The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-12-12
AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE,

was in Hyde Park one afternoon
recently, comfortably ensconced in a
shady nook, from which | could watch
the stream of gaily-appointed equipages
constantly passing.
The sun shone brightly, soft,
languorous breeze sighed through the
trees, and altogether it was picture of
such purity, peace, and Joy that even a
misanthrope would have felt glad to
have looked upon it.
was thinking thus when a man to
whose outstretched hands two little
children boy and girl were cling
ing passed me, and finding an unoc-
cupied shelter under the trees, threw
himself at full length upon the ground,
and encouraged the little ones to gam
bol on the soft grass.
As he reclined there his face was
turned toward me, and Twas so struck by
its singularity that the peaceful scene
around me was forgotten, and even the
noise was unheard.
He was, Judging from his bright eyes
and fresh pink-and-white complexion,
about thirty-two or thirty-three years
of age. A heavy mustache covered his
lip, and his hair-he had thrown off his
hat-was thick and wavy.
1t and the mustache were snow
white, and it was speculation as to the
cause OF this phenomena that so dis
tracted my attention from the scene
around me.
l could not take my eyes away from
him, and | was so absorbed that | did
not hear the approach of my friend
M
come over to have a smoke and chat.
Barton, is a newspaper writer, and
knows everybody, consequently 1 was
not surprised when he nodded familiar.
" to the man who had so attracted my
attention, and called out to him in his
CHEEKY way
''Hullo, Derry! Taking a day out?'
The man bowed in reply, and seized
Barton by the arm, pulled him down
on the seat beside me, lowered my
voice and propounded this inquiry with
an eagerness which betrayed my intense
curiosity
''That-man-Derry-how did his
hair become white?"
Turned in few minutes from
fright answered Barton coolly. Not
an uncommon thing. Derry, though,
had a remarkable experience. If he
wasn't such modest fellow, I'd write
it up for our paper. You could do it.,
though, for it's right in your line. Dis
guise the names and places-eh, old
fellow9 Wait till light my cigar, and
I'll tell you all about it,"
And forthwith he did, and | have
written it out as near as l can remem-
ber it, preserving a strict incognito as to
names and places.
1t was during a great railroad
squabble in France some wears ago that
Lionel Derry met with the adventure
which turned his brown hair white,
won him bride, and made his fortune
at the same time.
Derry was a minor clerk in the main
office of the great Wilson's Company
but sharp, shrewd, attentive to his
duties, and well thought of by his
superiors.
When the Parray Company began to
build a rival road and attempted to
cross the Seine on property belonging
to the WILSON'S people. Derry, was sent
up, with others. to hold the fort" un-
til the matter could be settled by the
courts.
The station near where the Wilson's
road crossed the Seine was romantically
situated, and already an enterprising
speculator had erected large hotel
there and advertised it far and wide as
/ pleasant summer resort
The employees of both the rival rail-
| roads were quartered in this hostelry,
and you can depend upon it they
watched each other like hawks.
The ,Vissous Company's bridge was
only a temporary affair of trestle work
but plans had been prepared for sub
stantial cantileyer, and it would be put
in place as soon as the trouble about
the right of way was settled.
1t was necessary to keep force of
hands constantly employed, strengthen
ing aud repairing the frail trestle
bridge, and the engineer in charge of
this work became Lionel Derry's firm
| friend.
He was an elderly, sedate man named
Pierre Lamoureux. intensely devoted to
his profession. and great inventor.