The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-11-16
HOW MY HAIR BECAME CRAY.
From Once A Week.
nrrA r,rrn II

AOh OhSO II USCAs
CHAPTER II.
The next day, my cold was to heavy t.
think of venturing out. Aunt Osborne
wanted to forego her intention of remaining
to dinner; insisted however on her abiding
by the original arrangement, but she prom
Used that she would be home as early al
possible She left soon after breakfast az
she wished to go to the hospital to take
some things to Mrs. Gwyne, and had other
places TO call at before going to the Gregg.
RVS at the Bank. The earlier part of the
morning employed myself writing, and
then settled down at my favorite seat
in the window that nearly faced the Laurel
Walk, over the same book bad been read
ing on the preceding day. Susan some
times came in to look after the fire, or to
afraid might be lonely, and on one of
these occasions as she stood by my CHAIR
'Ohl Miss Maggie" she exclaimed, eff
here isn't Mike the pedler coming up the
walk. No tisn't Mike" she added, as she
looked out more closely, ''but it's pedler
anyhow, and Pm in such way for comb
for the back of my head
Poor Susan had regular penchant for
pedlers, she'd rather buy from one of these
itinerant hawkers, and pay perhaps great
deal more, than at any shop in the town.
l objected strongly to a strange man at
such times being at all encouraged about
the place, especially in Mrs. Osborne's ab-
sence; but the servant pleaded so hard, and
said she might be able to make a bargain
with the fellow, for an old shawl she had
to dispose of, that could not find it in my
heart to refuse her | insisted. however,
that he should come to the front door, as
would not hear of any stragglers being ad
mitted into the back yard or Kitchen
Meanwhile the man had advanced slowly
with his pack towards the house; he seemed
to me to be more tardy in his movements
than the apparent weight of his load would
have warranted; but probably, | thought,
he had travelled some great distance. AS
he came 10 the window and touched his hat
civilIy, he looked, | fancied, weary. | mo-
toned him to the hall door, and very soon
Susan was on her knees in the hall closely
examining the contents of bis pack, and try
ing to strike a bargain for some of his
goods there was altogether a nultifarious
assortment, ballads, some pictures in little
tawdy gilt frames boot laces. combs, rings,
bIOOClCc7 anu OLIlOA OSCUldLlOHb.
but little that was useful. | remained in
the hall while Susan was engaged with
him, partly for amusement, as we'll that
did not wish stranger to be there alone,
with only the servant. could not help
noticing in the man listless indifference
about selling his wares, while an occasional
eagerness was manifestly assumed. | at
first imputed this to the apathy arising
from fatigue, until observed, with consid-
cradle nneasiness, a restless movement of
his eyes in every directions; now glance
into the room behind him, then towards
the diningroom, again upstairs; while,
when | once asked Susan what caused such
a bitter wind, that surely she had not left
the back-door open, and when she answered
that she was obliged, the kitchen smoked
so, l thought | could detect at once upon
the pedler's face a look of inquisitive and
excited curiosity, as he said,
'Smoke, does it 3? Just let me look at it,
and I'll cure it for YOU
instantly and decidedly declined, some
what to Susans surprise, who would have
admitted him, | doubt not, at once. l had
but one desire now, to get the fellow out /;
in fact inv ardly trembled with apprehen
sion until he was clean off; and at last, to
my inexpressible relief, he gathered up his
goods after the servant had paid him for
her purchases, and trudged down the walk
by which he had come. We both stood in
the window watching him, while two or
three times he looked back, as though to
see if we were still there, when soon the
turn in the avenue hid him from
view. Susan remained with me a
while descanting on the cheapness and ex-
cellence of the articles which she had
bought. gave little heed to her encomi-
ums; uneasy thoughts about that man were
running III my mind, and | told the house
maid that did not at all like his way or
appearance, and that l was sure would
dream of him that night forgot how the
rest of the day passed; l had a kind of
luncheon dinner, and remained after it, sit
sing by the fire in the twilight in dreamy
doze; for my cold was oppressive. When
Susan lit the candles and drew the curtains,
stirred up the fire, and made the room COM
Portable, | took the small candle that she
had, to ret some work upstairs, At the
top of the last flight, and near the door OF
my aunt's room, there was sort of arched
recess, where cloaks and other stray articles
of that description were hung; and as
reached the landing, was attracted by the
motion of one of these, a cloak, believe il
was, I thought, 1 remember that the. lobby
window must be open, and that breeze
from it shook the garment. turned to see
and then, at loss to understand what il
could be, l was about to move into the re
cess itself to examine more closely, when
became rooted to the spot, on observing
quite distinctly the outline of figure dra
ped in dark heavy wrap of Mrs. Osborne 8
It seemed to me as if he must have hurried
" folded it round him, probably on hearing
my step, for it was clunsily managed
One foot projected quite uncovered, and
at once recognized a peculiar kind of boo
that had noticed on the pedler when in tn
hall in the day. know not how | KEEP
from instantly betraying the startling dis
covery by loud scream; my heart leape'
to my throat but l gained sufficientc ON
mand of myself to pass on into my room
and after moments delay, returning,
went down, with as little appearance {
haste as could manage, though with
creeping shudder as passed by the spo
where the robber was hidden. Near tn
foot Of the stairs | met Susan coming up
Laying my hand on her arm, l whispered
'Come with me-"
Unfortunately, my pale face so alarme