Year: 1859




A WIDOW IN TROUBLE.


The Memphis Appeal publishes the following
very romantic story, and assures its readers that
the occurrence related is strictly true:


A friend of ours, who does business on Main
street, in this city, travelling few weeks ago
in Arkansas some so or 60 miles below Memphis
As night came at the conclusion of long days
travel, he arrived at solitary house, where it
appeared the residents within already preparing
to retire to rest. He Knocked at the door, head
protruded from window, and in reply to 4
question from the owner Of the head, he said he
wished to stay for the night. The head was
withdrawn, and consultation apparently took
place with some one within, and after little delay
the head was again advanced, and our friend asked
his name.-We will not give the name stated
that Of "Fulkerson" will answer the same purpose
"Fulkerson," repeated the man with the head out
of the window, as if surprised, and not agreeably
So eyes, John Fulkerson," was the reply in a
tone that had an expression of fimpatience about it,
for the traveller hungry as well tired, and
not being a priest, fasting never smoothed his
temper. The head was again withdrawn at this
announcement, rapidly an Irshman once
withdrew his, when he knelt and took drink out
of one OF the boiling springs of the State in which
the adventure relating took place. Some
time now elapsed; the night was cold, and our
hungry friend found his quarters in front of the
solitary house not at all to his mind At length
he hammered violently at the door several times,
and uttered series of CALCULATIONS, indicative
of flexible tongue than OF profound piety. He
then took look round the premises, to ascertain
if possible the of this unaccountabe delay.
He discovered man stealing silently away in the
rear, who jumped over the fence and set off in
run, that spoke well for his agility in the direction
of the timber. The front door was opened at this
moment, and negro girl called to him to come in.


On entering he could discover nothing suspicious;
good supper set before him, and he was at
tcntivey waited upon, lie noticed, however, that
the negro very curt in her replies to his ques-
tions, and that when he asked anything about the
inmates of the place she manifested an emotion
that looked liked alarm. He retired to bed too
greatly fatigued to reflect much upon the singu-
larity of this conduct; he slept well, and in the
morning was at all early hour eating his breakfast,
when he observed pair of eyes intently gazing
at him from chick in the wall that divided the
room in which he sat, from adjoining passage.
Determined to know the meaning of the singular
behaviour he had observed in that place-for every
individual about it, whom he accosted, answered
him with trcpidation in the fewest possible nlm-
ber of words, and then hurried away from him as
1t In fear-he lushed into the passage and catch
ing hold Of the man whose eyes had been so bus-
ly engaged, he demanded the reason of his singular
scrutiny. The man appeared overcome with agi-
tatlon, and asked-in a voice the interrogation at
once recognized as the same he had heard on the
previous nj ght-if Mr. Fulkerson intended to stay?
No, Mr.. Fukerson would go as as he had
finished his breakfast and paid his BILL but he in-
sisted upon knowing why go much spying and whis-
perng were going on :? "Why, are you not Mr.
Fulkerson that owns this house % asked the man.
"NO, l never the house before" was the reply.
In moment look of intense satisfaction beamed
from the mans face, which had before worn a
troubled expression, and without another word he
rushed up stairs three four steps at time, and
quickly returned, bringing with him portly look
ing dame, whose eyes were red, as iffrom weeping,
and exclaimed in tone of joyous surprise soon
as she caught sight of our bewildered friend, who
could not for the life of him guess what had bewiI-
dercd the folks-'1t is not John I"


An explanation then ensued from which it ap-
peared that the house in which our friend had
spent the night had formerly been the property of
a man of the same as himself This man
had been absent for some years. AS nothing had
been heard from him during all that time, his bet
ter half the lady who appeared so much pleased
that he not "JOhn" had resolved to take
another husband, and the new knot was to be tied
that very evening On the previous evening her
intended second husband was paying his attentions
to lover when the announcement of the name of
"John Fukerson" from friend in a moment
spread dismay and CONSERVATION where all had
been joy and anticipation. The lover stole off the
back way, to be beyond tho reach of danger; the
lady had spent the nightin weeping; once she had
mourned her husbands absence, now she grieved
over his return. The quietness of the unexpected
and unwelcomed guest had, however, somewhat
reassured the distressed couple, The lover had
tiously returned to the house and was making his
observations, when our friend unceremoniously
seized him. The tidings quickly spread, and
laughter and mirth soon filled the dwelling
that had been doleful with disappointment and
sorrow. The traveller was heartily invited to stay
and partake of the wedding SUPPER his business
called him away, however, but he has since learned
that the marriage took place without interruption.
If the real John Fulkerson, of Arkansas should be
alive end see this, let him take warning and never
approach the house be has deserted for he is most
emphatically not acdnting.