The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-07-15
A BURGLARS STORY
Told by Himself.
IN ELEASOI: KIRK.

A ELEANOR KIRK.
There is something very mysterious
about that man." said my compassion.
We were sitting, books in hand, by a
fuvorite lake of ours in the heart of the
Catskiu Mountains, as the individual re-
ter.ed to went slowly past Us. had no
ticed him many times. | closed my book
and watched him out fsight. He might
have been forty years old, though his face
did not indicate that number of years
His figures must once have been fine, but
now mis- broad shoulders were bent, and
his gate was slow and evidently painful
His feature were fine and Of Grecian
type; his eyes dark and large, and when
they suddenly met yours, fierce and al
most wild; and his hair was rs white u
/ snow.
/ "He has tent about mile from here.
nv companion continued, "and am told
/ that every wear he changes his quarters,
/ and seems determined to make no acqualn'
tanccs. The proprietor OF the hotel says
/ that never until this year has he wander
ed any distance from his camp but that
now he is too unwell to prepare his own
food, and Is compelled to go to the hotel
after it,
| listened to his account with consider
able attention, for this stranger had IN
terest me deeply. | had met hun more
than once IN my solitary rambles, and
had Gene to feel singular sympathy for
the suffering he had evidently eSper-
fenced.
81 wouldn't meet him alone, my friend
continued, with little shiver, "for any
thing in the world,
"Nonesense' ! answered. "le Is aS
weak us u child, and either of US could
manage him with one hand.
Don't be too sure OF that. The man
face to me is full of desperation. If he
could ever speakto me, belieye | should
be frightened to death
I \ few moments after, my companion
Joined party of friends bound tor the
sprin., and | was left alone. Absorbed
/ with my book, had quite forgotten the
subject Of our conversation, when sudden
" shadow fell upon the pages ard
looked up into the ewes OF the stranger
lie was as pale as death, and it was evil
dent to me that he would not be able to
walk many steps further without iainting
7 He had lost all control of the stall he
, held in his hand, but was apparently de
/ termined TO pass me without breaking
down. Only bold measures would avail
/ with this determined spirit; so, rising,
I said, pointing to the rustic seat | had JUS
vacated: "You are tired. sir, and seem tt
havea heavy load. SIT here while and
/ rest YOURSELF
"What do YOU know about it, ne de.
mandcd, grutliy.
"What my eyes tell me- | answered,
good naturally. GLOW far do you live
from hcre?'
al. that any of your business"
"Uuder ordinary circumstances II
would be- a great piece of impertinence t(
inquire, but now you are sick, and oul
common humanity gives me right |,
know"
"And you are not afraid olme?'
| took the basket and pail from hi
poor, limp hal.ls, and pointed again t'
the seat. He obeyed my gesture, anc
seated himself with deep groan of ex
huusuon, and leaned his head against tho
trunk of a tree.
II am never afraid of a man tina! need,
my help" replied. What have you
in this Pail?'
"Coflce'
"Haye you eaten anything this morn
ing?'
NO"
| Then YOU must eat now.
"You say | nlWst'
81 say SO. How long have You been
in?'
81 am not ill.,"
| uncovered both basket and pail
found some sandwiches, took one out, ant
presented it with the coffee, saving rs
did SO; "If you Will give me sandwich
We will have our lunch together. | an
very hungry"
Ii | will give You IL sandwich" he re
piled; then, after little pause, he con
tnued, more gently, please help your
self" and then, after another pause
perhaps YOU would like II drink COTE,
before take nine
Thank Won. no. Coffee aud are no
very good friends. viii you please drinI
yours now =.
passed the pail, which he took readi
F IL. drinking like one parched with fever
! The sandwich he ate with les relish, bu
. | had the satisfaction of seeing 1t all dis
appear. e, .1
much obliged to you, m" am.
| covered and returned his basket an,
tin pail, picked up his staff, and SAID; -
hope YOU will ieel much better.
caught his eye at that moment, an'
such M expression ] never saw before
AND hope never to see again. Snch lone
someone's, such remnrse and heartache u
shone from the depths of these eyes,
felt myself choking up, and was S'"'
when he suddenly turned and walke'
quietly away. During the week follow
inc inquired for him many times. NJ
one had seen him; but this was not un
common. and tried 10 think that he hn(
been warned by this experience to keel
AWAY from meddling strangers. be
lievSJ. however, that he WAS too III |,
leave his tent, and imagination pictured
him dead or dying alone in the midst o
IN, forest. | had tried to enlist several
gentlemen at the hotel i'll the stranger
but they only laughed at me, and one d"!
| determined to go in quest of the place
myself. So called the companion o
ali NV solitary rambles, great intelit
rent Newfoundland dog, and started.
fnrnd ,f,ar long and difficult climbing
among the rocks, that | had made the
reckoning about right, for here in Il small
and beautiful valley, surrounded on al
sides by the everlasting hills, l came up
on the tent. y low growl escaped m!
companion at sight of this, but bad'
him be still and fastened on. There WA
no sign of human life about the place
M d nv heart almost stood still as | mp
preached the door of the tent. A low
groan answered my tap on the wooden
stay.
MAY | come int | asked