The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-11
LODGINGS IN THULE.


spokes o white hairs. God forgi'e me-
but if the likes o you get saved, heav-
ems no the place IL used to he. / said.
The man turned as white death.
and what was he doing with his hand
behind his back? He coughed, slipped
something into his pocket. and left the
room. From what occurred next day.
make no doubt that h had taken out
his gully.
shortly afterward as l was seeking
comfort in my hymn-book, tap came
to the door. and in walked my landlady.
She lectured me in such a fine strain
of sorrow with so many tears and texts.
that l felt myself in the wrong. and had
il in my heart to apologize. But sud
denly she put her arms akimbo. and
said
And it's the last NIGHT yen sleep I'M
der this roof MIR. AIurra.''
She threw a pass-b book on the table.
There. settle THAR she said. It's
less than it should be; but yer brither
Joseph was "A nice man
As I was getting back my breath and
making 10 speak. she lifted up her hands
and cried:
Nae words. III or weel, sail or wheel.
aft We go the morn.
Now that was the coolest night but
one of famous season of cold. Your
hands got quite numb if exposed for five
minutes You sat before the fire with
your grey coat on; your face and legs
would be scorching and your back like
ice. The thought of being on the sea
next day in an open boat like Mattha
Harwick's made me shudder. How was
l TO stand the weather, or who would
sail me far in polar frost? There was
nothing for it but to beg old David
Inkster to take me i'm till the spell of
cold was over. / was thinking thus when
the door was opened, and my landlady
not showing her face, bawled out that
Mattha Harwick and Tam Inkster were
willing TO convey me TO Lerwick. and
! that they were in the kitchen.
Send them in" / said.
Harwick was a fat man for fisher
He had gray whislIers, but on his head,
which he always kept covered. there was
scarcely a hair; YOU would see the ends
OF red napkin sticking out from his
bonnet Inkster was the handsomest
man 1 ever saw; he was about six feet
high, and had yellow curls and large
eyes of the deepest blue. / gave them a
dram, and after good deal of talk we
made a bargain. They were to take me
To Lerwick for thirty shillings. and we
were to start the next day at noon. I
thought them daring men to propose
such sail, but II was not for an exile
like me to stick at dangers which they
were ready to face for fare.
And now for the pass-bOOlx.
Several times during my sOjourn I
had asked for my account. but l had
always been put off with a laugh or a
compliment, and now | was a little
afraid Of It. / would not open the book
till had made some hypothetical calcu-
lationS OF my debt. Thirteen weeks at
five shillings a week. l began-three
pound five; so much for lodgings. AS
for board, having my experience at
various places to go by, and considering
that the gain from my smaller appetite
would compensate the loss from daintier
fare. l concluded that eight nine
pounds would cover it. | was thus pre-
pared 10 see the figure twelve, and III
not jump at thirteen" 1 said to myself
No / added. Frightening with the
thought of home nor. bedad at four
teen ] opened the pass book. The &C
count was nineteen pounds ten shillings
and two pencei My lodgings were put
down at five shillings and six pence a
week, instead of five shillings. 1 had
lent the wife sums amounting to thirty
three shillings, and the man on one &C.
casion ten shillings. Only the thirty
three were entered. From Inkster and
Harwick ] had received sundry presents
of fish. These were all charged for and
at pretty stiff rates. But the tale of
4 meat and liquor fairly took away my
breath. I sat lost in horror at the moral
condition Of a man and wife that could
swindle the stranger that was within
| their gates and yet profess the utmost
| goodness. and that between the cliffs
and the heather Of "A lonely shore.
I burst into the kitchen. There were
| the two fishermen on their legs, as If
about TO depart Mrs. Thurson was
clearing away the supper things; her
| husband was sitting at the fire.
What kin O account is this?'' | ex-
| claimed. holding out the pass-book.
We'll, good night to We "a" cried
Inkster. nudging his neighbor, and TAX
ing a step towards the door.
Old Harwick plainly refused the hint
I he stood still, wearing an expression I
1 I M
| complaint but had scarcely touched the
first particular when the woman. feign-
/ ing the utmost CONSERVATION. drew a
| long sigh and set up a gable that might
have been heard at sea Not a word
could I get in, for If roared she yelled,
and at my loudest | was as one bawling
| in "A hurricane. AS sensible man |
gave up the job. though TO stand and
| listen was yet harder when 1 could have
throttled her for her lies and hypocrisy.
| Down came my fist upon the table with
| report like a cannon. Her tongue
| stopped: Harwick made a threatening
movement. and my landlord jumped out
of his chair.
"Staun there an answer ma ques-
| tons" I said to the woman. Did nae
we agree that ma ludgin's were TO be
| five shillin's week.
90 the lee!' she exclaimed; ut was
| five an sixpence."
"Ay. five an six said Thurson.
| Ma DrlthSr II nae something 70 say
| TO that. If there's law in Shetland"
She was going off in another rant.
Silence! Hoo much money did We
| borrow frae me?'
Il borrowed in a thirty-dhree shillins.
] Der was dree shillin's, an five shillin'S,
an twice half-a-croon, an on the rent
! day a pound; an if We say 1 borrowed
mair. may the Lord hadd His hand frae
strikin' We deid."
Thurson was fidgeting under my eye.
What about the ten shillin's l lent
| yer man the day he went to Lerwick %
The woman stared.
Il paid it." said Thurson hoarsely.
| throat. man"
I dared him to make his observation
| good by giving particulars. My hand
| was going at the time, and happened in
my anger to twitch his jacket. Instant
/ " he retorted like a wildcat, and but
/ for the scream Of his wife, and Har-
wick pulling my sleeve, there might
4 have been a nasty tussle
IF We paid the money, john" said
that honest man Inkster. try and mind
| the day"
Tam. you hadd yer tonguen said
| Harwick
Il am trying to mind" said Thurson.
| appearing 10 be i'm deep thought; and
| after some inarticulate mutterings he
| whispered into the Goals:
/ WAS il yon Tuesday,"
! Hes preparin his story" I put in.
Il paid that ten shillin's' he con-
4 tinued. shaking his head over the fire.
! Harwick WINGED at the exhibition
( Yer freen's a man o sma' invention, "