The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-01-31
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LEGEND OF THE TSuAMA HOUSE
CHAPTER |.
By JOI% PII0E ESIN.

NltNi i.k l.
1t WAS cvcming ut the Trha,ra. The
ai,ntlecarv. whose shop formed the south
eastern corner o: ,lla, c'li!icr, had lighted
his lamps, which, shining through thoS"
large glass bottles in the window. filled with
rel and blue liquors, once supposed l,y this
author. when young and innocent, to h:.
medicine OF the most potent description Ii,
up the faces of the p:ss>rrS, hy with an un-
earthly glare, AMI exaggerated the general
rcdn"Ss aud llncnr>s "f their noses. Within
the Office the hands of the octa~onn, clock.
wliici, looked rs touy!, it had been thrown
against the wall in Il moist state anil stuck
there, pointed to the hour Of eight The
apartment was nearly deserted. Frin!l, '';llc
courteous and grn;rmnnly manager" and
the Mayor, hnh gone L" tie ,lratrr having
season tickets, they !rl, themselves f,rc,,! TO
attend, aud never missed Il pcr::,rnanrc.--
The coal fire in the off, Sieve yowc,l with
n hosri!ablc warmth, emitting gentle
murmur OF welcome TO the expected way
tarcrs by the Sacramento boats. interrupted
only hy an occasional dvprccatrry hiss,
when irsultcd 10y stream of tobacco i,licc.
Overcoats hun. about The walls, still moist
with recent showers; umbrellas rcr,inc,l H.
z'!y i'll corners; spt'nors stood about the
floor, the whole ,liilu>ing that namc!rss o,lor
80 fascinating to the married man, who, ci-
gar in mouth and lio: whisky punch II: cl-
bow, Sits nightly until twelve O'clock in the
enjoyment of it, willie the wife or his bo-
som, i'll their comfortable home on Powell
street, wonders ut his a',sc;,c, and uniustIy
curses the know-Noihing> or the Free and
Accepted Masonic Fraternity.
Behind the Office desk, pcrchc,l on n high
thrce-lrgyrd stool, his head supported by
both hands, the youthful bat literary John
Duncan was deeply engaged in the exciting
pcrusal Of the last yc!low-covcrcd novel
Blood for Blood, or the infatuated Dog"
lie knew that, in Il few moments, eighty
four gentlemen, in hot haste" would call
to inquire whether the member of Congress
what the "robbcr chiciain" did will, the
Lady Maudc Alcynr," before the arrival
Of the Sacramento boat. The only other
occupant of the Office was short, fcsIv
gentleman, with white hat, dark green
coat with brass buttons, drab pantaloons.
short punrhy little boots and gaiters.
These circumstances might he noted as
he stood with his back to the door, gazing
intently upon one Of those elaborate works
of art with which the spirited proprietor
mas lately seen fit to a,lorn the walls Of the
Tehama. 1t represented lady in ball
dress, seated on the back of large dray
horse, (at least eighteen han.ls high,) and
holding parrot on her right forcfugcr,
while at her feet knclt man in the stage
dress of Mcrcutio, doing something wit,
FIVE or six other parrots. The piece was
called Hawking" had fine gilt frame and
glass, and, in certain lights, answered the
purpose Of mirror, and was therefore n
very pretty object to gaze upon. In fact,
suo ohotVs etouI SehlieiiItu WIZ adjusting
his shirt collar, which was of prodigious
height, and had pcrverse inclination to
turn down on one side 10y its reflection.
AS he turned from this employment, he
exhibited one of the most curious faces il is
possible to conceive. Unlike most fat men,
whose little eyes, round, red checks, wart-
like noses and double chins, convey but lit
tie meaning or expression, this gentlcman's
face was oH expression. He wore con-
slant look Of the most intense curiosity.-
Hnqus't'vcness sat upon every lineamcnt of
9ls counte"ancc. His small, green eyes,
frotruding from his head, surmounted by
Thin but well defined and very curvilincar
I eyebrows, looked like two notes Of interro-
CATION; his nose, though small, was sharp
at the end like gimlet. and his little round
mouth WAS constantly purscd up into an cx-