The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-24
Ght9tteIIigsneer.
THE MAN IN THE CAGE.

aJnst 80. ThArs the house and Lhars
the window Of the room he's in. saw
him led 10, chained like a mad steer,
three men With their guns pointed behind.
That's year sgo this September. Its a
ioE csse, With bars "A thick as my wrist.
Hes chained to the floor inside L."
The aOuse was 4 small brick building
the shingled roof curled and black with
,g,. It stood in a Geld oyergroWn with,
tSntlss and jamestown weed. A rotting
palins fence separated il from the crook.
q grasy highway which served as q
itreet for the villages drowsy hamlet in
North Carolina, lying literally above the
clouds, on one Of the mountains ci the
great BIlsam range.
Glosher lounged on, Whistling, 10 the
inn, with the string Of trout which they
h.d caught, and Mr. Britton, his rod 10
hand, leaned over the fence looking al
the window inside OF which was the cage.
He VISA a sensitive little man, and this
thing startled and moved him greatly,
BE had been Eauntering along lust nov,
little vain OF his days tiihing. The al.
teruoOn sunshine was warm and brilliant.
every color kindled 10 it and the thin air
to new yigor; these weeds shone like bits
Of pure lavender; and the blaekberries
slOEel upon the tumbIe-doWn fences in
knobs Of rubies and garnet. Everybody
in the little hamlet had 3 friendly greet
ing for him. At the door Of one unpaint.
ed house an old woman sat cardiug wool,
her yelloW.haired grandchild asleep al
her ieet on the porch OF another = pref.
y girl was spinning. Glosher, who was
manly young fellow, had looked sheep.
ish "a they passed, and the girl blnshed
and broke her thread. Mr.. Brittou
smiled TO himself. He WA but three
month married, and every lover Waa
hi' brother. The village hung on the
edge Of the height; below it the sea Of
cirrus clouds was fall Of light and motion,
While range OF mighty peaks beyond
shut the hamlet, so it seemed 10 his fan.
q, into \ strange and sunny calm.
A moment before he had thus been I'LL
ed With soft feminine content in him
eli and his world and his God, thankful
ior the happy chance that had led him L
this peaceful eyre tUafend hts hardly
earned holiday. ~,
Now he could think only OF this win.
dow. 1t wss gaping cave oil darknes.
inthe sunshine, and the man within for 4
year hat seen nothing OF grassy street.
0rot young girls, or little children, OF
driving clouds. he was beast, chained
like beast in cage.
IA Mr.. BriGton waited uncertain, be
heard coming out Of the darkness a sigh
and the clank Of chain.
Good God! That these things should
be in such a world!-in such world"
He hurried on, very sorry for this hu,
man beast, but more stung and aggrieyed
that the enabling emotions and harmo.
nyot his holiday had been impaired.
His Cost sleeve, too, was stained with
some Of the dank lichen on the fence
shout this accursed place. He wiped il
of With quick sense Of loGtking and
tainL The Rev. Edward Britton was. no
ted for The dainty iastidiousness Of hi
dress and Of his morals.
When he reached the little inn he found
the landlord waiting at the gate under the
Wllnuttrees. Guests were novelty, and
we're made much Of by these mountain.
GERS.
ave sir a waitin' supper for you, Sir
Oh, NO difference; it's you that's 10 be
Consulted walking beside him down
through the old.fashioned garden, with
iu border Of hollyhocks and blue succo.
y. "You he'd good luck, Glosher says
What has that man done, that you
cage him like a brute?' interrupted the
young clergyman, in 4 harsh excited
:oue.
Done? Ell you'll come into this room,
Ill tell you the story dropping his
voice, ats a strange one enough"
No pushing past him. HWhy
should hear il?7
M Brition changed his coat before GO
gintO his wifs's room. ItWas coy
apartment, with WindoWs looking out
over the stretch Of solitudes and heights
Of the Nantahels range. A wood fire
burned on the hearth. Mrs. Britton, who
bad been s shy girl some two or .hree
aonths ago, sat before it trimming q
nat She Was plump, pink-eheeked dot
oil : woman, with quick.glancing dark
eyes, and a habit Of frequent decisive
ilItIe mods and gestures. Her lap was
NIL Of brightly colored ribbons; her
aand, With its tiny gold thimble, fiuttered
teo9t her work like L white glarcing
And what have you discovered in
tbs queer corner Of the world to-day,
Ta@be?' he asked, With a qualmof ap'
PreLsnsion.
An old slave in a hut out Of town, who
tcid me she refugeed from Virginia du.
rug the war, leaving two sons behind her
III Albemarle. wrote IN advertisement
and some letters about them. think
@sy will bring the boys to light"
What more did you do, my dearg
i made sketch Of an Indian who
ea@ein with his blow.gun and some skins
And Of a mountaineer who was going ur
70 lhe high range TO salt the Wild cattle
Sse, here he Is: blue homapun, high
ooGs, bags Of salt on his hips, gun FOL
wolves, and whisky for rattlesnakes.p
1t Is very spirited, Phoebe. A little
!aalty a. To the knees, ear with kindlinI
interest in his tace. There were one or two
good prints on the wall, which they had
brought in their trunks, PhUbe and b.
were Gmateurs mart, and had found /
good deal Of keen enjoyment already IL
hstr work and disputes. Phoebe took on
asf pencils and retouched the sketch
taen she went back to her sewing ant
aes husband stirred the ere, and began Il
1lE Of home and parish work. O1sid,
zoe cloud Of log had risen, aud began Il
smut them in. The logs cracked ant
parked, turning Ph95e's blue ribboT
.nto green. Presently Joe, the lame wal
e'' came up carrying tray with theil
supper. IA he spread il on ! round tabl,
~ ne aide Of the IRE, Mr.. Rrittou scan
peg eagerly the smoking coate, the BROW
oalscuits, the delicate salmon.colore,
Hont: He always did relish good meal
aad The days fishing had made him hun
" Joe WA dismissed, and Phoebe drew
SIoses 70 the tahIe. How rosy aud iAt
ae va! How warm was the asel Whel