San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-12-20


| was outside Of the usual and uninterest.
ing in tho place. He at once spun out a
column and a half Of solid nonpareil,
mostly speculation, tinged with senti.
ment, about the curious reclusc.
This had good result. 1t dignified
the old man in the minds Of the Milford.
ians. 1t lifted him from tho rank of a
crazy old mountaineer to an eccentric
hermit. with extraordinary sentimental
possibilities behind him.
&
1t was often said that Weaver would
, be found starved or frozen to death some
time. So every winter there was talk of
looking after him." by those in author
lty, but it ended in talk, as he was not
axactly the kind Of man to dictate to-.
In the vernacular Of Simpsons grocery
he was "a hard one to tackle"
In the beginning of the hermit's last
winter on the mountain some hunters
driven by cold to his cabin, entered and
found him moaning on his rude couch.
They spread the news in Milford, and
"the authorities conferred together and
decided that it was time to act. But
what should they do with himp Nobody
could go up to his lodge on the mountain
to take care of him: his wretched dwell
ing contained no comforts. And nobody
wanted to take him into his home.
There was the county house, where all
paupers were sent, but that was near
the county seat, seven miles away.
They who were most outspoken In the
matter of having him "looked after" and
who owned the largest and most com.
forto hIo bo,,coo ssbap,naI onI hou-aJ''
when it came to a question of taking
him in. Some one, in moment of hu-
name feeling, suggested that the seven
miles journey to the poorhouse might
prove dangerous to the sick man, and
who became responsible for it,
However, after much thought and
more talk had been put upon the subject,
the poorhouse faction prevailed, and the
fiat went forth that Old Weaver must be
taken charge of by the county. willing or
unwilling.
The expedition set forth the next
morning. 1t was principally composed
Of 1.-THE authorities" otherwise hard
headed and dictatorial personages, with
that degree of heartlessncss peculiar to
the class known as prominent citizens"
A heavy snow lay upon the ground, and
the mountain roads were unbroken. A
big sled, generously supplied with straw
and lunch baskets, was made ready.
The departure of this hermit capturing
expedition was an event. The postoflicc
loafers gazed upon the imposing specta-
Gle with envy in their hearts, though
they cheered the noble philanthropists
roundly. The people at the corner drug
all l., hnX
and making other demonstrations Of
good will and interest. The yarn
spirners at Simpsons grocery held
their tobacco firmly between their teeth
and their hands in their trousers pockets
as the sled went by. This was their
manner of expressing very warm in
terest. Women watched from doors.
windows and porches, as women always
do, and swarm of enthusiastic small
boys hung on to tho sled until driven
back when half mile out of town.
The philanthropists reached Weaver's
cabin late in the day, after digging their
way through great snowdrifts. All this
heroic exertion made them feel moro
dominant in spirit than ever. The very
first rap on the hcrmit's door had the
sound of authority in it. delivered MS it
w Nv Illt vi IONI
backed by the appreciation Of
the other prominent citizens who accom-
panied him.
There was no response.
The expression of decision on the mar
shal's face deepened as he began to beat
upon the door with both fists and kick
il with the thick soles Of his tremendous
boots.
Still there was no answer.
While they were parlcying about
il was time 20 use tho ax OF
not the closed shutter Of the hermit's I
single window opened. revealing his /.
haggard face. in which blazcd pair Of I
ewes whose wrathful lightning fairly an I.
INITIATED the prominent citizens.
"What do YOU WANT" he asl.sd. after 4
} moment Of discOmfiiing silence. ~
hey stood. wordless, under the spell Of .
his unsIoicn anger.
we heard You were sick. said the .
nnr,.hal.
"Wcliy'
1--WE knew Won vrnull nec,l help said .
he justice 81 the peace. ''and ~ came
% try % do something for yOu.-
"Gou have put yourselves TO unncocs-
ary trouble. ] want nothing.
D1A AuI AAl. - fatANlt- VIII ~ F..
flow us 90 Ft a fellow bcing suffer-
aid Deacon White.
Your firsi duty j. ~ mind your own
,usir,-ss.- sid the l.rruii.
"IIcrc J. Dr. H0racfv. who viii help
on ri-ht n. II yOu u-ill Vt ms In. saId
W. Snulll-tt. aLsD = T.sufHinenf cifizen-
he dorfor s'o0d silent. rledicine case IN .
and. tie riyidify % the regulars crslc
las doizg any truinIsiIng GA
Is l--n acrof1f.
"W-lfa am u-ezrv q lie I sirali serl
or Dr. H1-z1y. tnin TIM - nIu.f
Icus. Ea-.- rCfur-rd thc brr-nif- ,gii,l
o-lrfi.ilg IKE usfrIi-1r-.t daucin- ir llis
Tii8 e-c-L
TIE sloc-or coIarr-s r1rs,rr Gts daily
r-Ilf- fs-elf-- d tlle r1orc irc.r1z- flIa
Arb --s Vt f-rz-1r rrrr fra ~~-la L.