The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-09-28
THE STRANGE VISITOR TO w
BY GEORGE L. CATLIN.
From the CINCINNATI Weekly Times

COdCU came GOWN the S13u6u street OF tue
On g will lgc of W, on sway to the Old
fashioned hosiery standing at the cross
roads In the center Of the town, where q
sign, swinging to the wind, announced
entertainment for man and ueast, and
where, in fact, for all travellers in thai
mail coach the day journey ended. The
day had been mercilously warm one
the dust, in clouds, rolled up from the
wheels, the driver sat begrimmed and
coatless on his box, and the jaded ami
mails barely K pit up at gait faster tt an
d walk, by the consc iousness of the near
&pproach of the nights resling-place
| \ ct unpleasant, either, was the contrast
which the dusty vehicle and its occupants
presented to the cool, quiet of the side
walks and verandahs which it passed on
its lazy journey down the shaded thor
oughfare Bare headed urchins sat upon
grassy banks and tossed their hats aloft
in welcome Bevies of laughing, fair
haired children fitted by, while within
the white pailngs which lined the streets
could be seen, sitting here ana there III
the shadows, happy family groups, de
Iighttully suggestive of refreshing cool
ness and comfort.
So, at any rate, thought the solitary
passenger whom on that particular eve
ning the mall coach brought to W.
He had been riding all Gay, had travel,
ed several days previous, he said, and
was not bit sorry to be near the end OF
his Journey A IA, her singular looking
old gentleman be was, toe, at sight, nor
at all such a one as you would single out
in crowd to ask for sympathy or assist
ance His face had worn and forbid
ding look to the casual observer, his dress
was plain, rather inclin, to seedlness
even, and, when be spoke, his Voice was
quick and testy, that of a man who had
battled all his life with care and anxiety,
and had learned to ask no odds but those
which his own energies and exertions
gave him Good natured Boggs, the
driver, who, in his decade of stage-coach
existence, had made study OF human
nature in all it's phases, had made up Lis
mind pretty early in the day that his
passenger was not man to be easily cul
livated All efforts TO draw HIM into
conversation had proved futile. "And
yet" thought Boggs, there's something
kind anG good behind that grabbed face,
and answers, I'll be bound"
He made a final and partially success
ful effort, however, as they neared the
village.
Ever in W before, ST. ?" he asked.
"Yes-yes-but ii long time ago. Has
the place changed much ?"
| "Precious little to my knowledge, for
twenty years back" answered Boggs.
Twenty! Its twice that since l was
here" said the stranger.
! f'Mcre boy, then, s'pose," continued
Boggs.
Eyes, quite youngster when | left
this place. was the reply; and then the
two re:upsed into silence,
Aud now as they passed on through
the twilight: shadows toward the village
center, the old gentleman peered eagerly
out, now on this side, now ON that, now
gazing closely at some one or another vi
he gaunt OLD dwellings embpwered in
flowers by the roadside, now leaning
forward as some brook, or tree, or other
familiar landmark came back to his mem
ory And So, rs be looked and ponder
ed, the vehicle came to a halt before
the tavern door, and the journey was
over.
The old man-for he did seen old, as
with his short, bent figure and limping
gait, he shuff1ed up the hotel steps, ana
across the sanded hoor-gave some direc-
tions about his baggage-which consiste
of small, superannuated trunk, and a
carptt.b tg which had seen its best days
long ago-inqured in sharp, fretful
way where the proprietor was, and upon
that individual making his appearance,
not of the conventional rubicund visage
Bonitace. but of a demure, sober.faced
man, whose letbgaric movements and re-
Isigned expression of countenance marked
him as one " no simply condescended to
make his earthly home and keep a hotel
in W, because he couldn't do any bet
ter, propounded in rapid monosyllables
the inquiry whether he had any comfort.
able rooms vacant.
"Do you simply want lodging over
night, Sit ?" meekly inquired the host.
mo, Sill" was the reply, "a week, two
weeks, month, or two, perhaps"
A momentary CLEAN of the sordid
seemed to overcome the submissive in
the inn-keeper's countenance, but it
quickly faded away again as its owner
saidn 81 trust we shall be able to accom-
date you, sir, Please register your
name"
The stranger glanced over the pages
of the book before him. Not an arrival
that day-none the day before-in fact,
only two for week back. To this beg.
carly record of guests he added his sig
nature, scrawling in little, dried up char
acters like himself, the inexpensive
name, "John Thompson, New Orleans"
The old gentleman was fatigued, and
after little repast, all to himself in the
dining-room, was shown up to his apart
ment, corner bee chamber, gorgeously
stiff and cool with its white curtains,