The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1890-01-02
HERMIT or THE PLAINS.
TRAVELLERS IN TEXAS ENTERTAINED
BY A MYSTERIOUS HOST.


A certain gentleman, whom | shall call
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
sive ranch. Herr L stopped in Fort
Worth for a 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, ard 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.
"No house at all, sir" said mine host,
Except that of the hermit.
The hermit" we both exclaimed.
Yes, the hermit Of the plains He's
singular foreign character, who lives
some fifteen miles from here, all alone,
in little shanty about half mile of
the road. He's SO mighty unsocisble he's
got himself the name Of the hermit OF
the plains He might take you in, r.
-, but it's one of his peculiaritira that
he can't bear German" with Il glance
at my companionl. and he wouldn't
accommodate me to save bis life.
% rabid Frenchman, in all prolabil
ity," said Herr l., rs we drove off
We had capital pair of brisk little
Texas ponies, all fire and nerve. ard, 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 the 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 a storm. In an
incredibly short time darkness was on
us and the entire heavens black with the
coming tempest. The ponies became
Cnmanageable at the first peal of thunder
and forsook 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 in the
bald prairie threw me completely out of
my 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 n 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 it,
and found ourselves before low shanty.
through whose unshuttered window that
welcome light was shining. We knock
ed, and voice in English, though with
O slight foreign accent, called out to
know who we were. We replied that
we were two belated, lost travellers. who
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 candle, whose light falling on his
face revealed it most distinctly. Herr
l. looked at him and at once ex-
claimed in amazement:
-
But the name was unuttered, for the
man dropped the candle instantly, and
sprang like wild beast at LIS throat,
crying, in German:
Speak that name and l kill you like
a dogv'
l. gasped out that he would not,
and his assailant took his hands from
his throat and relighted the candle. The
room was furnished rudely, but was
scrupulously clean, and the plank table
covered with books that proved on ex-
animation to be the untranslated Latin
poets, with a few we'll chosen volumes
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 not
70 reveal to any one his name and
whereabouts we would be welcome to
such shelter as lie could offer. l.
promised, and we remained all night.
There was only one room, and we all
slept in blankets on the floor. Our mys-
terious host had little or nothing to saw,
and when l. volunteered some infor-
nation in regard to recent German poll
tics, replied that lie wished never to
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." said, but what is he, or
rather what has lie been:"
II will tell you only this answered
my companion, That lone hermit is
the head of one of the most powerful
families in Germany. He is supposed 10
have died, however, some years ago. Al
any rate, coffin was buried with every
possible honor, and, up to last night, /
am sure, 1t never occurred to any one to
IL al L.. /