Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-08-01
MIS- CELLAN N Y.
MY ADVENTURE AT THE AssIzEs.

compelled TO attend The assires at our coun.
try town as junior member OF highly
respectable legal firm. Knowing that there
would bc several important cases. beside.
our own. and two or three cases on tho Grim.
inal side, which excited much public atten.
ton. and that thus the small country town
would be overwhelmed with visitors. l took
the precauiion Of wri,ins-,hc nigh, bc'
fore my journcy-,o secure beds for myself
and clerk at the principal inn, where | was
Of cour,e well known.
The next day took my journey, arriving
at my destination early in the day. ] found.
as had expected. the town crowded with
people-and. on going into the hotel, the
landlord informed me that he had received
my letter, bu, that TO retain bedroom Tor
mo In his house had been absolutely imposs.
ible, tho hotel being filled TO o,erAowIng ~
other pcr,on- who had bc.poksn rooms be.
fore tho. Ile had provided one snail bel.
room in respectable rublic'hOu'e, which
would suit my clerk but as TO mysclf. IL
| would eontic my sleeping arrangement.
TO his care. hs would insure inc handsome
apar,men, and comfortable bedroom ou, Of
the hous,. and would convey me there IN
one OF hi' chrrisee..
Being somewha, particular in the matter
OF sleeping accommodation, thought It
desirable TO inquire more particularly where
he proposed TO seni mo; bu, as he was
much pressed for time, be could only briefly
nequaint me that the room intended for my
uss wa. in la-sc. unoccupied house. stand
ing rather on the outskirt. OF the town.
and that tho owner has been q man OF for
tune. which he had spent neither well nor
wisely. and had been IN consequence COM
PEELED to leave England.
The mansion ii.clf. which had two or
three hali.furni.hcd rooms. had been placed
by the agcn, a, the disposal OF thc landlord
of the hotel On this occasion for the accom-
molaiion Of such customers as be might
end himself unable 10 receive a, biz own
house. There being no remedy. ! was com.
rclled TO subm, TO this arrangement, and
in n few minutes. the Attendance ~ witness
-. consultations with counsel, and the usual
preparations for going into court. put the
matter entirely out OF my head.
Ny cause wa. the third on the lI't The
frs, wa, understood TO be shor, cause
which would sOcn be disposed Of /, the sec
ond was case relating to a wa,ereourse.
which everybody knows to DO one OF the
mos, tedious and lengthy Of all Imaginable
case, this. 1t was expected, would be ar
ranged on, Of court. in which event my
cause would be called on early in the course
Of the day Contrary, however. 10 cSpcc'
ta,ion. neither OF these probabilities oe'
Cured. and although compelled 10 stay In
court all day. my cause remained nn,ricd.
Abou, six o'clock. therefore, fatigued and
mentally wearlcd. | repaired to the hotel,
where. after good dinner, and consulia'
ton with oar leading counsel, found a
comfortable fly ready to take me 20 my
quarter. a, abou, ten o'clock. It, scarce.
ly necdiul TO add that my mind was in.
,enscly occupied with the coming trial. the
result OF which. from various circumstances.
was Of moro than ordinary importance 20
our firm.
|, struck me. however. that the fly was
longer than had expected in conveying mc
TO my placc Of abode Tor the night. and
this circumstances a, length rousei me from
my pro. occupation and looking cut Of the
window. perceived that had Ief, the town
aud was proceeding along dark lane which
appeared to have divcrsci from the turn
pike road. In few minutes the carriage
stopped a, garden door. which was opened
by the driver, who then proceeded 10 let me
out Of the ly, intimatins ,ha, this was the
house where was to sleep. aud that he bad
brought tho key in his pocket.
On getting ou, Of the fly with my small
por,manteau. which contained among other
things considerable sum Of money, found
myself in front Of large old.ia'hioned
house standing at the head o! q de,ola,e,
neglected lawn. In window on the first
1oOr light was burning ,ha, room, the
driver informed mo was my bedroom. The
house was locked, and he had instructions
TO deliver the key into my hands. and to
assure me that should find everything very
comfortable and that in the morning he
would bring the ay for the at an early hour
to take INC TO my br,akias, at the inn.
Bidding the man "goOd nlsh.,"I wen,
toward the mansion, key in hand, prepared
to forge, all troubles in sound nights rest.
The night was starlight-,here was no
moon--and but FOR the little light which
glimmered in the window. the position OF
the house and It's character would have been
scarcely traesable from tie di.tancc n, which
[ entered by the garden gate. As advanced
|: became more defined. and the overgrown
wildness in which it stood gavO i. a decided
character oi desOlation.
! Opening the door with my key, and again
carefully locking 1t inside. and securing it
with one or two rusty bolts. ! went up
s,airs. the light from the small lamp fixed
against the wall Of the staircase being my
only guide. IS assembled the staircase q
momcn,ary feeling Of solitude flashed across
mo; (; bu, my mind was too much pre-Occu.
pied, and my brain too weary, to allow this