictitious. 4 Nothing there is hut contains some virtfjjigs some redeeming quality to contrast with'we evil and make it less dark. So with Idleville; though fhany evils existed therein, and so continue, perhaps, it possessed commendable points. To the writer, particularly, the remembrance of a brief sojourn within its precincts i 9 replete with pleasantness. The name recalls scenes, though enacted long ago, that have lost none of their freshness by the lapse of time. Familiar faces pass in review before the mind, gentle look# and kind words, that remain indelibly stamped upon memory’s tablets, and serve to make up one of those bright spots of sunshine in the changing pathway of life, that we look back upon with emotions of pleasure. More worthy are these recolleetien# to he cherished, lest the fair faces may ne’er lie seen again, or the silvery accents he&r.d. The exd. CO”When a Black Republican tails you that the people of Kansas are denied lb# right of voting on the Lecompton Constitution under the English bill, just read to him the following extract of the bill: “Should a majority of the vote# cast be for “proposition rejected?* k shall be deem*d and held that the people of Kansas do not desire admission into the Union with said constitution.”— Leco-mpton papers.

The bogis stop too short in their quotation from Lecompton, Junior. To give a fair reading, they should proceed to state the penalty for voting "proposition rejected.” The devil can quote scripture to suit his purpose, these fellows ctfn quote Lecompton, Junior, to suit the most opposite views. The bill, from where the quotation of the doughfaces ends, reads; “And in the event [proposition reject] the people of said Territory are hereby empowered to form a constitution and State governmentj-.by the name of the State of Kansas, according to the federal constitution and may elect delegates for that purpose whenever , and not before, it is ascertained by a census duly and legally taken, that the population of said Territory equpls the ratio of representation required for a member of the House of Representatives of the United States.’” r Minnesota has been admitted into the ths Union with less than fifty thouaand. Oregon will probably jbe admitted during the session of Congress with the same number of people. Lecompton, Junior, proposes to admit Kansas with forty thousand people, if they will come in as a slave State. If “proposition is rejected,” she must wait until there are in that Territory 90,000 or 12,000 inhabitants. The pro-slavery papers South state the question in this way: Y’ou people of Kansas may vote whether you will come into the Union a slave State or stay out with slavery in the Territory. The highwayman gives equality as fair a vote to his victim when he presents a piatol at his hoad and demands “your money or your life.” Vote as the people of Kansas will, slavery will be fastened upon them by the Buchanan party: they will not be allowed to strike for themselves. A slave State or a slave Territory are the only alternatives, unless they act in “obedience to God”—resist tyranny, even as the men of ’76 did.— Madison Coupler. oO"The bones of Ethan Allen have been stolen; perhaps his skeleton even now graces the dissecting room of some surgical vandal. At all events it is not in the grtve. A thorough search to the depth of six or eight feet ha* been made in all parts of ths family lot at Burlington, Vermont, where his tombstone stood, and not a sigu of human remains can be found. In consequence, the the contemplated monument to his memory has been indefinitely postponed, and there Is great excitement In Burlington.— Tokfb Times. Mortnan war has already cost the Government the enormous sum of $10,000,000. The estimates for the three volunteer regiments, as proportioned by the War Department, amounts to $4,500,000 per annum. The present administration bids fair to cost the Government mors than thbso of any six that have precoded it. Fo much for Democratic economy.