The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-04-08
A Widow in Trouble.


A friend Of fours, who does business on
Maln.street, in this city,was travelling few
weeks ago in Arkansas, some fifty or sixty
miles below Memphis. AS night came on
at the conclusion of a long days travel, lie
arrived at a solitary house, where it appear.
ed the residents within were already prrpar-
ed to retire to rest. lie knocked at the door,
head was pro,ruded from window. and
III reply to a question from the owner OF
the head, he said he wished TO stay for the
night. The head was Withdrawn, and n
consultation apparently took place with
some one within. and after little delay the
head was again advanced aud our friend
asked his name. We will not give the
name stated that OF "Fulkcrson" will an
swer the same purpose. "Fukcrson," re.
peated the man with the head out of the
window, as if surprised, and not acrecably
SO. "les, John Fulkcrson," was tie reply
IN tone that had an expression of impa-
tlence about it, for the traveller was hungry
as vel as tired, and not being priest, fast.
ing never sootlIcd his temper. The head
was again withdrawn at this announcement,
as rapidly as an lrislIman once withdrew his,
when he knclt and took a drink out of one
of the boiling springs Of the State in which
the adventure we are relating took place.
Some time now elapsed ; the night WAS cold,
and our hungry friend found his quarters in
front of the solitary house not all to his
mind. At length he hammered violently
at the door several times, and uttered a Sc
rles OF claculations, more indicative of a flex-
IDLE tongue than OF profound pictv. lie
then took look round the premises, to as
certain 1t possible, the reason Of this unac-
countablc delay. lie discovered man
stealing silently away in the rear, who
Jumped over the fence and set of in run,
that spoke well for his aglity,n the direc-
ton of the timber. The front door was
opened at this moment, and negro girl
called to linn to come IN.
On entering he could discover nothing
suspicious; a good supper was set before
him, and he was attentively waited upon.
lie noticed however, that the negro was
very curt in her replies to his questions, and
that when he asked anything about the in
mates OF the place she manifested an emo
ton that looked like alarm. lie retired to
bed, too greatly fatigued to reflect much
upon the singularity Of this conduct; he slept
well, and in the morning at an early hour
eating his breakfast, when lie observed pair
OF eyes ntently gazing at him from chick
IN the wall that divided the room in Which
he sat, from an adjoining passage. Deter
mined to know the meaning of the singular
behavior he had observed in that place: for
for every individual about it whom he
had accostcd answered him with the
tewcst possible number of words, and then
hurried away from him him AS in fear he
rushed into the passage and catching hold
OF the man whose eyes had been so busiIy
engaged, he demanded the reason Of his sin
gular scrutiny. The man appeared over
come with agitation, and askcd-in voice
the interrogation at once recognised as the
same he had heard on the previous night
If Mr.. Fulkerson intended 10 stay No, Mr..
Fulkcrson would 60 as soon rs he had fin
ished his breakfast and paid his bill, but he
insisted upon knowing why so much spying
and whispering were going on?
"Why, are You not Mr.. Fulkcrson that
Owls this house!" asked the man. mo, |
never saw the house before" was the reply.
In moment a look Of Intense satisfaction
beamed from the man's face, which had be-
fore worn troubled expression; and with an
other word he rushed up stairs, three or four
steps at time ami quickly returned, bring.
ing with hun portly looking dame, whose
eyes were red, as if with weeping, and ex-
claimed in tone Of joyous surprise as soon
as she caught sight of our bewiIered friend
who could not for the life of him guess what
had bcwil,lcred the foks-"Is it not John g"
An explanation then ensued from which
it appeared that the house in which our
friend had spent the night, had formerly
been the property of man Of the same
name as himself. This man had been alb
sent some years. AS nothing had been
heard from him during all that time, his
better halt, the lady who appeared so much
pleased that he was not John" had resolved
10 take another husband. and the new knot
was to be tied that very evening. On the
previous evening her intended second hus-
band was paying his attentions as lover,
when the announcement Of the name Of
John Fulkerson" from our friend, in mo-
ment spread dismay and CONSERVATION where
all had been joy and anticipation. The low
er stole off the back way, to be beyond the
reach OF danger; the lady had spent the
night in weeping once she had mourned
her husbands absence, now she grieycd
over his return.
The quetness Of the unexpected and un-
weIcome.guest had, however, somewhat reas-
surcdthe distressed couple; the lover had
cautiously returned to the house, and was
making his observations, when our friend
unceremoniously ly seized him. The tidings
were quickly spread, and laughter and mirth
soon filled the dwelling that had been dole
ful with disappointment and sorrow.
The traveller was heartily invited to stay
aud partake Of the wedding supper his
business called him away, however but he
has since learned that the marriage took
place without any outward interruption.
II the real John Fulkerson, of Arkansas,
should bo alive and see this, let him take
warning and never approach the house he
has deserted, for he is must emphatically
not ,0anted.
Two ORDERS OF PoETs.-I admit two
orders OF poets, (says Ruskin.) but no third
and by these two orders I mean the rrea.
tive-Shakspeare. Homer and Dante-and