The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-04-25
The Mysterious Lodger.

Ioogefs-possloly more. As seldom visit.
ed my room during the day, and invariably
retired at twelve O'Clock, / rarely met any
of my neighbors-Or, il did, it was without
knowing them. With two of my fellow.
dodgers became partially acquainted. One
was a middle.Sged man, occupying a room
adjoining mine, and divided from it by thin
partition. Against that thin boundary stood
our beds-the middle-uged gentleman's and
mine-not to exceed three inches apart-
Ihe middle.aged gentleman was welded to
the habit OF snoring. And his twas a pecu.
liar snore; not periodical murmur, accom-.
panying every fourth or fifth inspiration, but
terrific and uninterrupted combination of
snorte, groans and snuffles, with the addition
OF teeth'grinding, and occasional plunges of
the extremties against the creaking foot
BOARD For one week bore up against the
c'atter. AT length, one night, knocked at
his door. l was desperate. He rose, struck
light, and for the first time we met face to
face. had prepared myself to deIuge him
with sarcasm-to abuse him with billings.
gate-to sink him with abuse. His facs was
SO round and jovial and his head so entirely
destitute Of hair, that I could not sunmon
courage to utter harsh word. For O mo.
ment, We peered silently into each others
faces.
"Can | do any thing for you !" in
quired.
Smith, for that wus his name, must hive
reeo my thoughts-must have known that
he snored-must have been aw0ra ~ ,ho
OBJECT Of my visit-for he smiIingly replied:
"Ye'' my friend, join me in glass of
brandy and water--I have a few drons of
something genuine. Permit me to insist, !"
nc continued, observing my hesitation, "you
VIII sleep all the better for it," and he
gave me look, swelling over with commits.
Grafton.
meek'y followed him to the side.b board
and we pledged each other in glass of an.
cIent vintage. He then pressed me to smoke
cigar. l could scarcely do less. Sitting
on the side of the bed, with his rotund Wis.
age PeePng through cause of smoke, and
bis fat legs swinging good naturedly, Smith
was picture. Together we would hove of
:orded an amusing sketch for Punch. He
talked necessarily, and before left him, we
touched glasses several times, ond firmly
resolved that he might snore, night and day
tor year 10 come, and would not disturb
him. wrung his hand in an ecstacy oil
friendship, and bade him an uffectionate good
night. tumbled in bed and tried in vain to
sleep. Smiths brandy was playing strange
tricks with my fancy, and felt as though
something was whispering, as to INA cbeth, y
"Sleep no more - l lit candle and found
1t was two o'clock. Irrtuted at my wake.
fulneSs, | drew on my clothes, and was soon
in the street. The moon rode high in the
heavens, and the night was beautiful as a
poets dreom. Strol!ing along the street os
far as Clay, suddenly turned the corner,
and encountered crowd of half.drunken
rowdies, standing in front Of house they
had either just left, or were about to enter
ln the act Of retracing my steps, | heard
some one exclaim, in boyish tone:
"Not tonight, gentlemen; some othei
time; but not tonight; please excuse me-"
The speaker, in passing along the street
had been stopped by the rowdes, and invi
ted to drink.
"Bah," exclaimed q number of voices
"You must come up to the scratch-eithel
drink Or fight"
"But gentlemen, I can not" insisted the
stranger, struggling to free himself from tht
grasp Of his prosecutors. II can neitt Ell
drink nor fight, to- night: am not we'll i
"Gammon !" growled the party, attempt
ing to force him into the house.
I felt that, as cohservstor of the peoc,
and champion of society, il was my duty tt
interfere. Smiths brandy told me SO, ant
furnished the nerve; in addition, to carry ou
the resolution. Stalking quietly in upon tb'
crowd, laid my hand upon the boys shoul
der, and requested him to follow me. H
turned to comply, when, "Give him one 4
yelled one Of the rowdies, and the nc xt mo
ment received blow in the back of tn,
neck; and found myself leaning against tn,
side OF house. I was not stunned, bu
exasperated beyond measure. The liquor o
my bald.headed fellow. lodgcr steeled mi
nerves to action, and threw myself into
position Of defence. Not doubling my per
feet ability to scatter that crowd over al
acre OF ground, l invited the unequal con
test. The appearance Of policeman spar
ed the impending slaughter, for the party
suddenly left the field. My companion in
formed the officer Of what had occurred, ant
he started in pursuit Of the retreating row
dies, enjoining US to find the way to ou
lodgings. Taking the arm Of the lad. WI
proceeded towards my room. He was
Psle-faced, interesting young man Of per
haps eighteen or nineteen years, remarkably
well-bred and intelligent. He was dresse'
IN good taste, without affecting any of tn
airs OK maturer years, and was quite takel
with him. He told me his name was Rich
ard jansen; that he was alone in California
but not without means; that he lived Of
Stockton street, and visiting a friend tha
evening, had been detained to that unusus
hour.