The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-09-11

sympathetic spectators. Then, without
uttering II word, he put spurs To his
horse, and. leaving his guests still III the
road, soon disappeared IN the distance.
He was never seen again in the neigh
borhood, and although every effort was
made to discover his whereabouts, they
invariably proved futile, ard finally the
community settled down To the belief
that he had committed suicide.
\ MURDEROUS REVENGE.
Years passed away and the circum-
stance was forgotten His father and
mother had died, and, although John
was the Legitimate heir To the estate, AN
uncle took charge of the farm until lac
should tee found. One day during the
war IA Federal officer, tn escape capture
10y IA scouting party of Confederate cal
vary, took refuge III u swamp. In wan
derinG about he became bewildered and
penetrated still deeper into the gloomy
recesses of the great forest. He sud
denly came face TO face with man
armed with an ordinary shotgun.
"Hullo. stranger, who be YOU:
"A soldier who has lost his way, sce-
ing that concealment was Impossible.
mot one o us, l guessf' queried the
man.
mo. I'm an officer IN the Federal
army"
wall, stranger, I'm no killer, though
I'm mighty strong agin thar Yankees.
What might yer name BET
Samuel Opdyke."
The man started back and cooked his
gun. "Opdke-Opdke-th scoundrel
who married Carrie Scott and destroyed
my happiness"
Il did marry Carry Scott-married
her because 1 loved her. But who are
you, that you should get So excited over
the matter"
"Me-me-why. I'm John Armstrong,
who courted that ar gal, and she vowed
she loved me better than anything elss.
in the world. But she deceived mt:
her heart was hollow; she was false Ia
me and | have my revenge" And he
raised his gun and pulled the trigger.
Captain Samuel Opdy Ike fell dead at
his feet.
la relating this the old man-for he
himself told the siory--became terribly
agitated and rubbed his hands in appar-
ent fiendish eXultation. All said he,
that were a moment Of sweet revenge.
LIVING THE LIFE OF \ HERMIT.
For nearly fifty years he has lived
alone in the North Carolina forests. lie
determined, when the servant ON that
fatal morning brought him the startling
and bitter intelligence that his would
ever turn his back on humanity. The
cabin i'll which lac lives he built himself.
Ii is in the gloomiest and remotest soil
tude of the forest, and We're il not foi
the little garden he cultivated, thus evi-
dencing the existence of civilization,
would he n dismal abode indeed. He
endeavors to avoid the society Of men
as much as possible, and Is exceedingly
annoyed that his hiding place has be-
come know. lie was accidentally dis
covered by party of hunters. He L.
vigorous for his age and although his
hair and long flowing beard are white
as snow. he walks erect and with an
elastic, huoyant step. When he does
condescend to talk he is cheerful and
entertaining in his conversation, but stu
diously avoids any reference to the fe-
male sex. He AYERS that he has not seen
or spoken To a woman for the past thirty
years, and has never seen railroad car
or steamboat. He knows comparatively
little Of the incidents of every day Inf"
going on in the outside world. lie Is N
constant reader of re 'gious and scientific
works and an ardent student of na.dral
history. He has magnificent collection
OF specimens III the chronological world,
embI acing bugs, beetles and butterflies
He can tell correctly the name aLd
habits of every insect native TO til"
neighborhoC i. He Is also an expert
with the penk nIfe. Since his abode has
become known the boys bring him t.
bacco, knick- knacks, etc. in exchange
for which he gives them crosses, hears,
whistles. ETC., which he makes from beef
bones. These he carves with an oruiin-
airy knife and file, though the work Is
slow and tedious. He is contemplating
moving TO more secluded quarters ANA it
will not he surprising if, some fine morn
ing, the boys will search for John Arm
strong in vain.-ILiiddclpLjd Times.