Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-18

I them. Like their owner they were
oddly ancient and the worse for wear
but there was dilapidatcd dignity about
/ both clothes and man that lifted them
quito above the commonplace, and
( touched them with an interest that was
almost romantic.
/ The first time saw him he passed me
in the village slowly and with grave
/ inclination OF the head. ! was so struck
with his appearance that lifted my cap
and bowed in silence as one might
salute a time stricken war chief In
deed. rs turned round TO look at him |
had much the same feeling that | have
when | sec an old wars ship, n time
honorcd gun, sword with n legend,
or the torn and stained colors of a rcgi-
meut "a brave old relic that, a man
with a history" ] murmured to myself.
inquired Of Lennier If he knew who
he WAS. He laughed ani said
81 wondered how long you would be
before You discovered him. He is one
of our chief natural curositios, and IS
known as the Hermit Of Hollow Booth.
lie passes fora sort OF white magician or
seer The folk think great deal OF
him about here
whats his name ~
THAT is more than | can tell. IN
Pepywick he is tho Hermit, pure and
simple :"
els be native ~
ooh, no. ] don't think he has been
here more than fourteen or fifteen years.
Nobody knows who he is or where he
came from"
"iIc looks remarkable character. |
wonder You haven't tried TO tini out
something Of his past history"
Lennier shrugged his shoulders, and,
lighting a cigar, answered:
d" Nv dear Treherne, don't vou know
that the unknown is more fascinating
than the known? If We knew all about
our Hermit, there would be no longer
any mystery or romance attached to
him. He would turn ont plain John
Smith, or ridiculous Piantagenet Smith,
Whereas now he is OF the linease of
Cagliostro and the Man with the Iron
Mask. II YOU wish TO no happy and
wise don't give way to the modern craze
OF hunting down every little mystery that
crosses your path. 1 wouldn't explore
the Hermit for anything.
"Weil. tell me whore he lives and ]
VIII exp ,rc him for myself" / said, with
s. touch OF impatonce in my tone.
"All right; but-kecp the result to
Yourself. I DO not wish TO be disillU-
stoned. He lives in dingle some dis
lance in the wood on the far side OF the
Priorv. The chances are. however, that
Won won't find him at home. Heis often
away, nobody knows where, for days to-
gethcr."
It was night when this talk took place,
and had the Hermit with me in my
dreams till morning. After breakfast /
set out in snow-storm without iniorm-
ing any one where I was going.
My destination was the dingle in the
wool called follow Booth. / did not
care 10 ask Lennlcr for directions, but
trusted to meeting some viIlager on TIE
way, OF whom | could inquire.
Perhaps the storm had something to
DO with it. Int curiously enough |
did not meet soul. Left TO my own
resources. made for the wood beside
the church and took the first path I
could find leading into it. ! was soon at
sea in a perfect network OF paths, which
crossed each other In every direction.
After wandering very much IN circle
for some time, | struck an opening that
looked more like a rabbit track than
anything else, and followed it. Fortune
favored me : the track opened out rs |
proceeded, and in a short space OF time
l found myself in Hollow Booth.
1t was a Zip in the land with about an
acre of perfectly level ground Mt the
bottom, surrounded by q steep declivity ;
steps cut in the earth on each side, and
grass sodded, rendered the descent easy.
/ leaned against tree, lighted nay
pipe, and took a good view OF the place. .
The snow had fallen but lightly here,
and | could easily see that the plot of
level ground was covered with grass /.
Along the opposite side WAS streamlct .
that issued from spring in the slope F.
At the far eud were two great elms, and
behind and under them. filing mp one I.
third Of the level ground. We're two enor- /
nous rocks standing IN a line with each /
other, at a distance OF about twelve feet /
apart.
Looking closely l saw that the open
space between them was covered with a
good thatch roof then ] caught sight Of .
a chimney and a thin streak OF blue /
smoke curling up amongt the branches OF /
the Gins. Then knew that | WAS look /
ing at the dwelling piece Of the White .
Magician.
1t was with n curious sensation that | .
descended the steps and walked slowly /
towards the rocks.
Thirty feet away, and just as | was
noticing that there was wooden front
10 the house or rock, with door and
1 halted, for the Hermit him
self suddenly issued from his den.
Slamming the door behind him, he adj
yanceda few steps and shook his stan at
me in an attitude of menace. lie looked
fierce and weird.
Get You gone :" he cried hoarscly;
Dut | stood my ground.
What want you? Get you gone !"
ne repeated, with threatening demon
,tratiOn.
a. did not know that you were such
IN old heather, my friend, or | would
nave seen YOU at Iimbuctoo before had
paid you a morning visit. Good morn
ng. III go ana pay visit to the King
If the Csnnibal Islands, who will cut YOU
mt in manners any day" ] answered,
urnine on my heel.
The Truth is, thought the Old fellow
vas a hit dangerous, and had no ambi-
ion 70 have a cracked skull. ] thought
heard HIM chuckle ere he called out :
Hey, stop there
! glanced back over my shoulder-he
vas coming after me Should ran ?
anyway. am happy 70 say | did not ,
uu. ! humorod HIM and faced round ,
"What did you come here for eh?" I
e demanded, striking his st2iS fur'ously /
N the ground. ,
A Thousand answers flashed through ,
ny mind in a moment of time. What /
ctually said to him WAS, 81 came to ,
liscuss mummies with you - ,
AS certain fish will rise to an artificial ,
niunow on trolling-line, 50 the Hermit ,
eized upon my words with strange
vdity.
"Mummics, What know you of .
?" he demanded, with a quick =