Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-09-03
: HERMIT BROTHER.
BY F, CREsSWELL.


Years ago 1 had friend, Kenneth
|. He was younger than myself,
lime five or six and twenty, full of
cns for better, purer existence
life we led.
day dream, cherished for long
BIS to leave society, and choosing
Etired spot live there alone with
b study and contemplation.
h his friends called it when they
ii. But Kenneth through all his
ind he was no idlcr-retained the
Of this plan. At last IN unex-
esacy enabled him to leave the bar
tclase the chosen site for his new
a ruined chapel on the side of a
place he had known all his life.
Eayside chapel nothing was left but
way. Behind this he had new
built dividing the house into two
one over the other. When all was
ted lie went there. Some people, I
bought him mad; his sisters laughed,
he soon would be tired OF his
I believed in him. I would
have joined him, but u man with a
hl child is not free agent. He
retire into a life of contemplation,
rmuch he may wish it.
lt 10 see Kenneth i'll his new home.
zee vas almost inaccessible; had not
i met me ON the hill-top and shown
way over the moor and moss /
never have found ii. The chapel
a copse; a wild stream brawled by
e oak, elder, aEl holly were re-
by Il fence from cncroaching on
fpcl. and marsh plants thrust their
through the bars. The nearest
was fam half a mile away.
Elis bedroom was simple. his sitting
furnished in perfect taste. On the
some fine ctchings. a plaster relief
smiled the lonlcly face of Socrates
Bracket an image of Buddha. Be
these Was an engraving of Dora'E
|cl Tears" Books too there were il
and the fox terrier--such were
MS companions.
nature" lie said when I made thi!
! here it is that you will stay, il
|and quiet" I said, "until your mis-
Ends you forth"
zee and quict?" he answered. smiling
pose are not for me. I have q pre-
tent that this ideal life will not las
J shall marry"
E(,okcd incrcdulously at him. H
me his hand. at is written here,
~; i see it TOO plainly. Far as it i
|''S desires, it is fatcd."
more than six months 1 heard moth
Kenneth. We went for the winte
!emouth: / and my wife, and to on
|se and pleasure found the Lambert
IT, house next our own. We had
ut on the ilnt below us lived Mrs
Y Mrs. Ncrnay was the belle Q
|aoN'h, and justly. l never saw an
Y SO beautiful, never shall again Sc
lace She was tall and slight, wit
SIN, blue eyes, shaded with dar
/ ana her shapcly head crowned wit
Golden hair. No art was there,
nature, nature III her utmost pei
T., She Was young, a widow, said I
v'"'ously rich, but had she been
maid We all should have worshippe
'oons, old. single, married, thel
( 'Y''g but paid homage at her shrine.
~" Lambert was badly bitten by ht
N lie was two-and-twenty, hon
y '!s,t long leave. Mrs. Vernay ell
| [ov" nm more than any of the other
'Is beng such u boy she looked q
l H. i safe game. l knew that 81
| "' 81 hcart with the first glance of h
yes, and that he has never II
from her influence.
/ We're ere; sitting together one afternoc
n ,."i.'berts' drawing-room when Kel
,S'lked in. Torremouth was n,
n " =. len miles from his retreat, al
IS E,in walked <! over, not to pay his moth.
hug visit, but to stay if she wou
\ my mother ever refuse to recei,
|e'' Son? How the girls laughed