Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-10-09
AFTER FORTY YEARS.


mined to hew ont their fortunes or perish
in the attempt" said one Of the party OF
four or five who were gathered in the cabin
Of lake propeller hound down, one
stormy night One or two Of the number
had stemmed the monotony and broken
the ice toward freer feeling by rehears-
Ing some light anecdotes or "reminiscences
when gray haired, rotund gentleman
yentured rs above All attention WAS given
him, and he then continued.
"As was one of them | viii be more
personal and SAY that We were strong, wei
1 built specimens Of manhood and had any
amount Of grit, and we had also made up
our minds to be fully Independent Of the
world and Of each other We went TO
gether from Buffalo to Detroit by boat
Arriving AT Detroit and spending a day or
two IN looking about we then after con
sultation concluded to part company and
each 20 in the direction he thought best.
This may seem rather queer for young
men 10 start out together with common
interests and then TO switch around aud
20 il alone, but it was "A freak 81 young
minds Il had something odd and 70
mantle about it that struck Us fayorably
Before parting we agreed TO return TO
our old home at Rochester in forty years,
II our lives were spared. This was putting
it long ways ahead. but this was only
another freak
well, as before said. am one of the
/ three. and am now on my way TO Roeh
ester in fuifillment Of the agreement
made don't know whether ! shall see
the others or not have never heard
word from either Of them, and really do
not know whether 10 think they are dead
or alive
While this was being said young man.
who had been trying 10 read by the dim
pickering light, put aside his book and
strained eagerly to catch every word ut
tered by the story teller
1T might, In view Of this" continued
the man with gray hairs, "be interesting
to you, gentlemen. to have a brief sketch
Of what has happened TO me since that
time OF my separation from my comrades
now almost forty years ago"
"Yes, yes. let Us have 1t, !" they all cried.
The old gentleman moved himself into a
more comfortable position, while the young
man edged himself a little closer to the
group.
We'll, ! struck straight north, took
boat for Mackinaw and from there drifted
10 Green Bay, Wis. There was nothing Of
G~3en Bay then, but saw some good land.
and by wiggliug around managed to get
hold of some Of it. then held on. it was
pretty hard work sometimes, but ! never
let that land 60 and as result il is worth
many thousands OF Uncle Sans big silver
dollars. But that is only on one line, aHd
is little out Of order started a little
supply store in Green Bay when il first be
10 I
crate success ] soon got me wife.
We'll. we padded along without much
occurring until one day big fellow came
into my store, said he was a lumberman
and ordered a heavy bin Of goods. He
then went out, and in few hours returned
considerably intoxicated and wanted To
borrow $40 Iof course could not let him
have ii. for ! had not found time 20 look
up who my customer was, and feared he
might be trying to swindie ne Upon my
refusing his request he became very much
enraged, and commenced shooting M me
with a big pistol he carried. In defense Of
myself seized a loaded gun that was
standing in a corner, and in the heat Of the
moment ! discharged it toward him and
was Immediately Mortified to see him fall
and die at once.
well, to make long story Short. / was
exonerated from all guilt by the authori
ties and yet every little while / heard
some one whisper and look or point 70
ward me. and it made me feel very uneasy
80 finally decided to pull up stakes and
90 farther west About this time. how
ever, ! was drafted into the military serv
ice-the war had Just begun-and went
through the whole campaign. leaving h.
hind those two fingers holding IN his /
hanu Tor inspection-"and bringing ONT
the long scar on the back of my head
then went west again, picked mn my
FAMILY aud struck into the grazing dis
trlct OF Montana bought a few head n |
cattle at first, aud by care have been able
TO see these multiply, until now have one
OF the largest and most successful cattla /
ranches I'D that section of the country
nave seen all kinds Of 'roughing in ont 4
there, and may say that have had many |
adventures Of varied nature. am now a. /
years old aud bid fair TO see 81. a. far a.
my general bodily vigor is concerned
Snch IS, briefly. my life. and wb.,
has done, and You don't know how ~ ,-i,,,,.
! am TO learn Of those other two vo,,,,,,
men-and to know the result Of their f,.,5
year struggle 'oi's
This was in an interesting and ria.s..
tone and had Just been finished when the
Young man who had been listening intent
y stepped forward, and addressing bimseit
70 tne little old gentleman said politely,
Excuse me. sir: but may / ak vonr
certainly, sir-Certainly," was renlied
anu ~ Ihe Old gentleman gave his fun name
Them sir, said the young man -
want TO grasp your hand, for Won ara ~
latner Old friend, and am now on nv
way. way 70 leoehester to ind gentleman az
so a.I,, name and bearing your historic
,..,.... nat exclaimed the old timer az
lioi'lng great surprise; you don't T,aa,,
% say that you are the son Of one Of fbosa
,-;,h ~ o. le Of the two associated
~ me ~ si'al freak Of forty years agoS
..-rbst I. s ;,i. salu the tall young fellow
Well WE'LL Jnsr &C.,,