Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-07-01
The Hermit of Lone Cabin.

Away to the base of the beetling crag<
and cliffs of the hoary Sic ras stands d
lonely cabin, where only ruin and desola.
tion mark what might have once been q
| pleasant if not happy home.
Well do | remember the dark, tempestu,
Gus night that friend and myself passed
| beneath its roof but a few years since.
While seated before glowing fire, for il
was late in autumn, he gave me the follow
ing veritable history of the place:
Notwithstanding that it was miles from
any habitation, several years before soil
| tary individual had appeared in the vicin-
| ity, and out of the material that he pro-
cured from the neighboring forest built
| this rude cabin.
| He was stranger to all who met him,
and seeming to AVOID rather than TO seek
acquaintance, he soon became known as
''Tne Hermit of Lone Cabin"
Three years passsd, and the unknown
still lived in his sec.usion, subsisting upon
the game that lac readily procured with the
1 aid of his rifle. =
| One day about this time, as the hermit
contrary TO his usual habit, visited the
nearest settlement, twenty miles below, he
was met by newcomer IN the place, who
| greeted him with the familiarity of an Old
| friend.
Appearing surprised, he denied ever hlv-
Ing seen the other, and would fain have
/. left him, but the would. be associate seized
him by the collar, excla ming:
You can't deceive me, Loren Gray.
knew you the moment saw you, though
| FIVE years have changed your looks great
! ". Don't you remember Frank Chap
map. am he. Come, old boy, | want
to show you to another old friend whom
you will be glad TO see."
Still the herm t, confused and excited,
protested that his name was not Loren
Gray, and that he had never met the other.
"Twon't do old chap; you can't deceive
me by playing off in that way" was the
reply he received. 81 known that you are
Loren Gray, and | have friend down to
the Eagle House who desires TO see you on
most important business. Come with me,
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 oknow what was
up.
Yielding with great reluctance, the her
NIT was half dragged by the impetuous
stranger down to the public house, follow
ed by a throng OF lookers-On.
Il tell you it's mistake" repeated the
victim; ''my name is not Loren Gray.
but"
By this time they had entered the build
ing, ana the stranger, turning quickly tc
young man lying on dry-goods boz
near at hand, indolently smoking his pipe
cried:
"Here Al, have found him.
Springing to his feet in surprise, the
one addressed, who did not seem to bt
more thau twenty cne or two years OF age
but with a tall, athletic form, turned upor
the intrudeTs.
AS he caught sight of the hermit he stag
gered back like one shot, and pressing hi
hand to his forehead, exclaimed:
''Loren Grayl"
eyes" cried his friend, triumphantly,
81 found him less than five minutes ago;
but he has the audacity to deny his iden
tity,"
Unheeding the words, the younger mar
faced the amazed hermit, and as his pierc
ing eyes met the others, he said hoarsely
trembling with passion:
''Have you forgotten me, Loren Gray 2
"For mercy's sake, tell me what th
means! | am not Loren Gray, and neithe
do know YOU"
"Bah You need not think to escape b.
your lies. / have not hunted for you thi
five years to be baffled now that | hav
found you. If you do not remember me
have you forgotten my sister, whom yol
betrayed and murdered?"
81"
> 'Not a word, dog You can offer n
atonement for the wrongs that you hav
done save in the sacrifice of your life. Blu
I wish to take no advantage, and | chal
lenge you to meet me in mortal combat.
"No, moi" cried the other. ''You are
stranger to me and have no quarrel wit
you. l must decline to fight you"
AS the hermit spoke the words, which ]
the minds of the rough men around hir
marked him coward, the room rang wit
: their cries of derision.
The young stranger, too, his face nearl
colorless with rage, uttered contemptuor
cry rs he dealt the man smart blow on tn
cheek.
s'There; see if that will not awaken yor
| say that one of us must die. Take you
choice of weapons and meet me at once.
am impatient to have it over. / care bl
little if fall, if l can know ere die tn,
the untimelv fate of my poor sister hi
been avenged. Come, Norman" address
ing his companion. ''you will be my se
ond, while he can select whom he will.
I fall, you know my request. Don't i
him escape. Well, Loren Gray, dare yc
| ~..oA r,,a Ebo man ar haVa van or