"Gentlemen and ladies, said the lawyer to the shopkeepers, themillmen, and the factory girls, "I can assure you that someunaccountable mistake, or, more probably, a wilful falsehood,maliciously contrived to injure Mr. Higginbotham's credit, has excitedthis singular uproar. We passed through Kimballton at three o'clockthis morning, and most certainly should have been informed of themurder had any been perpetrated. But I have proof nearly as strongas Mr. Higginbotham's own oral testimony, in the negative. Here is anote relating to a suit of his in the Connecticut courts, which wasdelivered me from that gentleman himself. I find it dated at teno'clock last evening."So saying, the lawyer exhibited the date and signature of the note,which irrefragably proved, either that this perverse Mr.
Higginbotham was alive when he wrote it, or- as some deemed the moreprobable case, of two doubtful ones- that he was so absorbed inworldly business as to continue to transact it even after his death.
But unexpected evidence was forthcoming. The young lady, afterlistening to the pedlar's explanation, merely seized a moment tosmooth her gown and put her curls in order, and then appeared at thetavern door, making a modest signal to be heard.
"Good people," said she, "I am Mr. Higginbotham's niece."A wondering murmur passed through the crowd on beholding her sorosy and bright; that same unhappy niece, whom they had supposed, onthe authority of the Parker's Falls Gazette, to be lying at death'sdoor in a fainting fit. But some shrewd fellows had doubted all along,whether a young lady would be quite so desperate at the hanging of arich old uncle.
"You see," continued Miss Higginbotham, with a smile, "that thisstrange story is quite unfounded as to myself; and I believe I mayaffirm it to be equally so in regard to my dear uncle Higginbotham. Hehas the kindness to give me a home in his house, though I contributeto my own support by teaching a school. I left Kimballton this morningto spend the vacation of commencement week with a friend, about fivemiles from Parker's Falls. My generous uncle, when he heard me onthe stairs, called me to his bedside, and gave me two dollars andfifty cents to pay my stage fare, and another dollar for my extraexpenses. He then laid his pocket-book under his pillow, shook handswith me, and advised me to take some biscuit in my bag, instead ofbreakfasting on the road. I feel confident, therefore, that I leftmy beloved relative alive, and trust that I shall find him so on myreturn."The young lady courtesied at the close of her speech, which wasso sensible and well worded, and delivered with such grace andpropriety, that everybody thought her fit to be preceptress of thebest academy in the State. But a stranger would have supposed that Mr.
Higginbotham was an object of abhorrence at Parker's Falls, and that athanksgiving had been proclaimed for his murder; so excessive wasthe wrath of the inhabitants on learning their mistake. The millmenresolved to bestow public honors on Dominicus Pike, only hesitatingwhether to tar and feather him, ride him on a rail, or refresh himwith an ablution at the town pump, on the top of which he had declaredhimself the bearer of the news. The selectmen, by advice of thelawyer, spoke of prosecuting him for a misdemeanor, in circulatingunfounded reports, to the great disturbance of the peace of theCommonwealth. Nothing saved Dominicus, either from mob law or acourt of justice, but an eloquent appeal made by the young lady in hisbehalf. Addressing a few words of heartfelt gratitude to hisbenefactress, he mounted the green cart and rode out of town, undera discharge of artillery from the schoolboys, who found plenty ofammunition in the neighboring clay-pits and mud-holes. As he turnedhis head to exchange a farewell glance with Mr. Higginbotham'sniece, a ball, of the consistence of hasty pudding, hit him slap inthe mouth, giving him a most grim aspect. His whole person was sobespattered with the like filthy missiles, that he had almost a mindto ride back, and supplicate for the threatened ablution at the townpump; for, though not meant in kindness, it would now have been a deedof charity.
However, the sun shone bright on poor Dominicus, and the mud, anemblem of all stains of undeserved opprobrium, was easily brushedoff when dry. Being a funny rogue, his heart soon cheered up; norcould he refrain from a hearty laugh at the uproar which his story hadexcited. The handbills of the selectmen would cause the commitmentof all the vagabonds in the State; the paragraph in the Parker's FallsGazette would be reprinted from Maine to Florida, and perhaps forman item in the London newspapers; and many a miser would tremble forhis money bags and life, on learning the catastrophe of Mr.
Higginbotham. The pedlar meditated with much fervor on the charms ofthe young schoolmistress, and swore that Daniel Webster never spokenor looked so like an angel as Miss Higginbotham, while defendinghim from the wrathful populace at Parker's Falls.
Dominicus was now on the Kimballton turnpike, having all alongdetermined to visit that place, though business had drawn him out ofthe most direct road from Morristown. As he approached the scene ofthe supposed murder, he continued to revolve the circumstances inhis mind, and was astonished at the aspect which the whole caseassumed. Had nothing occurred to corroborate the story of the firsttraveller, it might now have been considered as a hoax; but the yellowman was evidently acquainted either with the report or the fact; andthere was a mystery in his dismayed and guilty look on beingabruptly questioned. When, to this singular combination ofincidents, it was added that the rumor tallied exactly with Mr.
