Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-09-04
O9

cold rain storm, a half grown Western
town, a half kept country hotel, and a winter
night surely no other accessories were need
ed TO make my Ill humor q self-evident prop
osition.
An accident 10 the Wheeling locomotive Of
branch railroad had compelled me to stop
at Excelsior, and gave me q faint hope OF
leaving that thriving town before the next
day at noon, In time 10 make the connection
with the Atlantic Express, which would bring
me home at the pleasing hour Of A. N. Ill
temper has three stages-ths spitsful, the
mOrOse, and the despairing. At five O'Clock,
when the rafting wagon which had brought
me from the scene OF the disaster reached
the st. Cloud hotel, was enjoying the first
stage. mentally mathematical the office"
AZ sitting" the dining-room as ''cold, " the
landlord As "ofieious" aud the walters IA
''surly." Would l have private parlor
No, would not; private parlors we're al
ways unventilated and their cbimneys inva-
riAbly smoked. Would order late dinner
No, l would not; knew what supper"
meant-fried ham, Baleratus biscuit hsy tea
and molasses preserves. The bafflsd enemy
at length drew of his forces and left me TO
myself. / tried the newspapers, and threw
them down; l smoked my last cigar l went
out TO buy q new supply, and found only
rank cabbage leaves l wandered around the
town with increasing disgust over its un.
paved streets unfinished sidewalks, and far.
ing kerosene lamps; and finally, having
reached the morose stage, l returned to the
st. Cloud, and willfully selecting the hardest
chair and darkest corner, sat down with wet
feet to enjoy being thoroughly miserable. A
full half hour Of moody silence brought me
to the third stage cold despair crept over
my heart ugly suspiciOns OF my best friends
insinuAted themselves into my mind, once
harmless phrases acquired double meaning,
and the world seemed q bowling wilderness.
One pair of bright eyes alone smiled through
the clouds, and there all was not a. could
wish, for behind them loomed the form OF q
rival, and he, alas was not detained at EK-
celsior, but free to ply his suit At this stage
OF my meditations the door opened and q g.
ant entered. As / am not accustomed to Ri-
ants in every day life, l watched the stranger
with some curiosity as he walked through the
room, examining each occupant with q steady
stare, and finally felt . Rleam Of comfort
steal over my forlOrn heart as he seated him
self opposite me and began to read q worn
yellow paper which he took from his pocket.
The man must have been at least six feet ten
inches in height, but his extreme leanness,
long. .skirted, closely fitting black coat, and
high white beaver hat made him seem even
taller. Exceedingly awkward in his move.
ments, his legs seemed TO be running away
with him, while his feet hung back a. II clog
| ged with heavy weights but his great hands
| were well kept, and q rim OF white linen
around his lADk throat gave q redeeming
grace to his otherwise shabby attire The
| face of this singular creature was one OF
those curious combinations which are never
! found in a perfectly organized body, q me.
| Ldnge OF uncongenial tints which produces
surprise, and even dread so great is our nat
ural aversion to monstrosties. A pale blonde
complexion, light red hair, eyebrows and
| eyelashes OF the same hue. aud large pro-
| truding black eyes, CLASSY aud unwinklng, al
most ophidian in their calm stare, gave the
| face a weird aspect, as though it belonged 10
| an inhabitAnt Of another world As the man
continued absorbed in his paper, beokoned
TO waiter. "Who is that person 2" l asked,
in q low tone.
''That2 oh, that's Og; sort OF a giant,
though he don't belong to any show now"
docs he live in Excelsior 2"
"Well, no; he don't live any where exact.
ly he comes and goes he's sort O. ShAk-
or, or MilleTite, or Spiritualist. or something
| Of the kind"
Here the landlord stepped up to my table
| "OR, sir2 Yes, he is q queer one don't
wonder you noticed him. Knows heap too
philosophy, religion, and all that sort of
of thing; some folks call him q mystic, 9TH
ers perfeotionist but, however that may
| be. he's certainly something out of the com
| mon run. Would you like to hear him talk,
| Bir?"
"Will he converse with a stranger 2"
"Oh yes ; nothing he likes better. We let
him sit here out of charity It amuses the
guests. you"
So saying the landlord went over 10 the gi.
ant, summRTily took the paper from his hand,
and whispered few words in his ear. Slow
ly the ungainly creature emerged from his
abstraction, lifted his uncertain legs, and me-
andered across the room, fixing his strange
eyes upon me with a classy stare, as the
landlord introduced "Mr. Og."
"Of Bashan," suggested, with a weak
attempt at joke.
"The same, at your SERVICE replied the
giant 81 shall be pleased TO see you in Ba-
ahan."
sis Il far from here 2" asked.
"Just of the town, interrupted the land
land IAN open field where Mr.. Og has built
himself small cabin that ia, small for a
man of his size.
"You are, believe, something of trav.
eller, sir, said 10 the giant who was sink
ing into a brOwn-study. Slowly conscious.
meas came back 10 his fixed eyes, and al
length he answered;
''Yes, sir go TO and fro upon the earth
In pursuit OF knowledge, difusing the results
OF my researches among the benighted sons
of men as best can, although hAmpered by
an imperfect body and q lethArRic mind. IsO.
lated from all the interests and ties OF life,
have devoted myself 10 the study of man,
kind, and by dint of persistent Will-pOWeT
have become able TO read their thoughts and
motives like the pages Of an open book"
The landlord, seeing the conversation well
started, had turned away 10 attend 10 othei
guests, and with some curiosity l asked
"If you can read all hearts, Mr.. Og, may
ask you 10 tell me the predominant feeling IL
mine at this mOment2"
"DisOOntent," he replied-''produoed By
wet feet and an empty stomach"
felt g little humiliAtsd by this answer
perhaps Og saw Il, for he went on;
"You expected a different diagnosis OF
your mAlady-nOthing less than words oi
four syllablea, l presume. 30 II is with tn
human heart, forever aspiring, forever mis-
taken. But find no fault ID is but tn
blind striving of the soul toward lis best per