Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1871-12-01
Tho Last of a Hermit.

Hermiis are commonly held TO he creatures
of romance rather than reality, yet there are
snch beings even in this pfosac age. a re-
cusr died in Saline county, Kansas, week
or two ago, who for twenty long years had
| lived absolutely alone. lie dwclt in n large
cave some len miles from the town OF Petra.
aud nothing was known Of his early carcer
until after his death Tint career then proved
to have been very touching and mournlul
The hertnits name was Franklin Elliott.
During the years Of his solitary existence in
the cave he was an object OF constant speenln-
ton and curiosity. Once or twice only in The
year he came into the town lie would then
barter game or pelts for powder, shetland salt,
seldom anything else, speaking rs few words
as might be- and then hnstening away. Some
times he would be seen ia the woods carrying
a long rifle and quantities Of game. # be saw
peoplc approaching he would try to avoid
Them BY turning aside into the forest II that
bnppened to be impraclicahle, lie would stalk
modify straight on. When spoken 10 he
would reply briefly and coldly, and ~ once
depart. lie had go commanding air, proud,
set face, and, in spite Of squalid attire, long
elGn locks, and singular mode Of life, inspired
rs much respect rs curiosity The cave 10
which he lived was commoaious, having been
enlarged, evidently by himself from n small
hole 10 an apartment twenty-five feet square
and ten or twelve feet high. when examined
after his death it WAS quite void OF furniture.
Pieces Of stone and inches in the rocky walls
apparently served as chairs, tables and shelves
A rife aud fowling-peicc were found, II long
broad bowie knife fishing tackle, cooking
utensils. and IL number Of books. Among the
latter were copies Of Shakespeare, Stctne,
Addison, Schiller, SoHihqY and SFcnsrr In
one corner was heap Of blankets aud slaue
and on these lay the solitary occupant Of tie
reircat--dea1
Two gentlemen had been hunting near by
and were ogcrakcn BY storm See'Ing
refuge NJ the cave, they knocked ~ ne heavy
iron-bound door No response being nude 70
their repeated summons, they pressed canlions-
Is to the inside nod saw what we have de-
scfibed. They also found small lin box,
such az is used hy lawyers, and in this were
paDers that made clear the nnhai py man =
history. He had been well born, edncated
ard aniuent. il would appear TINT llc must
have been carly 10 life elected 70 the Le9isla-
tnre of his native State, Kentucky. before ms
he had become passionaiely attached 10 Yonng
Girl A likeness Of her. showing that size
mast have possessed remarkable beauty. quail
fed bg rather scnsuoGs and cruel expression,
was also found in the box. Sets OF letters, ~
different hands, make the whole drama clear
ssOlive for such was her name was written
on the portiait and 10 letters. had LED Elliott at
first 10 ihink bis love for her returned IN
other words. Spf HiiNath HfIHtH "ltl' htt' 80 I
tcr the fashion ofmany other sex without hav-
ing any real feeling. While the GONE WAS
Going on some one crossed her path for whom
She conceived vcriiahe passion. She cor
responGcd with this fresh admirer, but lacked I
moral courage TO tell the other the truth. ~
Their for this reason, or ont Of contemplate
vanity. she kept NJ her affairs with both
Elliott discoycred all. ~ 81 the tin bog. writ
len by olive" 10 both himself and bis riyal
proyed such letters, bearing the same date,
were found side by side and stained with blood,
in The same package.
In the sanc package was ycllow'prin'ed
sin cot from an old newspaper. II gave an
account ola fiahtfnl duel fought between The
two men with rifles ~ twenty-five paces n
ljoft shot his antagonist through The head.
The cause or the duel, as described By the slip.
was dispute ut cards. II described the slain
man. Bailey. as =" handsome, brave and lack
Of principle =" What happened afterwards as
regards tOiive" is unknown. lie went
abroad. and seems % have remained IN Europe
two or three years. 1t is onlr known That ne
did return, that he abandoned friends aud so
ciety foreser. and lived like the melancholy
Jacques. imam abandoned cave until death
rnereifnlly closed his eyes.-Ntn Iork ltafs.