Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-11-21
AFTER FORTY YEARS.


AFTER FORTY YEARS..
'It 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 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
go it alone, but it was a 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, am one of the
three, and am now on my way to Roch-
ester in fulfillment of the agreement
made. / don't know whether shall see
the others OF not. l have never heard
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.
sit 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."
eyes, yes, let us have it," they all cried.
line Olu sSCuUltiIlttll ulOt 0u uliitSCll luUO q
more comfortable position, while the young
man edged himself little closer to the
group.
'sWeIl, [ struck straight north, took
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 shat land go, and as a result it is worth
many thousands of Uncle SANS big silver
dollars. But that is only on one line, a2d
is a little out of order | started a little
supply store In Green Bay when it first be-
gan to develop, and as l 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 he was lumberman
and ordered a heavy bill of goods. He
then went out, and in a few hours returned
considerably intoxicated and wanted to
borrow So of course could not let him
have it, for I had not found time to look
up who my customer was, and feared he
might be trying to swindle me. Upon my
refusing his request he became very much
epraged, and commenced shooting at me
with a big pistol he carried. In defense of
myself I seized a loaded gun that was
standing in a corner, and in the heat Of the
moment I discharged it toward him, and
was Immediately Mortified to see him fall
and die at once.
swell, to make long story short, l was
exonerated from all guilt by the authori-
ties; and yet every little while | 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
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 be-
hind those two ngers''-holding up his
hand for inspection-''and 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 Of
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 it, out
there, and may say that have had many
adventures of varied nature. am now Ga
years old and bid fair to see 81, as far as
my general bodily vigor is concerned.
tSuch is, briefly, my life, and what it
has done; and you don't know how anxious
| am to learn of those other two young
men-and 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 had been listening intent
1y stepped forward, ard addressing himself
to the little old gentleman said politely:
Excuse me, sir; but may l ask your
name?"
Certainly, sir-certainly," was replied,
and the old gentleman gave his full name.
"Then, sir,' said the young man, Il
want to grasp your hand, for you are nay
fathers old friend, and l am now on my
way to Rochester to find gentleman of
your name and bearing your history"
'WhatP exclaimed the old timer, ex-
hibiting great surprise; 'you don't mean
to 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."
ayes, SIR" said the tall young fellow.
THAT is just what | mean"
"WellI WE'LL just step here where the
light will show better. Yes, see dis
tant resemblance. You certainly look very
much like that hearty young companion OK
mine forty years ago; very much, in fact, as
have almost expected to see hlm-though
l know that over half a lifetime has passed
by But your father-tell me OF him ag
once" and the little old man began to get
fdgety.
They relaxed their grasp of each others
hands and sat down together, while thu
others gave every attention.
"My father is dead,' began the young
man.
"Whatl" said the sire at his side.
eyes, my father, and the companion OF
your younger days, is no more. He passed
away four years ago. and on his dying bed
he gave me the instructions am now car
rying out. 1t was the one wish of my IA