Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-01-22
"There was a certain hotel t,

our village were in the habit of
| going. This | avoided. An
other chosen at a hazard, seemed
to be better. Thither | walked,
determined to leave no Il ace of
my destination to those who
knew me. / had torn the hat
ter's mark from my beaver. AS
| assembled the hotel steps | felt,
so to speak, like one going on
to his own funeral.
"a grinning waiter bowed
before me. A pert clerk lifted
up his head and stared. | was
an ordinary Traveller to them
that was evident.
at was late in the evening.
The place wore an air of re-
pose. Laughter and faint
chink of glasses in an inner
apartment, told Of some con-
viyiality. One old man read
his newspaper before the fire.
/ Nothing else was astir.
81 asked for a room. The
clerk nodded.
"Do you care what fioor?" he
asked.
Il shook my head.
"Number twenty-nine is
empty" he said, and tossed a
key to the waiter, whom l fol-
! lowed at ciivr.
"We reached the room by
two flights of stairs. At the
door the waiter paused.
"Thoughhe said twenty-nine, D
he muttered, The key is twen-
ty-one."
''Then open twenty-one with
it, l said. 81 don't care for
the number of the ROOM"
"No, sir-to be sure, sir"
said the waiter, and passed a.
long a few steps further.
"Twenty-one," he said. and,
unlocking a door, pushed it
open.
Shall | bring you anything,
sir?" he sail.
II answered NO. and he left
me, having put the candle on
my bureau.
"The hour had come. As |
shut the door, a heavy sigh es-
capped me. Alas! that life had
become so woful a thing to me
that ! should desire to be rid Of
it.
SIN the dim light of my one
candle, l paced the floor, and
thought bitterly Of the girl |
loved so dearly.
at was in the days of cur
tanned beds. The bed in this
room was hung with dark chintz;
so were the windows. Over the
bureau was a looking-glass, with
portrait Of lady in putfed
sleeves and high comb, at the
top, by way of ornament
There were four stiff chairs, and
a brass shovel and tongs stood
beside the CRATE. | fancied my
self lying dead on the bed' "a
midst all these belongings, and
felt sorry for myself. Then l
took my pistols from my port
manteau, and leaving the door
unlocked, for why should | put
the landlord to. the trouble of
breaking it open, | lay down on
the bed, drew the curtains, took
a pistol in each hand, and, as
true as / now speak to you, had
the muzzle of each to a temple,
when some one opened the door,
and-'There, now, jessie said
a voice; 4 told you, you didn't
lock it.
4 did, said another voice:
'and sent the key to the office
by the chamber-maid,'
81 laid the pistols down and
peeped through the curtains
, There were two ladies in the
room. One, an old lady, in {
brown front Of false curls; the
other, my cruel lady-loye, Jes.
sic Grey. For a moment l fan
cied / must be dreaming.
1 "'Sure it's the right number?
: asked Jessie.
&" 'Twenty-one-yes,' said the
5 other. 'And here's my band
| box. Oh, dear! I'm sleepy
r az am not said Jessie. L.
: wish l was, aunt
on didn't sleep WINE
| last night said the aunt. No
: you haven't eaten your meal
4 to-day. You'll go into decline
t if you go on in that way. II
see DR.. Black about you to
= morrow
: "I don't want DR.. Black t,
i be called sighed Jessie. I'c
= rather de-
q whats the matter?' eric,
the old lady. you are no