Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-11-28


ia sIs u Recognized by tsi,e Of zuesss.
psho Is Forbiddea to SPEAK the Hernitss
Meme on Pcr,l Of His life subseqne,lt
pisappearancc d the Strange sIan.
Aeertain gentleman, whom shall cab
Herr L., was sent to Texas from Ber-'
lin by syndicate of German noblemen
who were DESTROYS of investing in land
for the purpose Of establishing an extern
siYe ranch. Herr IL stopped in Fort
Worth FOR few days, and, hearing
favorable accounts of the country lying
northwest of this city, became impressed
with the idea that he would find there
suitable location for the proposed ranch.
He wished to visit the sections he thought
of purchasing, and your correspondent,
as agent for the Houston and Texas Cen
trail, which owned the lands, was APP
pointed to accompany him. We left the
railroad at Vernon, and went by private
conveyance to the tract in question,
which lay some eighteen miles out from
that town.
AS we left the hotel at Vernon we
asked the landlord if there was any
house on the road where we could pu
up for the night should it happen that
we would not be able to make the return
trip that day.
except that of the hermit"
"The hermit" we both exclaimed.
ayes, the hermit of the plains. Hesa
singular foreign character, who lives
some fifteen miles from here, all alone,
in a little shanty about half mile off
the road. He's so mighty uusociable he's
rot himself the name of the hermit of
the plains. He might take you in, Mr..
-, but it's one of his peculiarities that
he can't bear German" with glance
at my companionl, "and he wouldn't
accommodate me to save his life"
"a rabid Frenchman, in all probable
ity," said Herr l., as we drove off.
We had capital pair of brisk little
Texas ponies, al fire and nerve, and, the
roads being good, reached our object
point in good time, but several hours
were consumed in driving over the coun-
try. and, unconscious OF tho flight of the
short day, we were surprised to find our
selves near its close. Another reason
for haste was also apparent in the
purplish masses of cloud lying near the
horizon that threatened storm. In an
incredibly short time darkness was on
us and the entire heavens black with the
coming tempest. The ponies became
unmanageable at the first peal of thunder
and forsool1 the road, which vainly en-
deavored to find again; but the vivid
flashes of lightning, instead of serving
me, only added to my confusion. An
hours plunging here and there i'll the
bald prairie threw me completely out of
nv reckoning, and when at last the
storm had spent itself and the rain began
to pour down in torrents, couldn't have
told my right hand from my left. Herr
l. called my attention to q dim but
steady spark of light burning close to
the horizon at no great distance from us.
Taking it to be at some house we drove
the now subdued ponies straight to 1t,
and found ourselves before low shanty,
through whose unshuttered window that
welcome light was shining. We knock
ed, and voice in English, though with
a slight foreign accent, called out to
know who we were. We replied that
we were two belated, lost travellers, who
sought the shelter Of . roof for the
night. After some delay the door was
opened, and we stepped in. a man of
average height, but of . commanding,
| elegant bearing, stood holding in his
hand a candle, whose light falling on his
face revealed it most distinctly. Herr
L. looked at him and at once eX,
claimed in amazement:
God in heaven. it is the Count von
-
But the name was unuttered, for the
man dropped the candle instantly, and
sprang like Wild beast at Is throat
crying, in German:
"Speals that name and l Kill you like
a dog"
l. gaspad out that he would not,
and his assailant took his hands from
his throat and relighted the candle. The
room was furnished ludely, but wa;
scrupulously clean, and the plank table
covered with books that proved on ex
animation to be the untranslated Latir
poets, with few well chosen volume:
of English essays. The hermit provided
us with supper of boiled ham and
crackers, and then, turning to l.
said that if he would pledge himself moi
to reveal to any one his name ant
Whereabouts we would be welcome tc
such shelter as lie could offer. l.
promised, and we remained all night
There was only one room, and we al
slept il blankets ON the floor. Our mys
FERROUS host had little Or nothing to say
and when l. volunteered some infor
nation in regard to recent German poll
tics, replied that he wished never t.
even hear the name Of that country
mentioned again.
Il don't ask YOU who that man is, af
ter your having given your word to him
Herr l. l said, "but what is lie, o.
rather what has lie BEEN
Il Will tell you only t;is, answered
my companion. THAT lone hermit il
the head of one of the most powerful
families in Germany. He is supposed t.
have died, however, some years ago. a
any rate, coffin was buried with every
possible honor, and, up to last night,
am sure. it never occurred to any one t,
doubt his body lay in it. He occupied
one Of the most important positions a
court, and | am st a loss to understand
his exile to these Texas plains, for lie lief
charming young wife, an exalted ranl
;,na,,,r, fr,. t1,~t t,o,-ol ~