New Orleans Republican., 1875-11-21

| deal of confusion inside l amt certain as
can lay my hand on anything in the shape
of bedroom furniture, linen or counter
panes. or the likes of that. But I'll do the
best l can for you. Shall you be wanting
| your boots blacked? Well, Pm pretty sure
there's backing brush somewheres about.
AS Tor towels-well, we must find some
thing for you. Master and me amt very
! particular, you see. We're used to roughlng
| it, and making things do, and getting along
| anyhows. For my part. don't mind own
ing I'm more comfortable like when Im
dirty than when I'm clean. Still, think !
| could find you morsel of yaller soap, if
| only gave my mind to it. The master likes
to have something of a cleanup now and
then, when the tit takes him. He's what
you call curious character is the master,
| take him all round"
And you and he are the only tenants of
| this large house r.
"Yes, that's about it. Come along inside
and look about you"
CHAPTER II.
followed him. into the house. He was
careful to close, and even to bar the door
after us.
The ruinous look characterizing the ex-
terror WAS fully present within. All was
dirt and decay. The air was laden with
dust, and with close, unwholesome odors.
The rooms were carpetless; the floors un-
even and shattered, as though the boards
had been splintered by violent i'll usage, or
rent away altogether; the ceilings were
black with dirt and smoke the walls were
cracked and blistered, or stained with large
patches of green mold. There we're spacious
rooms on the right and left as we entered
Of these had but glimpse through the
halt open doors. One appeared to be used
as kitchen. Both were almost bare of
furniture; unprovided with blinds or win
dow curtains, and exceedingly dirty. The
staircase was broad and of an old-fashioned.
substantial character, Of dark oak apparent
ly. But there had been cruel maltreatment
of the carved balusters; many had departed
altogether certain of the others looked as
though they had been hacked with knife,
or battered with a mallet.
This would be about the thing for you,
l should say, when it's trife brushed up
and put to rights. There's lock and key
to the door, you see, all complete. You
wouldn't find that everywhere
He led the wav as he spoke into large
room on the first floor and threw open the
shutters that l might the better view the
accommodation offered me.
The bedroom is through that door
yonder."
1t was cheerless place. A few ragged
moth-earten scraps of carpet strewed the
floor. There was but little furniture;
pauiV Al IuC CCutIO anu luIcc VI luuT CudlTb,
all exhibiting signs of ill-treatment and
decay, with evidence, nevertheless, that
they had originally been of a good, sub
stantial, and even costly kind. The dust
lay very thickly upon the creaking, shat
tered floor, as, indeed, upon every object in
the room
will it dol'
"Well-I must try and make it do, sup
pose"
I'VE can clean it up bit, may be-
"1t would stand good deal of cleaning"
"But you haven't seen the bedroom. Take
care; there's a step down. That boards
little unsteady; perhaps might find nail
somewhere to fix it for you. It's rather
dark, this room. The windows small, and
the gasometer outside blocks out the light
SO. But it's what one might call snug sort
of ROOM"
Zone might call it that, certainly, but it
wouldn't be particularly true. Well, what
rent do you want for this precious accom-
mation"
'WOuld five shillings week hurt youl"
he asked, after an interval of severe self
communing the while he had scrutinized me
from under his bushy eyebrows and falling
locks of hair, tugged at his beard, and even
thrust handful Of it into his mouth, torn
it with his teeth, and labored apparently to
consume it altogether.
1t was agreed that was to pay five shil-
lings week rent for the rooms, and was
to enter upon possession of them forthwith,
with proviso that some measures were to
be taken in the direction of cleaning and
repairing.
''And, mind; I've let 'em to you, not the
master You pay the money to me and not
to him. He's naught to do with it. It's no
sort of affair of his. If he should try it on,
don't you be persuaded to let him have
sight of your money!"
"And your name is"
"My name is Mark Voss. I'm not
ashamed on it. Mark Voss. Do you heart"
"And the master, as you call him, What's
his namel"
Whats that matter, to you or to any
onei Call him the MASTER as do. Isn't
that name enough3 Can't you make that
do!" He spoke very angrily
said I'd try and make it do: that it
didn't matter straw to me what his name
was. And so ! departed.
My luggage had been left at the railway
station. engaged porter to wheel it on
Q truck to the Red House. He stared at me.
"You know it ~
Il know it fast enough. But it seems a
strange place for you to be putting up at,
my young master. The Red House OF ali
houses in the world I've been in this town
a many years now, but never before was
asked to wheel luggage down TO the Red
HOuse!'
CHAPTER III.
Mark VOss was as good as his word.
When returned in the evening he was car
rylng out our provision that something
should be done toward cleaning the place,
He had taken off his coat and rolled up his
shirt-sleeves; he was busy plying mop,
having first emptied bucket of water on
the floor. can not say think he was do
ing much good.
The bedroom certainly did not Look in
viting. A trestle-bed, covered with patch
work counterpane, stood in corner. The
sheets were ragged, of very coarse texture,
and not merely damp; they were wringing
wet. Fortunately l possessed good sup
ply Of railway rugs, which l could substi-
tute for the sheets. There was rickety
washstand; dirty, mildewed chest Of
drawers. l was prepared to rough it. /
knew that my stay in the place could be
but brief; that for some hours every day l
needs must be absent from the Red House.
And had youthful ability to sleep under
almost any circumstances. lily dilspidsted
rooms and their deoayed furniture, the Red
House and my strange landlord, Mark
Voss, afforded me, indeed. considerable
amusement. My curiosity was somewhat
aroused, and was supplied with abundant
opportunities for indulging in conjecture
and speculation.
My sitting room window commanded a
view Of the desolate, wild and neglected
garden; the bedroom window looked on the
gas works. could see from neither the
main entrance to the house.
Mark ceased from his toll. He refreshed
himself with draught from a wicker flask
he carried in his pocket. An odor Of whisky
pervaded the chamber. His face was very
red from hard work, and, as I now per
ceived, from drink. His speech had be-
come indistinct and his gait unsteady.