Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-07-12
IN HIS OWN TOLLS.

Tom and | were only brothers. Oul
parents having died when we were quite
young, left us little beside their blessing
and, alone and almost friendless, we haG
struggled on together through misfortune
and adversely, looking forward hopefully
to happy and successful future Our
lonely place in the world had strengthened
an early affection, and, at the time OF
which | write, the feeling had become q
closer and warmer sentiment than thai
commonly existing between brothers
Indeed, we loved each other very dearly
/ tell you this to show how great were
my sorrow and anxiety when, one day in
tie latter part of June, 1870, Tom was
brought to bed with a serious attack OF
typhoid fever. Being a medical student,
| was constantly noticing little symptoms
that would have escaped a layman's eye,
and hourly vacillating between hope and
fear. In fact, | made myself very miser-
able for two days at time, when there
was really no necessity for it.
For three long weeks, day and night, /
watched at his bedside, and when, at the
end of that time, the physicians pro-
nounced him out of danger, they strongly
advised me to go into the country for a
few weeks rest Indeed, | was thor
Oughly worn out, mentally and physically,
and when Tom joined the doctors in the
request that | should go out of town to
Tecuperate my 0GS Uitg, [ reluctantly con-
sented to leave him.
sought the country, and one fine
afternoon IN the latter part of July | found
myself at Lake Mahopac, having arrived
the day before. a short twenty four
hours had made me feel almost myself
again, although my nervous system had
by no means regained its cquipoise.
Tempted by the CLASSY surface of the lake
and the rich masses of verdure overhang-
ing the shores of the two islands, / ven
tured forth in a little rOw-boat, taking a
fishing pole and some bait with me. HAY
ing pulled slowly out and passed behind
Round Island, | headed in again, and
anchored at a little distance from Grand
Island. Casting my line, [ lit my pipe,
and patiently waited for a bite. The day
was warm, and the wind fast asleep, miles
away A half hour drOned itself along,
and not a bite-not even nibbie. Won
derfully lazy, and somewhat disguised
with my luck, stretched myself out on
the cushioned seat, and began to muse on
the subject of fish and fishermen.
Suddenly there came crashing sound
from the shore of Grand Island, a loud
cry, and then a thud, as if some heavy
body had fallen. | looked in the direc-
ton whence the sound had come, and
saw "a large object, apparently the body of
a man, lying on the shingly beach, where
it seemed to have fallen from a tut
ting mass of rocks above. Surprised and
alarmed, | seized the oars and pulled to
the spot where the object lay. My fears
were well grounded, for, te.my horror, |
found an old man there, bloody, and
grooming with pain. When | asked him
where he thought he was hurt, he pointed
to his head and legs. With true "surgi-
cal INSTINCT" | was about to rip up the
leg of his pantaloons, to see if there was
any broken bones, when he motioned me
to stop, and said:
" Don't; please don't touch it. Take
me home"
IN arrange the boat first, and make
it a little more comfortable" | said, start
ing toward it.
mo, no" he cried. 81 live up there -
pointing to the woods behind us. Cant
you carry me?" | looked at him in
amazement, for the clerk at the hotel had
told me that the islands were uninhabited.
Some poor fellow" / thought, " who is
hiding from justice, or some one, perhaps,
who tired of the world and its ways, lives
here by himself"
Whichever it might be, the man seemed
badly hurt, and in need of immediate at
tention. More than that, | felt strange
interest in him, and was curious to see
where he lived and what manner of man
he was. Despite all my care in lifting
him, he groaned with the pain. He was
heavy, and seemed to grow heavier at
every step | took up the steep ascent.
Guided by sort of path, l labored on.
About halfway up was obliged to stop
and lest. In peevish, querulous tone
he begged me to go ON. Once more |
started. He seemed to be made of lead.
Happening to look quickly into his face,
| was surprised to see that he was smiling.
Perhaps it was for JOY at the prospect of
soon reaching home. Still | did not like
it. There was something sneering and
malignant about it something cunning
and devilish. AT best, his face was any
thing but prepossessing. He was appar-
emily about sixty-five years of age. His
hair, originally white, was now dirty and
blood-stained, his skin yellow and wrin
killed.. Little, ferrety eyes, with green
ISL tinge of coler; a long, sharp nose,
and very large mouth, containing a few
scattered teeth, worn to the gums and
blackened, completed the picture. His
hands were yellow, wrinkled and dirty.
The finger nails were talon-like His
whole makeup" in fact, was by no
means agreeable, and l began to regret
that | had aided him. And yet how could
| have refused to help fellow-being so
seriously injured? l was suddenly reused
by his sharp voice: Stop. Now turn to
your left''
This | did, when, to my utter amaze
ment, the green-leaved trees had van.
ished, and in their places stood bare
trunks and leaf1ess branches. All about
US, on the ground, were myriads of faded
leaves. just beyond was clearing, with
not blade of glass to be seen. The bare,
dry ground looked as though it had been
singed. In the center of the clearing
stood an old, half-ruined castle, moss.
chinked and ivied. Turret and battlement,
court yard, huge gates, and heavy, cum.
bersome drawbridge were all there. |
could not doubt my senses; it was real.
had stopped, in my wonder and perplexi.
ty, and was gazing in open-mouthed as.
constituent at the old pile, when l was
suddenly made aware of the presence of
the old man by sharp pinch on my arm,
and the words:
"Why don't you go on?'' impatiently.