, 1884-12-07

=" - - -" =
little bite to eat while l 30 out an look airter
his critter. Jes' mako yourself at home,
now, my freni. want kssn to know your
business, hut senee you have bssn 20 kind as
TO tell Us, wy we want to make some sort o
return We don't havo a Visitor onc't In a
year, and when we do, We wants to make
him comfortable. Don't we, MUIR
@Yes, Redman."
Don't we, LentieF'
-Yes, SIR" NTe
-Thnr, I knowed it."
CHAPTER III.
had intended TO continue my journey, but
whom the following morning came, 1 could
not get my consent II was not that I was
tired OF wandering among the b~lus-toppod
mountains; il was, / think, that having
passed an evening 50 delightfully."-. I foDdly
contemplated another.
Don't think o. going 80 soon" said the old
man Jcffries, when, after aaddling my horse,
/ stood hesitafing. If you air artsr
health, Mr.. Moseley, an air wi1lin' to putup
with our rough way o Twin, WY WI ken
accommodate you. II was out loohin'
airter health, l wouldn't want a better place
than this here Isl
"Mr Jeffries,n said /, turning and catch
as l did so, IF I can engage board with you
l will remain a few weeks
Il can board you as cheap as any body"
II was not considering the cheapness Of
accommodation
"Then why don't you turn your horse a
loose an go In the housefr
i went into the house. Although the sun
had como up in u golden burst over the
Jagged peak OF the Eagles nestn-a grand
pile OF rocks and trees that looked as though
distorted by perpetual anger-yet n cloud
4 aA.e LAT - H. n.-I-I Ii n-----t--
frown over the Devils knob, spread its vul-
ture-liko wings, lowered about the valley,
and sent Town a steady pour OF rain. Is there
anything that facilitates acquaintance Ike
confinement In a farmhouse on a rainy dayl
Contemplate the dash Of water against the
windows; the dropping bushes In the yard;
the great rocks, down whose seams the water
runs like a food OF tears; the despoiled roos-
ter, standing on one foot-and then, turn to
the fire that murmurs like a drowsy cat: TO
the cid fnshionsd chura IN the coraer; TO tho
spinning wheel which from the semi-gloom
under the stairway seems TO throw W its
head like the picture Of a unicorn. the sound
Of knitting needles, and-ah, the delightful
snap OF beautiful eyes, the smile OF beautiful
lips-is there an earthly situation more
cnjoyably mixed with the bright and the
dreary, a blending Of whose charm
seizos us, and makes us live one hour for
each minute, yet never tire of times slow
drag along"
~By the way" said l when we wers all
seated round the fire, yesterday while ex-
ploring a valley ON the other side OF the
river, / found an old man sitting In front OF
a cave, blowing a fiute. 1 tried to engage
him in conversation, but he looked 50 un-
kindly upon my attempt that l was com
PEELED to withdraw without being any the
wiser for having seen him"
"Hos been thar n dozen year or more,H
replied Mr.. Jeffries. Nobody knowd when
he come or why he come. He never leaves
tho cave. When he amt inside, he sets at
tho door an blows music outen a piece o
hshin' pole. l may not have a very good
year fur music, but give me my choice,
lissenin' to a dyin' calf ur that ole Teller, an
blamed eff l wouldn't tell the calf to go
ahead"
doc he ever allow any one to enter the
cavelH
aOh, yes. Hes sorter curious, but IL you
don't pay no attention TO him, it's all right
Anybody can 60 up an walk into the cave,
which they tell me Is a curious place. Lentie
here has been in thar. Inever had much
curiosity about the old Teller. His music Is
enough for me-
"Wha kind of place is It insideF' l asked,
turning TO Lentie.
very quaint" she replied, everything
you SOC suggests the peculiar character Of
the old man.
"Oh, she's a scholar" said the old man in
admiration Of his daughters readiness Of ex-
preston. II never had much money, an
I've always had TO work hard me an my
wife, but we sont Lontie of to school. didn't
we, NancyF
yes, Redman,D replied the wife, fumb-
ling with her knitting to recover q lost
stitch"
"Yes, we did, an the beauty o. it Is, Lsntis
amt ashamed O. her old dad, nuther, air you
Lentief'
APa, you ought to be slapped for asking
such a question:" she rejoined, bounding to
the old mans side and encircling his neck
with her arms.
Thar now said he, we don't want NO
specktiokeL. Set down an tell our frien'
about the cave"
"An that l could tell would not be half so
interesting as a visit to the place. To
morrow we Will go and see it."
CHAPTER III.
Early next morning, when the shouting
sun" arose as though freshened by tho rain,
Lentie and l set out for the abode of the
venerable troglodyte. The distance was not
great for we were not more than out Of
sight OF the house until we could see the
river. TIL old fellow must have boon eating
his breakfast, for we heard nothing Of the
flute until we Ind crossed the river In a
canoe which VIC found under the willows.
When we started up the bank, tho old man
appeared and began to blow a blast Of sol
emn notes.
"we want to look In the cave" said
Lantie.
"wsn, you're looking in the cave" he re-
pliod.
But we want to 20 In"
aOhlp
aold gentlsman,' said !, your life hero
must be draary enough"
III 1t were not dreary enough" he no
joined, Il would seek soma place more
dreary.p .
~of course you are bored by overy one
who chances to meet you, but i would really
like TO know something concerning you.
Why did you take up your hzbitation In
such a placel"
"Sir, Is not the scenery beautiful"
"Oh, yes, l replied, Hbut beautiful scenery
alone does not supply the necessities OF life
@You are persistent, |" said he, lingering the
flute without putting the instrument to his
lips. "What is your business heref'
~ have no business. am here to sock
recreation from overwork."
"And i am here he replied with . sigh,
"to seek f~orgetfulnes. Disappointment,
young man"
sold gentleman, / will attempt nc further
10 discover the cause of your self-imposed
solitude. WIN you allow US to enter the
cavof'
"Yes, and 1 will accompany you"
IL was indeed a quaint place. Ths cave
was not large, only containing two rooms
These were entered after passing through a
long hallway. The rock floors were carpsted
with the skins OF wild beasts. and the walls
In places were decorated with snake skins.
The old man was silent during our inspec-
ton. he offered no explanation of his
strange taste for decoration and We asked
II H. ti .r..n-