Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-06-18
THE HERMIT.

Away to the base of the. beetling crags
and cliffs of the hoary Sierra, stands a
lonely cabin where only ruin and desola-
tion mark what might have once been a
pleasant if not happy home. Well do
L remember the dark, tempestuous night
that friend and myself passed beneath
its roof but few years since. While
seated. before glowing fire for it was
late in autumn, he gave me the following
veritable history of the place:
Notwithstanding that it was many
miles from any habitation, several years
ago solitary individual had appeared in
the vicinity, and out of the material that
he procured from a neighboring forest
built this rude cabin. He was stran-
ger to all who met him, and seeming to
avoid rather than to seek acquaintance,
he soon became known as "The Hermit
of Lone Cabin"
Three years passed, and the unknown
still lived in his seclusioh, subsisting
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 nearest settle
ment, 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 having
seen the other, and would fain have left
him, but the would-be associate seized
him by the collar, exclaiming:
"You can't deceive me, Loren Gray.
L knew you the moment / saw you,
though five years have changed you
greatly. Don't you remember Frank
Chapman. l am he. Come, old boy, l
want to show you to another old friend
whom l know you will be glad to see."
Still the hermit, 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 de-
ceive me by playing off in that way"
was the reply he received. 81 know
that you are Loren Gray, and l have a
friend down to the Eagle house who de-
sires to see you on most important busi-
ness. Come with me, and if he don't
recognize you, l will stand the drinks
for the crowd" for by this time quite a
knot of spectators had collected around
the spot, eager to know what was up.
Yielding with great reluctance, the
hermit was half dragged by the impetu-
GUS stranger down to the public house,
followed by crowd of lookers-on.
Il tell you it's mistake" cried the
victim; ''my name is not Loren Gray,
but"
BY this time they had entered the
building, and the stranger, turning
quickly to young man lying on a dry
goods box near at hand, indolently smok-
ing his pipe, cried
"Here, AL, have found him."
Springing to his feet in surprise, the
one addressed, who did not seem to bt
more than twenty-one or two years O.
age, but with tall, athletic form, turned
upon the intruders.
AS he caught sight of the hermit hi
staggered back like one shot, and press
ing his hand ON his forehead, he ex
claimed:
Loren Gray"
"Yes" cried his friend, triumphantly
II found him less than five minutes ago
but he has the audacity to deny his iden
tity."
Unheeding the words, the younge
man faced the amazed hermit, and a
his piercing eyes met the others, he sale
hoarsely, trembling with passion:
"Have you forgotten me, Lorei
Grayp"
"For mercy's sake, tell me what thi
means! I am not Loren Gray, and nei
ther do know you"
bah! You need not think to escap
by your lies. have not hunted for yo,
this five years to be baffled now that
have found you. If you do not remem
Der me, have you forgotten my sister
whom you betrayed and murdered ?"
q"
mot word, dog! You can offer n
atonement for the wrongs that you hav
done, save in the sacrifice of your life
"No, MOI" cried the other. You are
stranger to me and have no quarrt
with you. must decline to fight you.
AS the hermit spoke the words, whic
in the minds of the rough men aroun
him marked him coward, the room ran
with their cries of derision.
The young stranger, too, his fac
. nearly colorless with rage, uttered col
temptuous cry as he dealt the man
smart blow on the cheek.
There; see if that will not awake
you. | say that one of us must di
Take your choice of weapons and me
me at once. am impatient to have
e over. l care but little if l fall, if C,
know ere l die that the untimely fate