The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-05-30
The Umyvelcome Monitor.


parts OF the country were much less extended
than at present, and in consequence I very Of
ten performed long journeys on horseback con
cealing, commonly, large sums of money about
my person. For the better security of life and
property, which were not seldom endangered
in the less populous districts, L invariably made
it my practice to go armed, and being natural
~ of fearless turn, rather enjoyed than other
wise the sense of danger from which Twas new
er wholly free. One of my adventures-and
met many well worth narrating-involyed cir
cumstauces which at the time seemed to border
OH the supernatural, and which, although sub
sequently explained in part, have always been
IA great measure mysteriously inexpicable.
No system OF psychology has ever yet succeeded
in analyzlng those occult operations of the mind
by which the Imagination is determined to rep
resent on its canvass scenes which are yet en-
veloped in the inpenetrabIe darkness Of futuri-
ty. But to my story. .
The occasions ofmy business in the year 1888
rendered IL necessary for nae to traverse alone
the western part of the State of Ohio, and /
made the journey, as usual, on horseback
This State, how one OF the most lustrous stars
III the Federal constellation, was at that time
eciipsed in glory by many a sister lumin arv
whichhas since grown dim beside it. The great
er part of my route lay through thiny-p copied
region, in which the houses were ''like ange Is
visits, few and far between" and in which /
was frequently obliged to put up with accom-
modatlons OF the very plainest descrip ton. One
wet raw, windy day in October l had ridden
further than common on a wreched road, which
had greatly taxed the powers of my willing
horse, and as the afternoon wore away, and still
no sign OF house appeared, / began to feel
anxious no less on his account than on my own
Just before evening closed in, however, I was
overoyed by the distant prospect of house,
rudely built indeed, but as welcome to my eyes
as the low lying shores of Guanahani to the
strained vision Of Columbus and his comrades
Patting the neck of my jaded steed and
speaking encouraging words to him. I pushed
on to the haven which promised US rest after the
toll and WEAKNESS of the day S exertions. Thro
the uncurtained windows of the lower story
streamed out into the increasing darkness a
cheerful light, whose wayering brightness in
Dictated an open fireplace. AS drew near the
house could partially discern through the
gloom the shapes of irregular sheds and out
buildings attached to the main structure but
only cursorily glanced at these, being more in
t,nt on reaching the inside than scrutnizing
the outside Of the edifce. The sound Of my
horses hoofs attracted the inmates, and a man
issued from one Of the out buildings, bearing
dark lantern, which entirely concealed In own
figure while it plainly revealed Iaihe.
Can you take care ofmy horse, and give me
food and lodgings for the night 2 iuqaired-
we are both exhausted, and can hardly 90 fur
Their before Tomorrow
Yes was the laconic answer.
dismountad and followed the man as he led
my horse into the barn, and having seen him
well provided for, We went without an addition
al syllable into the house. My companion all
the while, whether accidentally or designedly,
kept the bright side of the lante.n constantly
turned towards ME, and it was not until we had
entered the apartment containing the fire that
could fairly obtain sight of him. l involun-
tari!y turned my gaze upon him before even
CHANGING at the room into which now entered
Iimpeled by an irresistible curiosity for which
l was at loss to account BE was man of
rather more than the average stature, with
breadth across the shoulders have never but
once seen equalled indeed so athletic was his
appearance that l saw instantly l was but
babe in comparison of physical strength, altho'
at least two inches his superior in stature.
His features were not ill-shaped lift had not
been for low forehead he might have been
; called almost good-lookng his complexion,
however, was dark, and profuson of bushy
beard rendered the expression of his mouth
eardly visible l was just turning my eyes from
his face 10 observe the aspect of my new quar-
ters, when for Il second his glance met mine I;
it was instantaneously averted, but thrill of
4 horror, loathing and dismay shot through my
frame like an agonizing electrical shot. II was
a rather small black eye (the other being sight
less and nearly shut) which had thus power
fully affected me; i'll its horrible glitter seemed
to Turk the concentrated quintessence of devil
ish moIignity No words can describe the con
vulsive recoil with which | shrank from that
glimpse into the depths of his soul it was as
if the earth had yawned beneath my feet, and
in the blackness of the gloomy abyss had half
deserted the deeper blackness, vast and Hide
fined, of the prince of evil.
With an immense effort of will, however l
shook off the influences of the man, and direct
ed my attention to the objects that surrounded
me. The room was not large, and was rough
~ plastered, although dingy and dirty, At one
end was a rude attempt at bar, formed out of
unplaned boards, and behind this sat woman
of about thirty, with wild expression of des-
pair on her iace-not impulsive and ungovern-
able, but craven in sharp lines on every fea-
ture, as if it were the sculptured countenance
of condemned criminal. On one side of the
fireplace sat man with his legs mp against the
side of the room, looking modify into the fire,
and smoking clay pipe, black as the chimney
back; he did not raise his eyes once towards
me. On the other side sat dog on his hind
legs, rough non-descript looking animal with
a sulen yet honest stare in his eye as he sur
veyed me, growing low all the while The fur
niture of the room was of the rudest kind, con-
sisting of few chairs and table, on which Law
a large jack knife, and piece or plug tobacco;
one tallow candle stood near by, with a long
smoky wick:
Itook chair and s1 down by the fire and
asked if they could give me any supper. The
woman arose, and without saying a word set
on the table from behind the bar a half eaten
leg OF ham, a loaf of bread and a ing of milk
and then resumed her seat in silence Ny con
ductoT sat down near the fire with his face turn
ed away from me, and lighting a pipe, puffed
away, likewise in silence. Ny nerves are none
of the most susc ptible, but by this time the
gloom Of the party had thoroughly infected me.
and my feelings were not to be envied as
heartily wished the morrow were come. The
one-eyed man rose at last and went to the bar
WE'LL said the woman coldly
Brandy was the reply. I'm
You've had enough already she retorted
bitterly.
You lie he answered with fierce oath.
I've got TO stick the hog early in the morning,
and l want some more
You had rather stick the hog than kill
chicken any day. exclaimed the woman pas
sionately. I hate you, you brute.
You do, do you = sneered he Give me
the bottle, or I'll break it over your head
Take 1t yourself groaued she leaving the
bar. 1 wish you were dead, and me too
{ The man took the bottle and drank lon @
draught from it, casting at the same time
lmenacing look towards the woman and shaking
his head at her threateningly. The woman
shuddered and covered her face with her hands.
could not stand it any longer, and abruptly ask
ed to be shown to my chamber
4 The man, taking up the candle .motioned me
to follow. him, when the dog, which had been
quiet before evinced signs of great uneasiness,
and after trying to arrest my attention by a
series Of hybrid noises, half way between a bark
and whine, seized hold Of my pantaloons and
held me fast
/ Curse the dog mu3tured the man with an
awful oath, under his breath, and adding, don't
mind the cur he dealt the poor animal such a
kick with his heavy boot as sent him flying
across the room with yelp of pain,
Without further delay he conducted me up
narrow flight of stairs into a room containing
q tolefably decent he'd n wash stand tahle and