The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-12-20

study \ Nrall man, finely proper
.j,Aei wiN deep, Thoughtful brown
eyes shining forth from his thickly
bearded ftcc His features were
massive, ani rather stern, and his
height herculean. He leaned on the
barrel of a fowling piece, but his
mind TA, not bent on sport.
Seycl years ago to-day he said,
seven years. | wonder how she is:
Christmas Day will always be the
lame tD me no matter where | lspend
it. On,e in the heart of the desert
in Afric2. once in a gambling hell in
South America, once in fashionable
-oCl " in London. once in the stu
d-nl's Qulrter in Paris, now, here
amid the Cat-kills, with no sound
save the singing Of the pines, no
sight save the blue space above, the
masses Of snow and the deep warm
green OF this painless forest. Still,
snci: With me. | can feel the soft
fragrance Of her breath against my
CHI ek, the touch of her hand send.
ing flashes of fire through my veins,
Solitude 1t VAS doe nothing for
.me
With deep sigh he shouldered
nj is gun and strobe away, his bulky
for II thrustinE aside the snow. laden
bou,hs. his heavy step crashing the
white crust beneath.
Lonely Sam had come to the Cat
skiiis three years ago. He had taker
MP his residence in a deserted los
cabin, an no TraDpist monk hac
ever so completely turned his back
Oh the comforts of civilized lite a:
this hermit of the forest. His hu
was situated in Greene County, some
miles f.om High Falls. 1t was des
titute of every appliance Of culture
or retirement; even an Indian woulG
have scorned the rude shelter. Here
lived the man who appeared when
a, first came to the mountain, a
being from different world. A
man in the prime OF life, well born,
well educated, a man of polish and
refinement. and what WAS stranger
still, man Of great wealth.
Inside the moss grown hut be-
traved no evidence that its inmate
had once been denizen of the
world Of luxury and ease, save in
,.,. re-Dcct The walls were lined
with shelves, and these were pacKec
wi,h books. Rare and costly vol
ume, filed the place, leaving little
space for the humble appurtenance:
e.. a simple housekeeping which tolc
# fruoal fare. Solitary Sam was ne
epicure, that was evident.
Lonely sam had come to be ;
well known character even in hi
mountain h ,me; his presence Ia,
attracted attention, though he ha'
Summed even the few with whom h
came in contact when he sallie,
f,r,b TO procure necessary supple:
His name was not known. Visitor
d,rin, the summer season ha
dubbed him Lonely SAM" an
bad often expressed curiosity an
anxiety to know more of the reclust
bnf arv advances they made wei
coIdIy repulsed-and the herm
could on occasions display ster
dionity that surprised intruders c
h $ privacy
As LONELY Sam" approached h
hut on that brilliant Christmas morl
ing, an unuary footstep on ii
slippery surface Of an ice bOur
mountain stream brought h
wciphty form to the ground. A 10,
proan burst from his lips as an ago
jling pain shot through his rig
leg.
V Humph a broken knee cap, sa
or or the hermit as he dragged hims'
into a sitting position. A pIeasa
outlook, upon my word
His ctbin was still some var
away, and he fully realized that
n was Dowerless to walk one step.
si si | suppose | can crawl that far,
said, rehectively~ l must do it;