The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-15
AFTER FORTY YEARS.

| al L 4l1b - O1GA u L~41lOs
ut was in the fall of ~ that three young
fellows left Rochester for the west, deter
mined to hew out their fortunes or perish
| in the attempt" said one of the party Of
four or five who were gathered in the cabin
of a lake propeller, bound 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 a gray haired, rotund gentleman
ventured as above. All attention was given
him, and he then continued:
"As was one Of them will be more
personal and say that we were strong, well
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 day or
two in looking about we then after con-
sultation concluded to part company and
each go in the direction he thought best.
This may seem rather queer, for young
men to start out together with common
interests and then to switch around and
60 it alone, but it was freak Of young
minds. 1t had something odd and ro-
mantle about it that struck us favorably
Before parting we agreed to return TO
our old home at Rochester in forty years,
if our lives were spared This was putting
it long ways ahead, but this was only
another freak.
"Well, as before said, l am one of the
three. and am now on my way to Roch-
ester in fulfllment of the agreement
made. don't know whether shall see
the others or rot | have never heard a
word from either of them, and really do
not know whether to think they are dead
or alive"
While this was being said young man,
who had been trying to read by the dim,
Pickering light, put aside his book and
strained eagerly to catch every word ut
tered by the story teller.
at might, in view Of this" continued
the man with gray hairs, 'be interesting
to you, gentlemen, to have 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 it" they all cried.
The old gentleman moved himself into
more comfortable position, while the young
man edged himself little closer to the
group.
well, struck straight north, took a
boat for Mackinaw and from there drifted
to Green Bay, Wis. There was nothing Of
Green Bay then, but saw some good land,
and by wiggling around managed to get
hold of some of it. | then held on; it was
pretty hard work sometimes, but l never
let that land 90, and as n result il is worth
many thousands of Uncle Sans big silver
dollars. But that is only on one line, aid
is a little odt of order | started little
supply store In Green Bay when it first be
gan to develop, and as | was having mod
crate success soon got me wife.
well, we padded along without much
occurring until one day big fellow came
into my store, said be was q lumberman
and ordered a heavy bill of goods He
then went out, and in few hours returned
considerably intoxicated and wanted to
borrow So of course could not let him
have it. for | had not found time to look
up who nv customer was, and feared he
might be tryin9 to swiDdle me. Upon my
refusing his lequest he became very much
enraged, and commenced shooting at me
with big pistol he carried. In defense OF
myself / seized a loaded gun that was
standing in a corner, and Ia 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, I was
exonerated from all guilt by the authoTi-
ties; and yet every little while l heard
some one whisper and look or point to-
ward me, and it made me feel very uneasy.
So finally decided TO pull up stakes and
20 farther west About this time, how
ever, | was drafted into the military serv-
ice-the war had just begun-snd went
through the whole campaign, leaving be
hind those two fingers up his
hand for inspection-"snd bringing out
the long scar on the back OF my head.
81 then went west again, picked up my
family and struck into the grazing dis
trict of Montana | bought few head q
cattle at first, and by care ! have been able
to see these multiply, until now have one
OF the largest and most successful cattle
ranches in that section Of the country. !
have seen all kinds OF 'roughing IL out
there. and may say that / have had many
adventures Of varied nature. am now O.
years old and bid fair 70 see 81, as far
M general bodily vigor is concerned
"Such is, briefly, my life, and what II
tas done, and you don't know how anxious
am TO learn Of those other two young
men-snd to know the result Of their forty
year struggle"
This was in an interesting and pleasant
tone, and had Just been finished when the
young man who lad been listening intent
" stepped forward. and addressing himsel.
to the little old gentleman said politely:
Excuse me, cir; but may ! ask your
nsmeF"
Certainly, sir-certainly," was replied
and the old gentleman gave bis full name
Then. si-." said the Young man, !
want 70 grasp your hand, for you are my
iathcr's old friend, and an Tow on my
way 20 Rochester 20 md gentleman Of
your name and Bearing your history"
What" exclaimed the old timer, ex-
aibiting great surprise; you don't mean
20 say that you are the son Of one Of those
TWO lost ones-one Of the two associated
with me in that freak Of forty years ago."
Yes. sir" said the tail Joung fellow.
That is Just what mean"
Well wells Ius+ step here where the
r.-L. iii - h.s@.~ w. IA