It was the afternoon of a bright October day. The old townclock had just tolled the hour of four, when the Lexingtonand Frankfort daily stage was heard rattling over the stonypavement in the small town of V——, Kentucky. In a fewmoments the four panting steeds were reined up before thedoor of The Eagle, the principal hotel in the place. "Minehost," a middle-aged, pleasant-looking man, came hustling outto inspect the newcomers, and calculate how many would dojustice to his beefsteaks, strong coffee, sweet potatoes andcorn cakes, which were being prepared in the kitchen by AuntEsther.
This good dame divided her time between squeezing thesteaks, turning the c