The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-09-25
A STORY OF STRANGE MEETINGS,
By Gordon Stables, M. D., r. N.

all
This exclamation, or somewhat akin
to it, we are constantly hearing in these
times of rapid travelling. For my own
part, I am never in the slightest degree
astonished at meeting an old friend
anywhere. for nowadays there seems but
little to prevent anybody from going
everywhere.
Hspace were not so valuable, I could
instance scores of cases of strange un-
expected meetings from the diary of
my own life, some of them amusing
enough.
When first went from home to join
the service left Geordie M-plough-
ing in one of my fathers fields, with an
ox and the "orra" beast. I specially
mention the OK and the "orra" beast, by
way of showing that Geordie was by no
means even frst-class ploughman.
He was an ORA (of all work. man him
self, and couldn't be trusted with a
team of the best horses. He was slow
in his motions, and slow in his notions;
he wore corduroy coat, his boots
weighed pounds, henever lifted his feet,
but trailed them; such was Geordie.
just two years after this, I was one
day sitting forward in the sick bay, ex-
aiming and taking the names of
batch of marines, who had come to join
us from another ship. was at Bonn
bay, and the weather was hot, and I
was drowsy, so I seldom looked twice
at my man, and was not in the best of
tempers; but there was one marine in
the lot, and a right smart clean footed
fellow he was, who attracted my atten-
ton, because he laughed when spoke
to him. He talked in the broadcast of
Scotch, and the very sound of his voice
recalled to my memory Highland hills
clad in blooming heather. [ rubbed
my eyes and looked at him again. AS
sure as I live it was Geordie!
babe goodbye to a medical friend
of mine once in Soho Square. He was
going away to the country to get mar
ried and settle down in mining district
among the Welsh hills. Years flew by.
l was out on the eastern shores of Africa.
We were hunting slavers. One rascally
old dhow gave us much trouble and
long chase. We ran her at last down to
shooting distance, and as she would not
stop we brought our big guns to bear on
her; still she flew on and on, fair and
square before the wind, till lucky shot
we boarded her the very first person
seen on deck was the medical friend I
had hidden final adieu to-as I thought
in Soho Square. There was not much
mystery about the matter after all. He
had not got married. He had not settled
down among the Welsh mountains. He
was on his way to ZANZIBAR to join mis-
sion, and had taken passage in this dhow
for cheapness sake.
Peter Middleton-this is not his real
name-was blacksmith's apprentice in
my village. He was clever-too clever.
for he often got into trouble for requisi-
tioning hares, rabbits and such small
cattle of the hills. When he took ut
last to paying midnight visits to the
farmers fowl runs, the farmers waxed
wroth, and Peter had to run himself,
and no more was heard of him in that
place. My ship was lying some time
after at town in South Australia, and
received polite but badly spelled
note from a resident medical man, re-
questing me to come on shore for con-
sultation on difficult CASE The house
was smart one and we'll finished, but
judge of my surprise to find that the
doctor himself was no other than
Peter Middleton, ex-poacher and poul-
try fancier. It is strange world!
But to my tale. seldom travel any
where, by land or sea. without taking
as a companion we'll trained and hand
some dog. It is nearly always pure
black Newfoundland, a breed for which
have attained some celebrity. These
animals are of such extreme beauty and
so prepossessing in manners, and so
noble withal, that they never fail to
make friends wherever they go. It
may seem curious thing to say, but it
is lrickly true nevertheless, that my
dt. have introduced me to many of
those whom, at the present moment I
rank among my most valued acquaint-
ances.
About two years before the tremen-
dous war broke out between Germany
and France, happening to have earned
spell OF leave" az sailors call it, I
was very naturally spending it in tour
ing through the Scottish Highlands, my
only companion being as usual noble
Newfoundland, that not only performed
the duties of body. guard and sentry over
my person, but also those of light por-
ter, for he carried my portmanteau.
Had I possessed and desire for exclu-
siveness on this journey, should have
been quite miserable, for wherever I
went, on steamboat, in trains, or walk
ing on foot, my princely companion was
the subject of conversation and admlra-
ton. If I had tied slate about my
neck and pretended to be deaf and
dumb, might have been allowed to
hold my tongue, but / should have had
to write.
Who that has travelled in sum-
mer among the Wstern Isles of Scot
land, does not know the grand steam
ships of the country with their splendid
decks and palatial saloons? One beau
tiful day my dog and I were on board
one of these boats on our way to Port
rec, the capital of Skye. Nero was
looking his best and sauciest, his GRIM
son silver-clasped collar showing off his
raven black color to the best advantage.
I seated myself in an out-of-the-way
corner right abaft, with book to read.
and threw my tartan plaid over the dog,
thought we should escape observation,
and should not have to answer the same
question over and over again, which Ihad
been replying to for the last
month. But the book was too inter-
esting. became absorbed in it, lost
myself, and when l found myself again,
I had lost my dog. But yonder he was,
with quite crowd about him, his beau
ty greatly enhanced by the rich colors
Of the plaid that foated from his broad
back on each side Of him, making him
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