Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-07-22

windows all down to one side as If
the foundation had settled, and the
pillars of rude porch nearly rotted
away; yet Aladdin's castle could
hardly have looked more pleasant or
more welcome to me, weary and
way-worn as was.
A woman answered to my fellow
travellers knock-a woman apparent
iy about thirty-five years of age, with
reddish brown hair wound in thick
braids about her head, and curious,
half-shut eyes. My companion whis-
pered a word or two to her, and she
turned to me with smooth, voluble
words of welcome.
She regretted the poverty of their
accommodations; but 1 was welcome
to them, such as they were.
"Where is Isaac?" demanded my
guide.
"He has not come in yet," was the
response.
l sat down on a low wooden bench
by the fire, with my valise close to
me, while the woman threw on fresh
logs. drew out a small pine table, and
produced bread, cold meat, and some
sort Of spirituous liquid. ! ate a few
mouthfuls of the bread, but did not
| touch any Of the other articles.
81 should like to retire as soon as
possible" said; for my WEAKNESS
was excessive.
! "Certainly." The woman started
up with alacrity.
"Where are you going to put him?'
asked my guide.
Cup chamber"
"Put him in Isaac's room."
"No."
at is the most comfortable.
81 tell you nor'
Here / interrupted the whispered
colloquy-which, however, / had
overheard--by again remarking that
l was not particular where l slept,
only so l could get to sleep as soon as
possible.
The woman was profuse with apol-
ogies. She "only wished to make
me comfortable, and Isaac's room
always leaked in rainy weather"
So was conducted up steep lad
der that stood in corner of the room
to an apartment ceiled with sloping
beams and ventilated by one small
window, wherea cot bedstead, crowd
ed close against board partition
and a pine table, with one or two
chairs, were the sole attempts al
furniture.
The woman set the light, an oil
lamp, on the table.
"Is there anything more l can dc
for you, sir?''
"Nothing, / thank YOU"
81 hope you'll sleep well, sir. AT
WHAT JitIlC SHALL CulA you.
cat four o'clock in the morning, il
YOU please. Unjust walk over to R
Station in time for the seven O'Clock
express"
81 will call you promptly, without
fail"
She withdrew, leaving me alone in
the little apartment.
/ sat down and looked about me
with no very agreeable sensations.
Strange! weary rs l was, and sleepy
as l had been previous to coming uI
stairs, l now felt no inclination to
sleep: in fact, l never felt more wake
full in my life.
/ walked up and down the narrow
room; laid down on the bed, trying
to WOO slumber by listening to the
monotonous "drip! drip" OF the rain
upon the roof; but my brain seemed
preternaturaily active.
81 will writeto Berenice," though'
1; that will soothe my nerves and
quiet me, perhaps"
1t was not yet late in the evening
/ descended the ladder and asked fol
writing materials.
Beside the fire, that still glowed
redly on the hearth, sat my compan
ion and the woman, conversing in
low tone; and at the table sat third
persona short, stout, villainous
looking man, in red flannel shirt
and muddy trousers.
In answer to my request for writing
materials, bottle of muddy ink, 6
stumpy pen and a couple Of sheets o.
soiled paper were brought out Of 9
little cupboard beside the chimney
These l took to my room above, and
sat down to write to my wife.
any DARLING BERENICE:"
] paused and laid down my pen as
concluded the words, half smiling
to think what she would say if she
could know of my strange quarters
at that mOment-she, my fair little
Italian flower, now regaining the lost
roses under the blue, balmy sky OF
her native land.
Not until both sheets were covered