The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-06-04

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had evidently been suddenly reused from
her slumbers took light to show me to
| it. We passed first through room,
where at two or three tables, men were
| playing cards-as / saw through almost
binding smoke-then through kitchen
where a ndedcten with her head on table
was soundly sleeping and where a small
| black dog came out from somewhere to
growl at me-then across a stone passage.
1t was small, low room we found, with
| a porcelain stove that occupied consider
able space, a short bed, chair, wash
tand and two trunks. The room had that
| forlorn air of tidiness thata room may have
that is never occupied. The bed was
covered with handsome enough knit
cover, and the window curtains were
crocheted. The floor was bare but clean.
There were two colored French Autographs
on the walls-heads and shoulders of
| blandly smiling women. On the top of
| the stove was a pile of bed-cloths, with
which the woman made the bed with a
dexterity that surprised me, she was SO
heavy-looking. I ventured to try my
limited German on her by asking if
could have my tea and some hot rolls and
butter brought to my room, for felt the
need of establishing connection with
somebody in my dreary condition. The
woman evidently did not understand me,
though she responded "Ja, Ja." Her du-
ties quickly over she babe me goodnight,
| and lighting a. crumb of candle that she
| found amonnS other crumbs in her apron
! pocket, departed.
How desolate I felt! Tired, hungry,
| sleepy, and not little nervous at the
prospect of spending the night in such
| unpromising quarters. But determined
to begin well by making. myself little
tidy for my tea. I soon found that had
| counted without my host, or had no host
to count on. My washstand containedla
hand basin, but no ever, and SO no water.:I
| must wait till my tea was brought for
there was no bell to nv room. / tried to
| be amused at the situation, to see it in its
ludicrous aspect, but was so cold that any
attempt at a smile must prove fearful
grimace. 1 shivered SO that could not
sit still and I got up and tried to pace
around my little circle. The clock struck
IL. I waited while longer for my tea,
| my teeth chartered with cold and dread of
the long night before me. At length l
took my candle and sailed out into the
passage to try if possible to call some ono
to serve me, for | was sadly i'll need of
something refreshing. crept noiselessly
along the unlighted corridor to the head
of the stairs and began TO decend when
the door suddenly opened below me and
let out upon the passage two or three such
returned breathless to my room. To my
door there came up the sound of shuff1ing
feet and excited voices and good deal of
underlined noise that was glad to try to
shut out. With suspense and some
anxiety the minutes dragged, but at length
the clock on some near tower struck II.
gave up all hopes of even an apology
for supper and decided to make the best
of it. There was no lock on my door, and
no way of fastening it, SO made barri-
cade before it by piling one trunk on the
other and putting my chair on that in a
way that any pressure GU the door from
the outside would throw it to the ground.
I could not think of going regularly to bed
under the circumstances, but / lay down
on it and over myself big, over stuffed
co,tvre pied, which fell to the floor the
moment dropped asleep. That, however,
must have been near morning for count
ed several of the hours as they struck,
and my spluttering candle had burnt it.
self out, leaving only suggestive odor
would gladly have been rid of.
At length gray morning made itself
visible, and as soon as / could see / made
my way to the lower regions. still dark,
where found the man of the night before
with lantern in his hand. An old woman
was called and fire lighted in the kitch-
en- stove, where watched the brewing of
my coffee while I warmed myself. I did
not criticisa my bread which [ ate with a
compete of stewed pears and mustard
for the butter was an indignity-nor my
account neither-though it was exorbitant
and when the morning train came up
from Munich was the first to enter.
/ was alone i'll my compartment-that
for clone woman" and the excessive
cold aggravated my general wretchedness.
No notice was taken of me by anyone, and
got safely to Strasbourg, nursing my
physical discomfort. At Strasbourg the
officers of the train were changed, and I
became an object of interest and attention
two of the guards-one big middle-aged
man with half gray side whiskers, the
other younger, a tall, STOPPING individual,
who smiled in at my window on every |
occasion, with light blue eyes of most
inane expression.
How uncomfortable those two men
made me! At the second station after
Strasbourg the elder of the two demanded
of me my passport. I replied that l had
none-that none was necessary on jour.
ney from Stuttgard to Paris. At this the
younger was informed that my name was |
Gretchen, but it was impossible to say to
which part of Germany l belonged. AT
the next station 1 was asked for my visit
ing card, with my Paris destination. I
produced it while the old man watched
with evident enjoyment my apparent dis
comfture.
As we approached Paris the miles SEEM
ed longer. The train knew wonld ar
rived after dark and-but will not follow |
the thoughts of fancies that, stimulated |
by my fears, filed my mind. At K. the |
train stopped, and saw my two persecu-
tors looking down toward me, and, O,
joyl I saw on the platform of the station |
my good old friend Mr.. TRANQUILITY |
smoking cigarette. I waved my hand- |
kerchief-I shouted:
20 Monsieur! Monsieur G. 70
z 20 fettered Andromeda ever welcomed |
g aComing Perseus with more delight than
did this old friend of my childhood.
My shout attracted his attention; he was |
soon at my side. why, Marie, where
are you coming from-where have you |
been?"
Don't ask me anything. Come into |
this accompaniment; can't stay alone any
longer"
"But will not be allowed. This is pour |
les danes seules."
Then take me with you-anywhere-I |
don't care where, only take me.
The light by whichsI write this shines
on the beautiful face and gray hair of the |
good man have referred to.
In ye ars he is twenty my senior. but in