The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-10-08
A COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS TALE.

A COMMERCIAL TKAFELER'S TALE.
The following amusing narrative is
adapted from story which appeared
some years ago in the daily press:
A commercial traveller, on his bust
ness rounds, came to one of the large
Yorkshire towns, where he found, upon
his arrival, that the time which, under
lapse of memory, he had chosen for
his visit, was most inopportune. "The
races were on;'' and every house of &C
commodation was crowded to excess.
Upon application to the landlady of the
hotel where he had been in the habit of
staying, he was informed that every bed
in the premises had been bespoken for
a week before his coming; and more
than this, that even the very floors and
tables of the dining-room would be
burdened at night with racing-men and
weary pleasure
1--WE are extremely sorry, SIR" said
Mrs. Boniface, "that we cannot receive
you, an accustomed patron of the house.
but under existing circumstances, it is
impossible that we can. But" she adj
ded, will give you the names of
some persons in the town who let rooms,
and perhaps you will find among them
some one who can put you up-at least
hope So"
Our friend took the list of names with
rueful face, and at once set about the
discovery of a place of rest for the
night. But all his searchwas fruitless
Every bed and possible shake-down"
in the whole district was pre-engaged,
and if he would remain in the town he
must walk the streets until morning.
But sooner than do this he resolved to
return to his good landlady of former
days, and cast himself upon her beney-
client continuance and sympathy.
Upon my word, SIR" she said, "you
greatly distress and puzzle me. 1 re-
ally do not know where in the world ]
can put you" But after thinking for
moment, she asked: f." Will you con
sent to occupy the hostler's room, sir?
1t stands in back part of the premises,
and perhaps we could manage to make
tat least in some degree-comforta-
ble."
The traveller thanked her warmly,
and declared that the accommodation
she spoke of was the very thing under
the circumstances. ..:
In about half an hour The hostler
was called, and told to take lantern
and conduct the gentleman to his
bedroom, The way proved to be
across a large yard in the rear of the
inn. up step-ladder, along narrow
boarded passage, then up three stairs,
and finally through doorway into the
sleeping apartment. Our traveller
found, on looking around, that good
use had been made of the half hour he
had been kept waiting. A carpet had
been put on the floor; blankets and
sheets were unexceptionable.
Goodnight, SIR said the hostler
setting down his lantern to furnish some
light. 81 hope you'll sleep well, sir
and, indeed, think you'll have bet
ter chance of doing so here than the
gents in the house-you're away from
the noise; and in times like these the
streets all night, are anything bu
quiet"
1t was late in the autumn of the yea,
the nights were long-and ou
friend, rather tired, fell asleep, and die
not wake until the gray dawn of tn,
morning, and not even then had he no
been aroused by some one coming alons
the outer passage with heavy stel
and entering his bedroom. Turninc
round in his blankets to learn who wa
the intruder, he perceived man, tall
gaunt and grim, his throat bare, tn,
sleeves of his shirt rolled up, and hi
hair all unkempt and standing uprigh
in the most disordered manper. Tn
dark figure drew near the traveller
bed, stopped over him and peered dow
closely in the dim light, evidently anx
ious to find out if the person lying Their
was awake. Perceiving that this wa
the case, our traveller saw him. in tn
dusky light, draw himself upright /
the room, then solemnly raise one arm
and point with his hand through tn
window to place outside; after which
more impressively still, he slowly r,
covered the extended limb, and m,
toned with his forefinger three time
across his throat. This done, tn
strange apparition abruptly departed
his feet sounding as distinctly upon til
floor and step-ladder going out as the
had been heard TO do when he came il
The commercial traveller was not
nervous man, and he had knowledg,
more or less, of the strange occurrence,
and rough usages of the world. Ye
this dark, grotesque and absolute
silent intruder, and his most singul,
gestures, did not strike him as alt,
gether pleasant or agreeable, and b
would much rather not have been Iii
turbed in such an unreasonable and vi
warrantable manner. He would, hoy
ever, take no action-at least for IL
present. Indeed he felt himself pov
erless to do this in this lonely part
the premises. But he certainly, WHIT
got up, would make complaint to Mr.
Boniface of the way in which he h,