Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-06-16
THE DEMON BOOTS.

The pleasant town of Creighton stands
by the sea. Years have passed since I
paid my first visit to Creighton on a
misty day in "dreary, dark November, %
and sought the hospitality of the Ter
minus Hotel, just outside the railway
station. But I have never forgotten
that visit. / have lively recollection
of the Terminus Hotel, though have
never since then patronized it. I cher
ish pleasant membranes of its bu1om
widow landiady, tender memories of its
fearfully handsome chambermaid; and
never, never have 1 forgotten the de-
mon Boots" of that establishment,
towards whom continue to entertain
sentiments of undying and implacable
animosity. May the grave of his great
grandmother be defiled May the
bones of his maiden aunt on the
mothers side-but no matter! I must
be calm.
The committee Of the Creighton Libra
ry Institute had engaged me to deliver
a lecture on Handel, and the lecture was
to commence at eight P. NJ. [ arrived
at the Terminus Hotel at six; ordered
dinner and sent for the "Boots." Five
minutes later the coffee room door was
softly opened; four red knuckles and a
shock head became visible, and their
owner asked. in a husky voice:
'sD'ye want the Boots, EUR?
care you the Bootsl'' I answered.
"Ees, Eur.
Come in, then, and shut the door.
I don't want to be blown into the Chin
ney."
Slowly and cautiously: Boots COM
piled. He was short and stumpy, wore
corduroy breeches and leather CATERS
around his handy legs, dogskin waist
woelen comforter, and a liberal allow
ance of dirt His tangled hair, innocent
of brush Or comb, was embellished with
stray bits of straw, and his general ap-
pearance suggested recent rapid pro-
motion from the rank of ostler to the
prouder position of 's Boots"
s'no you know the Literary Institute,
Boots?"
1.-THE Institoot, zur?-Ees,. EUR"
81 wants to be there before eight
o'clock. After dinner [ shall change my
dress, and you must have fly at the
door by a quarter to eight"
''Quarter to eight. Ees, EUR.
Tomorrow morning must leave by
the eight o'clock train. Tell the porter
to be here for my portmanteauat quar-
ter to eight p
Quarter to eight. Ees, EUR"
o%es51 f11rr OF hn
foremost part of the bundle of tow
which hung over his forehead, and de-
parted Dinner was unaccountably de-
layed, and when it arrived half an hour
behind time, the Cockney waiter "oped"
[ would excuse the delay, which had
'sbeen caused by Hughes leastwise;
Boots, 'avin made a mistake in some
thin he was sent for" So his name
was "Huggles,' confound him
After dinner / attired myself in the
evening costume of the period; took my
lecture and music from out of my port
manteau, and was at the hotel threshold
by ten minutes to eight. No vehicle was
there! At this moment ''Boots"
stumped through the hall and made for
the staircase.
sBoots" I shouted, ''what are you
about2"
'sTm gwine for your portmantel, Eur.
I'm the porter EUR.
No doubt He was the Un-admirable
Creighton of the establishment.
leave my portmanteau alone.
Where's the fy?"
Cali right, EUR. I've ordered it, EUR
at Muster Shillito's, Eur. Quarter to
eight to morrow marnin', zur.'
ssConfound your stupidity! What
should I order fly orto-morrow morn
ing when I shall be close to the station?
told you quarter to eight this eve
ming
did ee, zur?'
"Dad Z OF course I did. Are there
any cabs at the statlon?"
'sNoa, zrr-pot afoor half after
eight"
I looked at my watch. Five minutes
to eight I looked at the muddy
road. I looked ruefully at my patent
leather boots. Only one course was
left.
"You must show nue. the way to the
institute p
18th Institute Ees, Eur"
Ans away we started through one of
those reeking "sea fcgs for which
Creighton is proudly pre- eminent. It
was five minutes past eight when We
reached the Institute. It was already
closed, and not light to be seen2 I
rang the bell while my friend Hughes
Knocked at the door. No answer. Had
the audience gone away at one minute
past eight, Disguised at the unpunctu-
atty?
''Do they close their rooms at eight
euery night ?" asked.
"Noa. EUR. But p'raps it's one OF
their lectur nights ?"
cit is their lecture night!
81 think as how you're right, EUR.
remember, nov, as iced bill this
marnin' about somebody O. the name O
Hahndul as wur gwine to lectar at the
Institoot.
"Handel going to lecture? But
never mind He's the man I want to
hear. Where is he to lecture? ?"
The demon Boots took off his cap,
I, I II :