The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1898-09-17
Plight Of a Traveller.

THE following amusing narrative is
adapted from story which APP
peared some years ago in the London
press: A commercial traveller, IN his
business round, came TO one of the
large Yorkshire towns, where he found
upon his arrival that the time which,
under a lapse of memory, he had chosen
for his visit, was most inopportune.
THE races were on" and every house
of accommodation was crowded to ex-
cess. Upon application to the lundlady
of the hotel where he had been in the
habit of staying he was informed that
every bed i'll the premises had been be-
spoken for 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 rae
ing men and weary pleasure-secllcrs.
1--WE are extremely sorry, sir" said
Mrs. Bonifacc, that we cannot receive
you, an accustomed patron of the house,
but under existing circumstances it is
impossible that we cun. But" she
added, Il 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 Il place of rest
for the night. But all his search was
fruitlcss. Every bed and possible
"shakedown" in the whole dist rct was
preengnsed; 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 him
self upon her benevolent continuance
and sympathy.
Upon my word, SIR" she said, you
greatly distress and puzzle INC. l really
do not know where in the world I
can put you" But, after thinking for
a moment, she said: "Will you consent
to occupy the hostler's room, sir? 1t
stands in the back part of the premises,
and perhaps we can manage TO make
fiat least, In some degrec-comfort.
able"
The traveller thanked her warmly
and declared that the accommodation
Ahe spoke of was the very thing UNI
der the circumstances.
In about half an hour the hostler
was called, and told to take lantern
and conduct the gentleman to his bed
room. The way proved to be across
a large yard in the rear of the inn, up
q stcplndder, along n narrow boarded
passage, then up three stairs, and final
ly through doorway into the sleeping
apartment. Our traveller found upon
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; the blankets and sheets were un-
cxceptionnble.
1t was late In the autumn of the year
the nights were long-a1d our friend,
rather tired. soon fell asleep. and did
not wake until the gray dawn of the
morning 1Rd not, even then, had he not
been reused by some one coming along
the outer passage With heavy step.and
entering his bedroom. Turning round
in his blankets to learn who was the in
trudcr, he perceived a man, tail, gaunt
and grim, his throat bare, the sleeves
of his shirt turned up and his hair all
unkempt and standing upright in the
most disordered manner. The dark
figure drew near the travellers bed,
stopped over him, and pecred down
closely in the dim light, evidently
anxious TO find out if the person lying
there was awake. Perceiying that this
was the case, our traveller saw him. in
the dusky light, draw himself upright
in the room, then solemnly raise one
arm, extend it, and point with his hand
through the window to Il place outside;
after which, more impressively still, he
slowly recovered the extended limb
and motioned with his forcilnger three
times across his throat. This done, the
strange apparilion abruptly departed,
his feet sounding us distinctly upon
the floor and stcpladder on his going
ont us they Ind been heard to do when
he came in.
The commercial traveller was not
nervous man, and he had knowledge,
more or less, Of the strange occurrences
and rough usages of the world. Yet
this dark, grotesque, and absolutely 81
lent intruder, and his most singular
gestures, did not strike him as alto
gether pleasant or agreeable; and he
would much rather not have been dis
tnrbed in such an unreasonable and un-
warrantable manner. lie would, how
ever, take no action In the nntter-ut
least, for the present. Indeed, he felt
himself powerless to do this in
this lonely part of tho prem.
ises. But he certainly, when he
got up, would make complaint to
Mrs. Bonifuce of the way in which he
had been annoyed. Fixing this purpose
In his mind, our isolated lodger betook
himself again to Eumbcr, and Ind al
most reentered the land Of dreams
when, both to his vexnton and alnrm,
the footsteps he Ind previously heard
again sounded upon his ears-thc same
firm and measured trend-and soon his
former visitor repeated his mysterious
intrusion.
This time the gaunt figure looked agi-
tatcd and angry, and, to our Travellers
amnzcmcnt and fear, carried in his
right hand large, long and cleaning
knife. Pointing his hand in similar
direction as before, he shook his grizzly
head, and violently winked his eyes,
and stamped his foot, yet uttered never
n word, but kept perfectly silent, and
concluded his wild actions by drawing.