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Page 19
As the eyes of the new comer, after closely scanning Reynolds, rested
for the first time upon Ella, there flashed across his ugly features an
expression of admiration and surprise--while the look of suspicion which
he had previously exhibited, seemed entirely to disappear. Turning to
the young man, who on his appearance had risen from his seat, and now
stood as if waiting to know his commands, in a voice evidently much
softened from its usual tones, but still by no means pleasant and
harmonious, he said:
"Will you be kind enough to inform me, sir, to whom this dwelling
belongs?"
"It is owned, I believe, by one Benjamin Younker," answered Algernon, in
a cavalier manner, still eyeing the other closely.
"May I ask his occupation?"
"He is a farmer, sir--a tiller of the soil."
"Will you favor me with a description of his personal appearance?"
"I can do so," replied Algernon, somewhat surprised at the question,
"provided I know the motive of inquiry to be a good one."
"It is no other, I assure you," returned the stranger. "It was simply
prompted by curiosity."
"Well, then, the individual in question is a man who has seen more than
fifty years--is tall, raw-boned, muscular, has a stoop in the shoulder,
a long, thin face, small eyes, and hair slightly gray."
"Has he any sons?" inquired the stranger.
"One, a youth of twenty, who bears a strong resemblance to his father."
"Daughters?"
"He has no other child."
"Then this young lady"--slightly bowing to Ella.
"Is a more distant relation--a niece," answered Ella, rising as she
spoke and disappearing from his sight.
"A beautiful creature!" said the stranger, musingly, as if to
himself--"a beautiful creature! Pardon me," added he, again addressing
Algernon; "but may I inquire concerning yourself?"
"I am a guest here, sir."
"Aha--yes; a hunter I presume?"
"I sometimes hunt."
"Pardon me again--but are there more indwellers here than you have
mentioned?"
"One, sir--the good dame of the cottage."
For a moment or two the stranger mused, as if running over in his mind
all that had been said; and then observed:
"Doubtless you think me very inquisitive; but I had a reason for all my
questions; and I thank you sincerely, sir, for your prompt replies. It
is now growing late; the sun will presently be down; and as I am a
traveler--a stranger in this region--I would rather not pursue my
journey further, providing I could be entertained here for the night."
"As to that, I am unable to answer," said Algernon; "but if you will
step within, I will make the necessary inquiries."
"Thank you," replied the stranger, with a show of cordiality; "thank
you;" and he immediately entered the cottage.
Those days, as before said, were the good old days of hospitality--and,
as far as population went, of social intercourse also--when every man's
cabin was the stranger's home, and every neighbor every neighbor's
friend. There were no distinct grades of society then as now, from which
an honest individual of moral worth must be excluded because of
poverty--a good character for upright dealing being the standard by
which all were judged; and whoever possessed this, could rank equally
with the best, though poor as the beggar Lazarus. Doubtless intellect
and education then, as well as at the present day, held in many things a
superiority over imbecility and ignorance; but there were no distinct
lines of demarcation drawn; and in the ordinary routine of intercourse
one with another, there was no superiority claimed, and none
acknowledged. And this arose, probably, from the necessity each felt
for there being a general unity--a general blending together of all
qualifications, as it were, into one body politic--by which each
individual became an individual member of the whole, perfect in his
place, and capable of supplying what another might chance to need; as
the man of education might be puny in stature and deficient of a strong
arm; the man of strong arm deficient in education; the imbecile man
might be a superior woodman--the man of intellect an inferior one:--so
that, as before remarked, each of these qualities, being essential to
perfect the whole, each one of course was called upon to exercise his
peculiar talent, and take his position on an equality with his neighbor.
There has been great change in society since then; those days of simple
equality have gone forever; but we question if the present race, with
all their privileges, with all their security, with all their means of
enjoyment, are as happy as those noble old pioneers, with all their
necessities, with all their dangers, with all their sufferings.
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