Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1860-11-16
A Night Adventure in Ire.
land.
GY A SOLDIER.

ireland, some Of my company were order
ed to town within five hours march of
where We lay My duty was to escort
them there, and return by the evening
train from station few miles from
where my comrades were to be left.
We reached our destination in due time,
al j arrangements were made for my de-
parturc but as the evening set in very
inclcmcnt, | halted as long as possible, in
hopes that the storm would abate. This
however, was not the result the storm
grew more severe and my orders being
nearly imperative, had to set forth in
the midst of the blast. Making hcadway
against the weather took up more time
than had calculated on, and | reached
the station only to learn that the last train
had passed. | spent little time in hcsita-
ton, as had only one course before me
if my quarters were to be reached that
night so, drcnched and weary, | retraccd
my steps.
When night began to close in, and the
weather grew dense and thick, | for the
first time thought that if darkness were
once on, and an inn should invite shelter,
[ would, under the circumstances, avail
myself Of it and remain till daybreak. |
had not 4 very accurate knowledge Of the
district vet did not doubt that | was on
the right road the length | had gone );
still slight hesitation arose, and | re-
solved to make inquiry the first opportu-
nifty continued to 90 on Il considera-
Bile distance without sight or sound of hu-
man cxistance, but | was at length iortu-
nate enough to fall in with an old woman
driving COW. When She recovered from
her surprise at seeing me, was fully
convinced bv her that | had gone astray,
and was farther from an inn than it would
be agreeable to travel. 1t appeared there
were no houses near her but her own
where there was no aeeomodation-and
another one where | might have put up,
but a man having died there that morning
and the widow being IN the house alone,
II was thought she might Object to the
presence Of stranger lreSolvcd TO try,
at any rate, and rot such directions for
reaching the place a. We're seemingly IN
tcllisiblc, when my informant and par
ted company.
The house was not so easily found as |
had hoped, but | stumbled upon II after
nearly lo,in. temper, and advanced con-
sidcrably elevated in spirits when its out
line attracted my bewildere'l sight At
first Knocked somewhat gently, not to
startle the inmate but no notice beng
taken, repeated it much louder, \ stir
within followed this, and voice grufly
inquired the purpose Of the disturbcr.
began to explain my situation; but
before had spoken a dozen words | was
told could not yet almittance, as there
was dead man in the house. | rcmon-
,trated and urged the necessity of my
case, Offering to sit in any corner, and give
no trouble or annoyance. Still was
told, in note, a key or two louder, that |
might as well depart at once. This irrl-
tatcd me greatly, and angrily shouted,
that unless she let me in quietly | would
force the door and entor in spite OF her.
There must have been a tone of dcterm-
incl resolution in my speech, for the voice
within modified considerably after the
threat some parlcy and grumbling fol-
lowed when the door was opened and Il
candle lit. The woman cycdme very sus-
piciou-ly, and appeared either alarmed or
annoyed; hut | urged her to be compos-
cd, and give herself no uncsslncss on my
account.
The house WAS miscrably furnished the
chief objects which arrested my attention
in the dc,olate abode being the figure in
the dead dress, which lay on u chest be-
fore the bed, and a table by the hrcsidc
laid out with provisions. The latter were
TO me- rather tempting but my newly,
made friend seemed anxious that | should
not be allowed too narrow survey OF her
premises, a. She requestsd me not to follow
her TO an inner apartment. | would have
preferred ,taving where was, but did
not consider it unreasonable that she
should have the choice OF whore | was To-
Gated, 20 | followed when She led the way
Ia this place there was nothing but a
low erection covered with straw, and an
old fashioned stool lying upside down.
wa, told that could either take the stool
or the ' bed, and left me alone but she
handed in piece Of bread a few minutes
aftcrward, with Il sullcn rcmaIk that wa'
not intclli.ible
Tired as | was, | felt more disposed tC
watch the womanS motions than court oum
bcr but thi, eventually grew tedious, ,anC
| began to get drow>y, therefore quietly
lov down and To prcvcut nv being la kei