Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-10-16
"How can I get there?"

. "How can / get there?"
"You had better drive to Parkville
D which is twelve miles of, and then 10
quirs your vsy-his house is rsthe
hard to 6nd."
, The next day ! got horse and bug
gy and drove to Parkville; the horse
however, fell dead lame just as I en-
J tered the village, and could proceed NJ
further. l drove up to the tavern. ant
determined to proceed the rest Of th'
way on foot. After making particular
inquiries as TO my road. l set of on my
Eve miles walk. / did not suppos'
that l was known to Munsel, and ny
intention was TO verify his actual pres
ence, aud then return the next dsJ
with the proper officers to arrest him
! Il was beautiful July evening. jus
cool enough to render walking plea
SAINT exercise. It was dark when
started, and ! had not walked . mile
before it became quite dark. But
had informed myself SO well as to the
right road, that / thought j could moi
mistake it. It soon, however. became
apparent to me that q great change had
taken place in the scenery around me.
Instead Of the road being clear and
open, as it was when I first set out,
large trees loomed up on each side Of
me, and the road became very bad
entirely different from the smooth
grsvelled surface I had FIRST passed
over. But still pressed on, not sus-
pecting that had mistaken my way
/ began 10 get tired. l must have
walked at least two hours before any
doubt entered my head.
By this time the broad road had de-
generated into narrow path. knew,
then, that there must be something
wrong. for the people of the town, Of
whom had inquired. bad Informed me
that the road 10 Mr.. Theodore Munsel's
house was pretty good all the way. /
paused for q moment irresolute, and
did not know whether to retrace my
steps or press forward. 1t had now
become pitch dark, and / determined to
90 on, well assured that could never
find my way back. had not proceed
ed many steps before | became con-
vinced that l was wandering about in
forest. The underbrush began now to
seriously impede my progress, and /
found great difficulty in keeping on my
feet.
Ny position was anything but agree
able--in the midst OF a forest on a
dark night. l cannot tell how passed
the three ensuing hours-they appeared
three centuries to me. 1 suppose l
must have walked the same path over
and over again. 1 was at last COM
pletely overcome by physical fatigue,
and sunk exhausted on the stump Of a
tree.
I rested my head upon my hands,
and determined to pass the night there,
being now certain that is was perfectly
futile endeavoring to find my way till
morning.-While In this STOPPING posi-
ton I thought 1 saw a light glimmer
through the trees. / looked earnestly
and became convinced such was really
the fact. l Immediately determined to
make for it. hoping to find shelter for
the night. | advanced in that direc-
tion, and soon reached a dilapidated
house built entirely Of wood. 1t was q
miserable looking abode, and had it
not been for my tired condition, l
should have certainly hesitated seeking
its sheller.-But anything was better
than spending the night in the forest,
so / resolutely knocked at the door.
Ny summons was for some time unhee-
ded, and it was not till / had knocked
again and again, that the door opened,
and gruff voice asked what l wanted.
"Can you give me lodging for the
night? l replied.
was told to come in. and found my
self in room Of moderate size. misera-
bly, furnished. A log-6re was burning
on the hearth, and two persons occu-
pied the apartment. The one that
opened the door to me was a man about
fifty years of age, very stoutly built,
and possessed Of very sinister express
lon OF countenance. The second occu-
pant was none other than the abscon-
ding clerk. Ithen knew that l was in
Mr.. Munsel's house, and congratula-
ted myself on my good fortune. / no.
ticed that as l entered he cast scru-
tinizing glance at me; but as l felt as
sured he did not know me personally, /
experienced no alarm.
II am lost in the Forest" said /, iu
answer to their looks Of interrogation,
"and ifyou will afford me shelter for
the night, I shall be happy to repay
you for your hospitality"
"Be good enough to sit down." said
Mr.. Munsel, his eyes sparkling when
the word "repay" was used.
"Where are you going?" asked bis
nephew, fixing another searching look
upon my face.
II am going to Centreville. left
Parkville at six o'clock, but mistook
the road, for have been wandering
about the woods every since"
"You are fifteen miles from Centre
ville," said the uncle with . kind Of
leer.
"You do not belong to this part Of
the country" said the bankers clerk.
NO." replied, II am from Virgin.
ia"
"What is your businessi"
"I am collector for house in Rich !
mhnav a r