The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1862-05-24
From the London "Once q Week
MY ADVENTURE AT THE ASSIZES.

1t is now about fifteen years since 7 was
compelled to attend the assiZes at our coun-
ty town as junior member of highly
respectable legal firm. Knowing that there
would be several important causes, besides
our own, and two or three cases on the Grim
inal side, which excited much public atten-
ton, that thus the small county town would
be overwhelmed with visitors, I took the
precaution of writing-the night before my
journey-to secure beds for myself and
clerk at the principal inn, where I was, of
course, well known.
The next day took my journey, arriv
ing at my destination early in the Gay.
found, as had expected, the town crowd
ed with people; and, on going into the ho--
tel, the landlord informed me that he had
received my letter, but that to retain bed
room for me in his house had been absolute
y impossible, the hotel being filed to over
flowing by other persons who had bespoken
rooms before me. He had provided one
small bedroom in a respectable public
house. which would suit my clerk; but as
to myself, if would con6de my sleeping
arrangements to his care, be would ensure
me handsome apartment and comfortable
bedroom out of the house, and would con-
vey me there in one of his carriages.
Being somewhat particular in the matter
Of sleeping accommodation, I thought it
desirable to inquire more particularly where
he proposed to send me; but as he was
much pressed for time, he could only brief
~ acquaint me, that the room intended for
my use was in large, unoccupied house
standing rather on the outskirts of the
town, and that the owner had been a man
of fortune, which he had spent neither well
nor wisely, and had been in consequence
compelled to leave England.
The mansion itself, which had two or
three half-furnished rooms, had been placed
by the agent at the disposal of the land
lord of the hotel on this occasion for the
accommodation of such customers as he
might find himself unable to receive at his
own house. There being no remedy, I was
compelled to submit 10 this arrangement;
and in a few minutes, the attendance on
witnesses, consultations with counsel, and
the usual preparations for going into court,
put the matter entirely out of my head.
My cause was the third on the list. The
first was understood to be short cause
which would soon be disposed of; the Sec
ond was case relating to a watercourse,
which everybody knows to be one of the
most tedious and lengthy CT all imaginable
cases; this, it was expected, would be ar
ranged out of court, in which event my
cause would be called on early in the course
of the day. Contrary, however, to expec-
tation, neither of these probabilities occur
red, and although compelled to stay in court
all day, my cause remained untried.
About six o'clock, therefore, fatigued and
mentally wearied, I repaired to the hotel,
where, after good dinner, and consulta-
ton with our leading counsel, 1 found
comfortable fly ready to take me to my
quarters at about ten O'Clock. 1t is scarce
~ needful to add that my mind was intense
ly occupied with the coming trial, the re-
suit of which, from various circumstances,
was of more than ordinary importance to
our firm.
l. struck me, however, that the fly was
longer than had expected in conveying
me to my place of abode for the night, and
this circumstance at length reused me from
my pre-occupation; and looking out of the
window, perceived thai had left the town
and was proceeding along dark lane which
appeared to have diverged from the turnpike
road. In few minutes the carriage stop
ped at garden door, which was opened by
the driver, who then proceeded to let me
out of the fly, intimating that this was the
house where was to s.eep, and that he
had brought the key in his pocket.
On getting out of the fly with my small
portmanteau, which contained amongst 9TH
er things a considerable sum of money, I
found myself in front of large old-fash-
toned house standing at the head of desc
late, neglected lawn. In window on the
first floor light was burning; that room,
the driver informed me, was my bedroom.
The house was locked, and he had instruc-
tons 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 fly for me at an early
hour to take me to my breakfast at the inn.
Bidding the man ''good night" I went to-
wards the mansion, key in hand, prepared
to forget all troubles in sound nights rest.
The night was starlight-there was no
moon-and but for the little light which
glimmered in the window. the position of
the house and its character would have
been scarcely traceable from the distance at
which entered by the garden gate. AS
advanced it became more defined, and the
overgrown wilderness in which it stood
gave it a decided character of desolation.
Opening the door with my key, and again
carefully locking it inside, and securing it
with one or two rusty bolts, I went up
stairs, the light from the small lamp fixed
against the wall of the staircase being my
only guide AS assembled the staircase a
momentary feeling of solitude flashed across
me: but my mind was too much pre-occu-
pied, and my brain too weary to allow this
feeling to develop itself as it might have
done under other circumstances.
found the room prepared for me very