The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-03-17
at last stopped before the doorIof a very

VI CtfSih.
1t bore a nondescript-looking sign,
which was told represented a golden
angel, by which name the tavern was
known.
l entered and made my stereotyped
inquiry-whether I could have bed
there for the night. The landlord, a
thick, burly-looking man, with gleam
of latent humor in his face, shook his
head, and repeated the hateful words:
"All full"
l turned to 60 away, but was recalled
by the voice of the host.
would you mind sharing bed with
another party?" said he.
eff there is no help for it I suppose I
must" replied, although, to tell the
truth, it is by no means agreeable to
me-" ana l inwardly heaped denuncia-
tions on Ardew's head for persuading
me to be his substitute.
Your bedfellow is quiet fellow
when he is asleep. although must say
he is rather violent when annoyed. He
sleeps very soundly, and all you have to
do is to be careful not to wake him. DE
has been in bed some time"
I must make humiliating confession
to the reader: am not a brave man. l
have often tried to persuade myself that
l am. but truth compels me to state that
a greater coward does not exist than
myself. The landlords description Of
my bedfellow was anything but assur-
ing, and was on the point of declining
when the proprietor OF the Golden
Angel, no doubt reading what was tran
spring in my mind, exclaimed:
You are afraid, are you?"
Afraid! 1 should think not, in
deed,"I returned, for was too much
ofa coward to brave being thought one.
Il accept your offer of half a bed.
Bring me some brandy and water and
cigar"
l sat down at one of the little tables
in the bar-room, and putting away at
my cigar tried to persuade myself that
1 was ry jolly. 1t was a miserable
attempt, however. I had previously
supped at a restaurant in more modern
part of the city. After my cigar was
finished T asked to be shown to my
chamber. The landlord took upon him
self the task OF being my conductor, and
I followed him up narrow rickety
staircase. We kept on ascending until
we reached the top of the house. when
we entered modererately-sized room,
but much cleaner than / had expected
to find it. The ceiling was very low,
and inclined in front to the slope of the
roof. The apartment contained but one
bed, which was placed against the wall
near the door. At the opposite end of
the chamber was q table, placed be-
tween two windows which looked upon
the roof.
The landlord placed the--lamp upon
the table. a.d | noticed that be shielded d
the light with his hand as he passed
near the bed.
"Be sure and don't take the light
near him." Whispered the proprietor of
the Golden Angel; nothing wakes him
sooner than that. You see don't know
how he might like my pu lug another
man with him; and he is !. cry ugly
customer when he's Iiled, IN tell
YOU"
IL shall be careful" replied.
"That's right! Good night" he VIII. e.
pered, and left the room.
He had no soon.- gone than l cau-
tiously sat down, taking care not to
make the least noise. | then calmly
surveyed my position. 1t was certainly
not a very enviable one. According to
the landlords account my companion
Tor the night was anything but an ami
able character If / should chance to
awaken him l knew not what might
occur. He might assault me danger
ously before could enter into any ex-
planation. I half resolved to pass the
night in the chair, and not retire to bed
at all. But it was one of the old-fash-
ioned, high backed chairs, and made
such an uncomfortable seat that soon
tired out. 1 then ventured to glance
around the room. My eyes naturally
fell on the bed.
There was one thing that consoled
me; my companion appeared to be in
deep sleep, for he did not even move.
could see the ridge made by his feet
at the end of his bed, and that was all.
I also noticed that the bed was a very
large one. The man who had posses
sion of 1t lay near the wall, and there
was plenty Of SPACE between him and
the outside for me to lie without touch
ing him. l screwed my courage up
and began to undress-but I suddenly
remembered the landlords words, that
the stranger vas an "ugly customer
when he was riled," which made me
desist. The thought struck me that !
might manage to lie on the floor, but
moments examination settled the ques-
ton in the negative, for the floor was
entirely bare, and the air blew very cold
through the wide chinks in the plank
ing. I cast my eyes to the ceiling and
noticed for the first time that heavy
beam studded with numerous hooks ran
through the apartment; but rs ! was
not bird and could not perch there,
this discovery was of little use to me.
Half an hour passed away in this state
of indecision. stole cautiously to one
of the windows, and gazed on the beau
tiful city hathed in the light of full
moon.
How quiet and calm everything
looked But the air felt fresh and cold,
and closed the window and resumed
nv seat in the chair. then found my
selfwondering what avocation my friend
in bed followed. suddenly cast my
eyes on heap of clothes which lay on
trunk. covered over with hanker-
chief, no doubt belonging to the sleeper.
Ny curiosity got the better of my polite
ness, and before I scarcely knew what
was about I found myself examining his
apparel. The handkerchief which COW
cred them was coarse cotton one, and
his clothes of coarse homespun, and
were such rs are usually worn by
drovers. My companion, then, was
evidently drover-a rough class OF men
who usually stand npon very little cere-
mony.
Partly undressed rs / was, began to
feel very cool-but before venturing
,, into bed determined to try an expert
ment to see if the drover slept soundly
or not. ] had taken the precaution to
leave the bedroom door open so that [
could make run Of it if necessary. /
fixed my eye on the bed rs l let my boot
| fall. The drover was evidently sound
sleeper, for although the noise made was
considerable he did not make the
slightest motion. This decided me, and
l hastily finished undressing and c-ept
into bed.
Of course, I was careful not to touch
nv companion. l do not know how
long I lay awake, but the novelty of thu
situation drove sleep from my eyes fol
some time. BY degrees. however. tht
strangeness of my position wore off.
felt reassured by my bedfellow's sount
sleep, and the gentle murmuring of th'
breeze outside caused me to follow hi
example.
have no idea how long slept before
| commenced IN dream I suddpn1 70
however, though that my companion