Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-03-29
THE GAZETTE.
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 20, 1859
A WIhON'lX TROUBLE.

WIhON1S TROUBLE.
The Memphis appeal publishes the fol-
lowing very romantic story. and assures It's
readers that the occurrence related Is strictly
true sgs 81 yE-GiT.e-L$J go. '9~'
"A friend of ours, who does business on
Main street. in this city, was travelling lew
weaLs aoo in Arkansas, some 50 or 60 miles
below Memphis Az night came on at the
conclusion Of a long days travel, he arrived
at solitary house, where it appeared the
residents within were already preparing to
retire to rest He knocked, at the door, a
head was protruded from window, and in
reply to a question from the owner OF the
head, he said he wished to stay for the night.
The head was withdrawn. and consultation
apparently took place with some one within,
and after a little delay the head was again
advanced, and our friend asked his NAME
We will not give the name stated-that Of
"Fulkerson" will answer the same purpose.
"Fulkerson," repeated the man with the
head out of the window, as ifsurprised and
not agreeably so. "Yes, John Fulkerson,"
was the reply, in tone that had an express
sion of Impotence about it; for the traveller
was hungry aswell as tired, and not being
priest, fasting never smoothed his temper.
The head was again withdrawn at this an
nouncement, rs rapidly as an lrishman once
withdrew his, when he knelt and took 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 at
all to his mind. At length he hammered
violently at the door several times, and ut
tered series Of CALCULATIONS, more indicative
of flexible tongue than of profound piety.
He then took look round the premises, to
ascertain, if possible, the reason OF the unac-
countable delay. Undiscovered man steal
ing silently away in the rear, who jumped
over the fence and set off in run, that spoke
well for his agility, in the direction of the
timber. The front door was opened at this
moment, and negro girl called to him to
come in. .l
On entering he could discover nothing sus-
picious; good supper was set before him and
he was attentively waited upon. He noticed.
however, that the negro was very curt in her
replies to his questions, and that when ne ask
ed anything about the inmates OF the place
she manifested an emotion that looked like
alarm. lie retired to bed, too greatly
fatigued to reflect much upon the singularity
of this conduct he slept well, and was at an
early hour eating his breakfast, when he OBJ
served pair ofeyes intently gazing at him
from chink in the wall that divided the
room in which he sat, from an adjoining
passage. Determined to know the meaning
Of the singular behaviour he had observed i'll
that place-for every individual about it,
whom he accosted answered him with trepi-
dation in the fewest possible words, and then
hurried away from him as if in fear-he rush
ed into the passage and catching hold of the
man whose eyes had been so busily engaged,
he demanded the reason of his singular scru-
tiny. The man appeared overcome with aSl-
tation, and asked-in voice the interroga-
tor at once recognized as the same he had
heard On the previous night-if Mr.. Fulkerson
intended to stay? No, Mr.. Fulkerson would
90 as soon as he had finished his breakfast and
paid his BILL but he insisted on knowing why
so much spying and whispering were going
on? "Why, are you not Mr.. Fulkerson that
owns this house? asked the man. "NO never
saw the house before, was the reply. In
moment look ofintense satisfaction beamed
from the mans face which had before worn
troubled expression, and without another
word he rushed up stairs, three or four steps
at time, and quickly returned, bringing
with him, portly looking dame. whose eyes
were red, as if with weeping, and exclaimed
in tone of joyous surprise rs soon as she
caught sight Of our bewidered friend. who
could not for the life Of him guess what had
bewildered the folks :" Ia it not john
An explanation then ensued, from which 1t
appeared that the house in which our friend
had spent the night, had formerly been the pro
perty of a man of the same name as himself.
This man had been absent some years AS
nothing had been heard from him duringall
that time, his better half, the lady who
appeared so much pleased that he was not
"john," had resolved to take another hus-
band, and the knot was to be tied that very
evening. On the previous evening her lnten-
ded second husband was paying his attentions
to lover, when the announcement OF the
name Of "John Fulkerson" from our friend,
in moment spread dismay and consterna-
ton where all had been joy and anticipation.
The lover stole offthe backway, to be beyond
the reach of danger the lady had spent the
night in weeping once she had mourned her
husbands absence, now she grieyed over ms
return. The quietness of the unexpected
and unwelcOme guest had, however, some
what treasured the distressed couple; the low,
er had cautiously returned to the house anu
was making his observations, when our triend
unceremoniously seized him. The tidings
were quickly spread. and laughter and mirth
soon filed the dwelling that had been doleful
with disappointment and sorrow. The tray
eller was heartily invited to stop and 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. If the real John Full
kerson, of Arkansas, should be alive and see
this, let him take warning and never approach
the house he has deserted for he Is most
emphatically not wanting"
COMMUNICATED.