The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-04-28
A Village Rar-room.

tending to reach my home in season to
S partake of the annual Thanksgiving din
ner with food and loving friends, at the
cid homestead 1t was a bitter cold
morning when we set out and the roads
we're frozen hard, there having been con
siderable mud only few days before.
The first night we put up at Dansville,
and on the following morning when l
Iawoke | found that the earth was not
Ionly covered with snow, but that the
snow was falling fast After an early
break fast we set ont again on Wheels
but at the end Of eight miles we were
forced to take runners, the snow clogging
ND so that the wheels would not turn.
When night came we found ourselves
obliged to stop at small village only
twenty miles from where we set out in
the morning.
A good supper was provided at the inn,
and the place had he appearance OF com
f 1T. We had just sat down to supper
when the wind began to blow furiously,
and we conld see by the dim light without
that the snow was being whlrled ana
driven about in furious manner. There
was fire in the small sitting room, and
thither we passengers, six Of us, adjourn
led. We sat there and conversed until
y near nine o'clock, and then went out
Into the bar-room to smoke cigar, pre-
vious to retiring.
In the bar room found a bright wood
fire burning, and some dozen people were
sitting there smoking and drinking.
This was long before the introduction of
Maine laws.) Several of the company
) Judged to be transfers; a rough, hardy,
good natured SCI who were enjoying
themselves hugely over big mug of flip
Then there were several whom | found to
be villagers-men who lived near the inn
"a set of village politicians, and the
spongers, who made the barroom their
t place of social evening meeting.
had lighted my cigar, and had taken
e seat near the fire, when | noticed but
falo skin on one end Of the settee opposite
to where I sat. and / was confident there
5 was human being beneath It, | sup
posed it might be stable hand who had
been at work hard, or was expected to be
MP most of the nj ght and was now get
ting little sleep While looking at the
buffalo robe, and thus meditating, heard
a low, deep death.like groeh come up
from beneath it, and in few moments
more the robe was thrown upon the floor,
and the man who had reposed beneath
came down upon the top Of it, and there
he lay for some moments like dead man.
had Just started up. when four villagers
FASTENED to his assistance. They lifted
him to his feet, and after considerable
effort he managed 20 stand up.
My God what thrill struck to my
heart when I saw that face It was one
of noble features; brow high and
amply developed, over which clustered a
mass of dark, glossy ringlets; the face
beautifully proportional, and each sep
arate feature most exquisitely chiseed.
But what an expression rested there now
The great dark eyes had a vacant. idiot
ic stare; the face was pale as death, and
the lips looked dry and parched, and
much discolored. His clothes were torn
and soiled and one of his hands bloody
He was surely not more than five and
thirty, and his appearance would at once
indicate a man of more than common
abilities But the demon had him and
made him into something now below the
brute.
Glow dye feel now, George?" asked
one of the men who had gone to his as
SlSCaUCo.
But he only groaned in reply, and he
was soon persuaded to lie down again
being told that he'd soon feel better
AS soon as he was on the settee once
more, and the buffalo over him, the mer
returned TO their seats
"Who's that chap9" asked one of the
teamsters, looking towards the villagers
:, who had been assisting the unfortunate
man.
: That's George Lockland,' returned q
stout, honest looking man.
Does he belong heres"
"Yes. Didn't We never hear of him .
The teamster replied he had not
"Well resumed the fat man, ats toe
bad, declare it is Lockland might b.
one of the first men in the town if he'd {
mind to; but you see he will drink; an6
t. the worst OF it is, he makes fool of him
r self He can't touch it without doing
!, just as he's been doing now. He started
= here as a lawyer, and smart one he is
IS too. Why, he can argue old Upton righr
It out of his boots. But We see he's lost al
b of his best customers now. They daren''
e ktrust him with business, cause he amt
= sure of ever doing it. He's got one o.
J. the beautifulest little wives you evel
j. saw ; and one Of the handsomest children
/ But, poor things pity 'em. Then there's
!, another thing; rum operates differently
I on him from what it does on most folks
b It doesn't show itself outside, as it does
II on almost everybody else, but it seems to
!. eat him up inside. You see how pale he
: looks-well he's always so when he's on
4 one of these times. He can't eat nothin
and don't suppose he'll put bit OF
food into his stomach for week t.
come"
). "How long has he been OF asked the