The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-11-30
A STRANGE CHARACTER.

an old woman, living in the suburbs OF
Portsmouth, England, was summoned to
her door by knock, and, on opening
it, found herself confronted with an old
man, poorly dressed, with bundle in
his hand, such as travellers of his class
frequently carried on their pedestrian
| tours.
ssMadam," he said, respectfully, ''car
I get to lodge here tonight ?"
''It amt my business to take dodgers,
replied the mistress Of the house, scan
ming the applicant closely by the light
| she held in her hand.
"I s'pose not, Madam-but I am q
| poor man, and want shelter somewhere. >
''Well, why don't you so to an inn
there's plenty of them in the town.
'sJust because I'm poor, and can't af-
ford to pay as much as they'd ask. I've
got little money, only a little, and
want to make it go as far as I can. I'm
willing to pay you what's reasonable, and
then I would save something, I'm think
ing"
"Who are you? where do you belong
and what's your business %
'tI'm called John the Painter, and
that explains my business, and belong
anywhere where I happen to be. If you
are not satifed with this answer, why,
good night to you, and I'll trudge ON to
try my chances somewhere else"
The old woman, who was poor herself
| and lived alone in small, crazy, old
house, thought she might as well gather
in a few pennies, by keeping the travel
er, as to let some of her neighbors do it;
| and SO, after little reflection, she re-
| joined:
81 s'pose I can keep you, if, as you
say, you'll pay me what's reasonable
for, like you, I'm poor, too, and cannot
afford to do it for nothing. Come and
sit down-you look tired. s'pose you
want supper?''
Eyes, if you please" said John the
Painter, as he walked in and took seat
near the fire, upon which he fixed his
eyes somewhat abstractly, while he care
lessly threw his hat and bundle down
beside him.
For the half hour that the mistress of
the house was busy preparing his sup
per, the traveller seemed deeply absorb
ed in matters Of his own, and scarcely
once took his eyes from the fire, or
changed his position. At first the old
woman glanced at him furtively, with an
air of ordinary curiosity, and occasional
ly ventured some common place remark
but finding he made no reply, took no
notice of her presence, and even seemed
not to hear her, she became bolder in her
manner, and two or three times stopped
| near him, staring directly down into his
face.
He appeared to be between sixty and
seventy years of age, had grey hair, a
stern, pinched face, large nose, thin,
compressed lips, and cold, staring eyes,
| the expression of which was far from
pleasing, and which was not redeemed
| by anything else in his countenance. In
fact he seemed like man not at peace
with himself or the world, and who was
either then brooding over some commit
| ted crime or some contemplated re-
venge.
'sThere, sir, your supper is ready if
you want it, at length spoke the mis-
tress, in a half querulous tone, as if Of
Tended that none of her previous remarks
had been noticed.
The strange traveller took no heed, but
sat staring at the fire.
81 say your supper's ready, man, and
if you want it hot. you'd better eat it be-
fore it gets cold, for I'll not warm il
again this blessed night for you or any
body else!" cried the hostess in an angry
| tone.
| Still no movement-no respouse-no
indication that her unmusical voice had
been even heard.
| 81 sayl she half screamed in his ear,
fe eiiO ottiilO lAu1C lah1L1S5 hOilt VI ulo ttI IL
rather rudely.
| Like ball he sprung from his seat
and confronted her, his eyes looking wild
and wicked.
"Good Lord, man, don't scare body
SO p exclaimed the woman, taking two
or three quick. backward steps. and
turning pale with fright. ''Tm on1y try
ing to make you understand your sup
per's ready"
The stranger glared at her moment,
then glanced at the table and then seem
ed to comprehend the true fact.
"Oh alb ! yes!'' he replied, with a
grim smile. 81 beg your pardon-it's S
like you've spoke to ME before -
''It's like I have, half a dozen
times, just as might have talked to q
post -
''Yes, madam, see-I thank you-I
beg your pardon ! was busy thinking
and forgot where Iwas.''
He then took his seat at the table,
and, while eating his supper, tried to
make amends for his former impolite
abstraction, by making himself as agree
able as possible. Ee succeeded so well
in his efforts to please, that the mistress
OF the house was quite charmed with bis
conversation, and began to think he
might possibly be an angel in Disguise
or, in other words, a rich and eccentric
old gentleman, whom good fortune had
thrown in her way for future husband
or possible legacy.