The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-09-28

v.
, the time appointed, Squire Jessup tbt
his client word that he was ready to se"
AAm agatha The terms were cnnclud d
! y 'actorliy, the papers We're signed Mr.
) Thompson deposited check for oue half
8 TIE amount of the estimate. took a Ieceip,
Tor 1T, and directed that the work should
ne begun at once Il ana going away
now for while" said he, "sIs.gswlll keep
you advised OF my Whereabouts, SO that
you may write me tDpm tiMae to time
what progress is being made. "
You have placed in nay band" SAID
the good old lawyen, ga trust which
hope you will find has not been mis-
placed. And they sh:ok bands and part
ed, and the next days coach took away
MI john Thompson in the dissection from
which he had come.
A month passed away, and then anoth-
er and then another. and the calm, genial
days % the indian summer came around
once more to throw their garments of
scarlet and gold and lusset over the fields
and orchards. and woods, about the littnr
village upon which we have looked. And
day ny day the walls grew higher, he
and more distinctly on the little knoll
overlooking the village, and with it rose
the speculation and curiosity Of the be
holders A glorious mansion it WASN'T h
great, wide airy balls, and broad covered
FeranFahs, and galleries suggestive ot
those to be seen In the tropics. There
were in it rooms innumerabie, both great
and small. Sitting rooms, with great
generous windows for letting IN the sun
hight, C )sy little bedrooms, and pantries
and closets of all kinds. And all with
such an air Of brightness and complete
mess throughout, from top to bottom hat
every one who strolled up there to hook
at Old Thompson's place." as they had
come 10 call it, invariably envied the com.
fort of the future inmate.
And then there came at intervals, CON
signed to Squire Jessup, Che alone knew
from Wh0m), vases, and figures, and bird
houses, anu no end Of odd rustic chairs :;
and the workmen laid out paths and
graveled walks, put up high board fen
ces about the whole ten acres, with a huge
gateway in front, SO that now people could
no longer enter at pleasure, but had to
peep IN through the trellis- work and
when the workmen all left, "a monster pad
loo k appeared at the gate, and, 10 Mr.
Thompson's place was finished and ready
Tor al occupant.
By this time winter had set in, and NV
pie were already talking of the holidays.
Just before the happy season arrived,
came back, a sort OF harbingrr of Santa
Claus, Mr. John ThompsOn--not in dus
~ stage coach, in the twilight but wrap
! l,,,4r i =
| jngling sl3igh-belis, and well into the
hours of night.
| The next day his arrival was the town
topic everybody had expected him of
course he looked oil g., many tnoughr
but he was active as ever, for all that
made an early call at the Squre's, passed
most Of the day in going over the build
! ing and grounds, and, returning in the
evening, slipped away to his bed before
any one had even half charce to see
him. Then, as ii surprises would never
end, or, rather, as if Mr.. john Thomp
sous fund of eccentricltles were inexhAus
tible, there appeared, day or two after,
posted up all over the village, an invita-
tlon TO high and low, rich and poor
Young and old, to attend house warming
to be given on Christmas eve, by John
Thompson, Esq, of New Orleans, at
his residence IN this village" And the
village newspaper in its next issue con
tanned the same invitation, strengthened
| by sundry hints, and pretty broad ones,
too that no one could well afford to miss
such an occasion DIS this promised to be.
And so days chased each other by, and
people wondered as they saw the prepa
ratlons for the festivities; tables and
chairs and crockery, and whole wagon
loads of good things, all drawn up and
quietly disappearing within the mysteri
Gus gateway
AZ last the eventful evening came, and
hundred lights glancing out from the
windows Of the new building cast their
broad glare down the snowy road and lit
up the gardens and grounds with blaze
of light. The host had no reason to re
greet the liberal hospitality, as, standing
at the wide doorway, he welcomed the
throng of rich and poor, young and old,
who attracted by various motives, had
come in response to his invitation. Squire
Jessup, arrayed in his best suit, with
high collar and brass buttons, was
everywhere among the guests, looking
happy and proud as one who had dis
charged an important trust. And still
the throngs flowed in at the doorway, land
Mr.. Thompson had kind word for each;
and then finally the great house was full
of people.
Just when the buzz of many feet seem
ed at their height, there came sound of
some one rapping to secure silence, and,
looking around to discover the cause, the
guests saw Mr. John Thompson standing
on chair in the centre Of the hall, evil
IDENTIFY DESTROYS of saying something.
/" Sh-, sh-, sh-," went round the as
/ senahlv S.Oniet there y shnntad some.