Evening star., 1928-11-26
WORLD FAMOUS STORIES
THE STOUT GENTLEMAN.
By WASHINGTON IRVING.

sWa.shington Irving, I7sa-1s5s. was an
american essayist, novelist and historian.
bridge Hall''1
1t was rainy Sunday In the gloomy
month Of November. I was obliged to
keep within doors all day in an inn of
small town. A wet Sunday In a coun-
try innl The rain pattered against the
windows; the bells tolled for church
with a melancholy sound. I was lonely
ana llstleSs and wanted amusement
MY room soon became unbearable. I
abandoned it and sought public room.
but it was deserted
What was to do to pass away the
long-lived day? was sadly nervous and
lonely, and everything at an inn seems
calculated to make dull day ten times
duller. Nothing to read, nothing to
see, no one to talk to.
was dreadfully hipped. The hours
seemed as II they would never creep
by. The very ticking of the clock be-
came rksome. At length the stiffness
OF the mouse was interrupted by the
ringing OF a bell Shortly after heard
the voice OF waiter at the bar:
''The stout gentleman in No. Is wants
his breakfast. Tea and bread and but.
ter, with ham and eggs, the eggs not
to be too much done"
In such situation as mine every
incident is OF importance. Here was a
subject OF speculation presented to INV
mind and ample exercise for nv irnaei-
nation. am prone to paint pictures
Tor myself, and on this occasion I had
some materials to work upon.
Had the guest upstairs been men
tloneo as Mr.. Smith, or Mr.. Brown, or
Mr.. jackson, or Mr.. johnson, or merely
as the gentleman in No. 49," it would
nave been a perfect blank to me. ]
should have thought nothing of 1t, but
tne stout gentleman !'-the very name
hao something in it of the picturesque
It at once gave the size: it embodied
the parsonage to my minds eye, and my
fancy did the rest.
he was stout, or. as some term It.
lusty; In all probability, therefore, he
was advanced in life, some people ex-
pandlng as they grow old. BY his break
Iastlng rather late, and in his own room
ne must be man accustomed to live al
MS ease, and above the necessity OF
early rising; no doubt, a round, ROSY
lusty, old gentleman.
The breakfast was sent up, and there
was a snort interval of silence; he was
doubtless making the tea. Presently
there was violent ringing. and before
IT could be answered another ringing
still more violent. The waiter came
down IN huff. The butter was rancid
the eggs were overdone. the ham wa;
TOO salt; the stout gentleman was evi.
IDENTIFY nice in his eating; one of thos.
VINO eat and growl and keep the watte]
on the trot.
The hostess got into a fume. She wa
prlSk, coquettlsh woman; a little O
snreW, but very pretty withal; with
poor specimen for a husband, as shrewI
are apt 10 nave. She rated the servant
roundly Tor their negligence in sendin,
up so bad a breakfast, but said not ;
word against the stout gentleman: b,
winch clearly perceived that he mus
be some one Of Importance. Othe
eggs and ham and butter were sent up
Iney appeared to be satisfactory
l inquired who this stolt gentleman
might be. No one knew his name. A
such inns travellers did not register, an,
tney dld not mention their name. NJ
one took the trouble to learn it. The,
were identified by their rooms. or b
tnelr clothing--or, as in this case, a
the stout gentleman in No. 49,"
AT last / went to my room. hat
not been there long. when there was
squall from neighboring bedroom.
door opened and slammed violently:
chambermaid. that had noticed TO
having ruddy good-humored face
went downstairs in violent furry. 'Th
stout gentleman had been rude to her
This sent whole host Of deduction
to the deuce. This unknown persorag
could not be an old gentleman; for cl
gentlemen are not apt TO be so oh
streperous to chambermaids. He coul
not be young gentleman: for youn
gentlemen are not apt to inspire sue
indignation He must be middle-age
man, and confounded ugly into the bar
gain, or the girl would not have take
lthe matter ia such terrible dudgeon.