The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-12-10


season, for my wife and family, TO whom /
used to run down from London every week !.
| was returning to the city by an evening
train soon afterwards, for which the poor
voyageurs from France were, as usual, not
in time, in consequence OF the delays at the
Custom House, when heard my travelling
friends voice outside the window, and in
stantly looked forth to welcome him in
Somehow or other, however, he had disap-
peared at that very instant, and I seemed
doomed to ride the whole way to London in
company Of solitary stranger, who enter
ed at the opened door instead. He was big
enough for tive, indeed, but sIngularly un-
Communicative, replying TO the few civil.
+ ties which | ventufed upon, in gruff mono.
syllubles; and, coling himself up in a cor.
ner, with his cap over his eyes, in the man.
ner Of thetrue passenger rufian. Still,
could not help thinking, that at some time
and place, both forgotten, had seen this
man, and spoken to him before; the remem-
.brance of him was like one Of those mystic
rious experiences which we all have ofhav.
ing previously witnessed some passing
scene, which our mortal eyes can never in
reality have beheld; but indistinct as this
was, it was strong enough to drive all
thoughts from my mind, except the absorb
ing one, "To whom is he like! and where.
have met this sulky fellow bcfore."
Presently, however, my mind reverted to
the voice had heard at starting, and imme-
diately this idea combined with it, and
said to myself:
"Why, it is MIR. Settler himself, to whom
the man is somehow like, after ALL"
True, my old acquaintance was aspare
man, and this person stout even to obesi-
ty. The former had voice especially
pleasing, and the latter a grunt that could
scarcely be reckoned human; that aconvi.
vial visage, and this face flom which ILL
health aud ll.humor together had expelled
every trace of jollity. Still, having ac.
quired my idea with SO much trouble, i was
not the man to let it easily go aSain, but
fattcred and nourished it in my mind, until
it grew larger and stronger, and ut last shot
up into the full belief that this uncommuni-
cative stranger was not only like Mr. Set.
tier, but was MIR. Settler himself. No 9TH
er than he, now felt persuaded, coa Id have
presented himself at the carriage window,
SO imme mediately after my hearing his voice
close beside it. .......... ...
'"Sir," said l, composing myself in my
corner, as If to sleep, 81 should like to know
how long | may hope to restmyseit. viii
you kindly favor me with the time!"
shot through MY fingers an eager glance
as the stout gentleman pulled his watch
out, with an expression Of impotence at be-
ing reused. My scheme had succeeded;
my suspicious. were confirmed. 1t was the
old Geneva watch with the turquoise fig
ureS. l.-. aE ..ass .- .EH
"Mr. Settler" said I, quietly, "why do
you wish to cut my acquaintance"
"Why, the fact is" replied he, ia his nat
ural frank voice, and not without touch of
pathos in it, II am SO i'll, and such an OBJ
jcct. that um positively ashamed to be re-
cognizeG; do you observe how tremendously
stout have grown?" ri ~ Ha p.
ia "Of course do" said I;"it would be ri.
diculous to pretend otherwise; why you are
three times your usual size at the very
leest4" '....s.- ..a q. l..
"There is no need to exaggerute, good
ness Knows" rejoined he, gravely;"a man
with such dropsy as this is no fit subject
for joking" ss...
My old acquaintance indeed exhibited so
much acrimony and bad humor that | was
sorry Ispoke to him at all, and felt cutie
relieved when, Wheeling and grumbling to
the last, he parted company from me ut the
terminus. On the next Saturday again
went down to Pover, and only reached the
station just in time to hit the train, /,
therefore, threw myself into the nearest
first. class carriage, and was off before /
ever looked to see who was my companion.
"How are you, my boy!" cried Mr.. Set
tier, for he it was, spare and hearty as ever.
81 am afraid was rather cross with you the
other day." ~ t~@ ."N
"Cross!" soid l a little grimly. "is not
the word for it; you were bear Of the first
water; and, by.the-by. what has become Of
your dropsy"a. o aagsb boi #s' y"a g
"Well." rejoined he, 81 have been tap
ped since saw you"
"Tappedr' cried /, laughing, "why you
have been Enthusiastically III ai
aYes," answered Mr.. Settler evasvely,
81 dare say ii seems so. am subject to
these attacks. They're hereditary. Have
you seen to.day's paper!" 4 ii
So we turned the conversation to other
subjects, and spent the time between Lon.
don and Chokestone as pleasantly as usual
A month elapsed and then ! met my
friend once more in the up express, going to
town for the best advice, he said, and stoutei
than ever. However. he wac very good hd'
mored this time, observing that he was no
! going to suffer the disease TO prey upon hi
spirits any longeri only from his late voy
age and its Accompaniment be YVES really
/ yery exhausted, and presently fell asleep