The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-01
The Hermit of Lone Cabin,

Away to tho base of the beetling crags
and cliffs of the hoary Sloi ras stands ,
lonely cabin, where only ruin and dcsola
ton mark what might have once been 9
pleasant if not happy home.
We'll 90 l remember the dark tcmpcstu
GUS night that friend and myself pnsscc
beneath its roof but few years since.
While seated before u glowing fire, for i,
was late in autumn, he gave me the follow.
Ing veritablc history of the place:
Notwithstanding that it was miles from,
any habitation, several years before u soil.
tary individual had appeared in the vicn-
ity, and out of the material that he pro-
cured from the ncighboring forest built
this rude cabin.
he was Il stranger to all who met him,
and seeming to AVOID rather than 10 seek
acqunintanccS, he soon became known as
"The Hermit Of Lone Cabin"
Three years passsd, and the unknown
stlil lived III his sec,usion, subsising upon
the game that he readily procured with the
aid of his rifle.
one day about this time, as the hermit
contrary to his usual habit, visited the
ncaret settlement, twenty miles below, he
was net by newcomer III the place, who
greeted him with the familiarity of an old
friend.
Appearing surprised, he denied ever hav
ing seen the other, and would fain have
left him, but the would-be associate seized
him by the collar, cxcla ming:
''You can't deceive me, Loren Gray. l
knew you the moment saw you, though
five years have changed your looks great
ly. Don't you remember Frank. Chap
man. l am he. Come, old boy, l want
to show you to another old friend whom
you will be glad to sce."
Still the hermit, confused and excited,
protested that his name was not Loren
Gray, and that he had never met the other
''rwon't do old chap; you can't deceive
me by playing Off in that way" was the
reply he received. IL known that you arc
Loren Gray, and have friend down to
the Eagle House who desires to see you on
most important business. Come with ne,
and if he don't recognize you, will stand
the drinks for the crowd" for by this
time quite knot of spectators had collect
ed around the spot, eager to know what was
up.
Yielding with great reluctance, the her
nit was half dragged by the impctuous
stranger down to the public house, follow
ed by throng or lookcrs-on.
81 tell you it's Il mistake" repeated the
victim; "my name is not Loren Gray.
but"
BY this time they had entered the build.
Ing, and the stranger, turning quickly tc
young man lying On a dry-goods box
near ut hand, indolently smoking his pipe
cried:
"IIcre al, I have found him."
Springing to his feet in surprise, tho
one addressed, who did not seem to bt
more thau twenty enc or two years Of age
but with tall, athletic form, turned upor
the intruders.
AS lie caught sight of the hermit he stag
gercd back like one shot, and pressing hi
hand to his forehead, exclaimed:
''Loren Grayl"
eyes" cried his friend, triumphanlly
81 found him less than five minutes ago
but he has the audacity to deny his idcn
tity,"
Unhceding the words, the younger MAJ
faced the amazed hermit, and as his picrc
Ing eyes met the others, he said hoarscly
trembling with passion:
''liave you forgotten me, Loren Gray
"For mcrcy's sake, tell me what thi
meansl | am not Loren Gray, and ncithc
do know YOU"
"Bah You need not think to escape b,
your lies. I have not hunted for you thi
five years to be bufilcd now that I hav
found you. If you do not remember me
have you forgotten my sister, whom 20,
betrayed and murdercd2"
'!I------n
mot: a word, dog You can offer II
atoncmcnt for the wfongs that you hov
done save In the sacrifice of your life Bu
wish to take no advantage, and I cha
lcngc you to meet mo in mortal combat"
''No, mol" cried tho othe,. "You are
stranger TO me and have no quarrel wit
you. must decline to fight you"
AS the hermit spoke the words, which
the minds Of the rough men around hil
marked him coward, the room rang wit
their cries of dcrision.
The young stranger, too, his face ncar
colorless with rage, uttered a conemptuol
cry as he dealt the man smart blow on IL
cheek.
''Thcrc; see If that will not awaken yo
say that one Of us must die Take yo
choice Of weapons and meet me ut once.
am impatient to have it over. ! care b
little If fall, If can know ere l die tn
the unlimelv fate Of my poor sister h
been avenged. Come, Norman" addres
Ing his companion, "you will be my sc
ond, whilo he can select whom he will
fall, you know my request. Don't
him escape Well, Loren Gray, dare y,
meet me like a man, or have you or.