Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-12-27


across the front of the house, as is
usual with Partisan hotels. Only a
red lamp, with the word, Hotel
on it in black letters, was set in an
iron framework projecting above
the door.
We paid our conductor, who sham
bled down the street. after casting q
last glance at the glittering studs
and vest buttons which Veronge dis
played as he threw back his overcoat
In order to get cut the money.
A sleepy-looking old woman I'm a
calico short gown and petticoat, and
with yellow silk handkerchief tied
about her head answered our sum-
mons at the door of the little hotel.
"Oh, yes, you can have rooms GER
tainly, though the house is very full.
Monsieur has hurt his knee, has he?
Then monsieur shall have the ground
floor room, of course. The other
monsieur must pray to mount to
the third floor"
Gould we not have rooms togeth-
err? suggested Veronge.
"Impossiblel Quite impossible!"
The old woman was wide awake by
this time, and very energetic. "In
fact, the two rooms | have offered
are the last that are left, for the
house has good name, though it is
small"
While talking she had lighted a
couple OF candles and preceded us
along narrow passageway at the
end of whichIwas door, which she I'M
locked and threw open with a -four
ish.
"You see, you could not be better
lodged in the Grand Hotel"
The room looked comfortable 1t
was long and narrow. There was
one window at the leit-hand side as
we entered. The bed stood in an
alcove draped with hangings OF
green moreen. The window was
protected outside by massive iron
grating, such as is usually employed
on ground-hoor windows in France
| advanced to this window, and, hold
ing my candle aloft, peered out into
the darkness. could see that it
! opened into n sort of narrow yard,
terminated by high bland wall.
The old woman, troubling herself
very little about my scrutiny of the
premises. was engaged meanwhile in
lighting the fire, which was laid all
ready for the match in the little CRATE.
When our old conductress had got
the fire well under wav she rose and
testified her intention of accompany
ing me at once to the room destined
for me. 1t was up three flights of
stairs, but was snug and comfortable
enough, though rather small. The
old woman lit my fire, as she had
done that of Veronge, and then went
back to bed.
Tired as Twas, had no notion ofgo-
ing to sleep without paying n last
visit to Veronge, to see ifhe needed my
help in undressing. SO, merely wait
ing to pull offmy overcoat and rain
soaked boots, | went downstairs
again.
found Veronge sitting by the fire,
and nursing his aching knee with O
very dismal expression of counten-
ance. He frightened up at once
when he saw me enter, and became,
in spite of his pain, quite chatty and
confidential. When rose to retire,
which did in about half an hour,
feeling wofully tired, he would not
hear of my departure.
"Sit down." he cried; "sit still for o
while; tits only 2 o'clock, and have
such story to tell you"
So down | sat, and lit a cigar, while
Veronge plunged into some inter
minable history of college scrapes
and adventures. The armchair in
which sat was soft and comtorta-
BILE, the fire gave out drowsy heat,
the story was stupid, and in fifteen
minutes was fast asleep.
1t seemed to me that l had just
lost consciousness, when | was sud
denly awakened by terrible shrek
n cry as il for help, with which it APP
peared to be my own name was
mingled. started bolt upright,
wide-awake in an instant. All around
was still. The candle was extinguish-
ed, but the room was lighted by the
rnddy glow of the fire in the CRATE.
So profound was the silence that the
patter of the rain against the win
dow-panes was distinctly audible.
Veronge was nowhere to be seen.
"Veropge!" l called in a half whis-
per, not wishing to wake him were he
sleeping, "have you gone to bed?"
There was no answer. l stretched
myself, yawned, and took look at
the clock.
"Half past g." l muttered. Unjust
have been dreaming had best get
to bed as fast and as quietly as pos
sible. / had 40 idea that | had slept
so long"
took up my candle and essayed
to light it at the fire. AS | did so it
struck me that thereon was strange
~, unnaturally quiet; not sound,
not even that of heavy breathing,
betrayed the presence of the sleeper
in the alcove. That horrid cry. too,
was still ringing in my ears. so | re-
solved that would take one glance
at my friend to satisfy myself as to
his well-doing.
He might have the nightmare"
thought; and so it will be q charity
to arouse him."
So / advanced't to the alcove, lifted
the curtain and looked in. There
was no one there. The bed was in
disorder, the covering tossed aside