The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-11-04

iOotJ anu lnen Iolu me mat mlgnk come IN
II I liked, but would find his sccommoda-
tions of the poorest quality. OF that l felt
pursuaded already, but had not the slight
est idea OF refusing his invitation, and lest
be might take q notion to repent oft, I shot
through the door with oil possible expedi-
ton.
Inside wss tall, dark.browned woman,
built very much after the same pattern As the
man, and evidently bis wife. Both Of them
looked to be over sixty years Of age. The
woman nodded, without saying q word, and
then pointed to rickety old chair, in which
| was glad enough to seat myself.
The house and furniture were much like
those OF the French peasants generally but
the sour-looking, taciturn occupants of the
place were as unlike the jolly, good.natured
talkative rustics had been in the habit Of
seeing in my travels, as could well be ina.
gined. Hoping that their reserve would
wear off, ratified away upon all sorts OF top.
les did my best to arouse their curiosity
on undertaking in which l had never as yet
failed in the cot Of a French peasant-but
all in vain.
The longer l stayed the worse was sat
isfed with the place and the people, and I
began to have very serious doubts whether it
would not have been better to have trusted
myself to the tender mercies of the open
heath. 1t would have been unpleasant
enough to have been cooped up anywhere
with two such hang dog looking mortals /;
but on this wild, solitary spot, many miles
away from any human hobitation. the un-
pleasantness might we'll be excused for de-.
generating into absolute anxiety.
1t turned out, however, that the supper
which they set before the was by no means
bad one, and its discussion had decided
tendency to raise my spirltsj thotgh ! fel,
several times vague disposition to ask my
self the question whether the supper. under
the circumstances, was not rather too good
to be altogether an honest one.
When ones gastric apparatus Is highly
strung by exercise, really good meal has
wonderfully fortfying effect. l found i,
SO in this instance. Ny misgivings disap.
peared, one by one, and by the time l was
ready for bed was ready to laugh to scorn
all my foolish suspicious os mere baseless
nonentities, engendered by irritated corns,
aching legs, and an empty stomach.
was shown up dilopidated staircase in.
to bedroom over that in which had sup.
ped. 1t contained two beds, one OF which
was already occupied, apparently by trav-
eler who had proceeded me. The beds now
were placed with their heads towards each
other, and near the wall furtherest from the
door. With this unexpected roommate ]
would willingly haze dispensed. but there
was no help for it, so | wisely determined
to think no more about him, and 90 to sleep
as soon os possible.
But resolutions Of this sort are sometimes
not quite so easily kept as made. Weary
as was, found it impossible to put such o
tether upon my thoughts as would serve to
keep them in decent subsection to my will.
They ,oouM wander away, like unruly
children, running into all sorts Of out-of.the-
way nooks and corners, In spite of all my
exertions. to prevent them. By.and.by be-
gan to grow nervous, to ridiculous extent,
and to be very annoyed by the most trifing
noises, 80 that even the loud Breathing of
my somnolent companion was torment to
me.
While lying In this condition, heard a
noise at the door of the cottage, which was
soon afterwards opened, giving admission to
several persons-men doubtess-the noise
of whose wooden shoes was distinctly audi.
BILE. Presently, too, l heard their voices,
though in suppressed tones, and soon after.
wards could see light streaming through
the many cracks and crevices Of the floor ;
for they were in the same room where we
had supped, directly below.
This incident brought back all my distrust
and in maguified form. Who were these
men, visiting this lonely cottage at such an
unusual hour? That they came for any
good purpose, was altogether unlikely.
My room. mate still slept soundly. And
should wake him ! Perhaps he was on
accomplice Of the people below. Perhaps
he was put there on purpose that l might
waken him. / would let him alone.
The half-whispered conversation was still
going on below, and with increasing anima
tion. could no longer refrain from listen
ing to it. I arose from my bed, and layint
upon the floor on one side, placed my ca
directly over one OF the holes. In this po'
sition could heur much Of what was said
and by taking time to think over the words
I could very generally make out their mean
ing.
| / soon found that there was an animated
discussion going on among them, but it wa
some time before could form any dstinc
idea OF what 1t was. By degrees, however
enough of the truth untolded itself to max,
me feel very uncomfortable. Clothed in
patois so exceedingly uncoutb, many Of th
ideas expressed must necessarily slip by me
but still, as have stated, managed t
make out the most ofit, and what did ge
hold Of I felt very sure Of having secure