, 1876-02-27
TIMOTHY STUBBLEFIELD.

By OLIVER P. ROWLAND
Y57ttsn for The Chicago 7T'o"ne-
ftwn. sfrer midnight, aud Officer snipkins
xtood uuder shelter, looking out upon the steadi-
1y-fa1linc rain, undecided IS to whether liberal
and co,umou-sense Interpretation of instruc-
t,oos rou1d excuse under the circumstances,
failure on his part to make his regular round5.
Tia heard, in the distance, men walking. The
measured step eare first impression OF many,
then q definite impression that there wore only
two. Il was spr1ngins quickstep, with little
too much boot-heel emphasis in it to be soldier
ly; and yet it suggested soldierly precision, with
m evident inclination to make the left foot duly
promioent. It suggested also the elasticity OF
youth, the e1hiIaration OF vine. the devil-may
care 1auntincss OF The Rogue's March. Snip
kins listened unprofessionnlly, and became in
terested. AS the walkers struck long stretch
OF well-payed sidewalk, and settled down to the
regular clickclack. click-caek step, after cross-
ing the street, he found himself marking time
with his right foot. the toe rising and falling
with the cadence Of the step, while, at tho same
time, he harborod vegue impatienco for the
column to pass, that he might fan in. The rain,
the deserted streets, tho preceding guietness,
made the ringing steps interesting By CONTRAST,
and interpreters Of all the walkers felt Click
clack, caick-c1ack (the officer fancied he could
nane tho persons, and inclined his head to listen
closely. clict-clack. click-clack, click
There Was NOT y sound, except thas made by
the falling rain. The officer had taken up the
step, and the movements of bis own body were 80
in harmony with those OF the walkers that the
consciousness OF stopping On the wrong foot
wss sharply painful while the impression of q
step projected never to bo finished, Was 80
vivid rs to startle him. He tried in win to
shake of this impression. The men had not
stepped of the sidewalk, because there was no
break in it. Reason as he would. there Was
something about the eudden stop that puzzled
him, and he proceeded to investigate
Standing within the circle Of light shed from
the lamp post midway between tho crosa-streets
wss an old man, in his shirt and drawers, bare
leaded and bare-footed Beyond him, the two
Young men. standing rs they had stopped, sur
}1ised and startled at the eight Of the queer
iicu1o before them. It seemed to them that tho
man had dropped from the clouds in their patti
He stood morionless ns statue, the rain drop
ping aud spIaehing unheeded on his bald Shiny
head-frout, and running in lttlo streams from
the cluster Of gray hair on the bach OF his head
The smooth face, the bald head. tue
g-ay hair the scsut dresa the touch
ing humility Of expression, the sense
OF heiriessness against the pitiless rain.-
all we're elements 10 make the picture pathetic
one. The effect was not lessencd as the old man
turned and walked, in an old man way. strange
" g1otasquo and awkward it seemed now, to-
ward tho young men. They stepped aside, and,
Is he passed, looked closely at hin. Ha Was
asleep, aud, at sign from the officer, they fol-
lowed him. Tho thought in the mind OF each
uas, that hs would 60 directly home, and all
shrauk from wafing him to the realization Of
his present stnte.
The old man walked to tho City Bank building,
and stopped as it to inspect it carefully he
Was, Is he stood shaking his head, the persona
6cation Of care and troubled thought. He tried
tho front door, then the door on the other street,
then moved away. These proceedings were care
fully noted by his pnrsue1s, who now determn-
ed to wako the sl6ep-Ealket and take him home.
The officer caught him BY the arm. ana the man
awoke with start. He soon recognized the Eir-
uation, and his humility and embarrassment
were more touching than had been hia bearing
while asleep, He explained in low tone that
be WAS great sleep-waiker, and tlat he was, IN
this case, slammed aud bewldered-
"tNhat is your name Z"
Aftcf moments hesitation, he said. With
queer expression of the eyes (redectiug, as il
were q consciousness of being about to create
eeusat1on). Timothy Stubbleheld."
Tho oi1icet's eyes said plainly, IS be looked at
the young men, AZ The came old trick Of giving
IN assumed name. Pretty thin, but let it Co."
'1Where do you live 2"
AT 304 Blank street."
Shall NC take you home ?"
41H you please. You will plsce me under
grent obligations. am in = very unfortunate
predicarnent."
They went with him to SO4 Blank street. q
eomcwhat pretentious brick house. The name
=. Stubblefeld" WAS on the door-plate and.
while the three men performing escort-duty were
in sort OF daze over this uplooked-for fact star
ing them in the face, the elcep-ralker, discover
idg thnt he had left <he door unlocked when lie
mf+%t 1nFt
asked them to preserve silence US to his unfor-
tunate adventure, slipped inside, aud turned tie
Ihe next night one of the young men found
Officer 6nipkins at the street-coruer, End very
naturally tho man with the queer na1ne Tas tho
topic Of conversation. Mr. Fred Bell had boen
strangely impressed by the adventure Of the night
previous, but had given the matter little cousid
eration. Tho policeman declared that the case
was the stranSest lo Aad ever known. He did
ecshion OF such name as Stubb!efeld unless he |
assumed it :: and il be selected it himself, why3
IF. Bell explained that there were great |
many queer names, such rs Proudtoot, Pretty |
very satisfactorily accounted for, and ho Lad
found the explanations very ingenious. |
e. Thal may all be-" interrupted the officer. |
81 But. when man calls himself Gunvad, or |
Frogpond, or Stubbleheld, there is more than |
ingenuity in it. There's hidden meaning, or !
the man is whimsical old codger. The ques- !
ton with me is, low that old fellow came by the
name. md why he is 30 particular to have
door-p -plnte. Sec :"
M1. Bell was not naturally curious man, but !
he was curious on this question. He thought |
about it during the night, and the next dar ex-
anineu the city directory. The name Of Stub /
blefied was not there Thie Tas surprise, ac6, |
in his walk home that night, he explained the |
situation to Mr- Brown, his companion on tho J
night Of the adventure Brown was intensely |
asto5 and fhev linked nm the nolice officer