The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-02-07

nave Deen tneTe yet ii III Haun nave Deen
for the cyclone
Did it blow their wits awayl" 1t
was such tedious work getting at the
few facts of the old mans story, that
was fast losing my patience
The landlady looked at me in mild re-
proach, as if l had jested with sacred
subject. / found that | had.
THAT is exactly what it did do"
WHAT l cried, in establishment.
The woman seemed to expect me to be-
lieve her startling statement.
"That is exactly what it did do" she
repeated with grave distinctness 1T
swept through the gulch, and there
wasn't much dirt left when it got done
its work, now | can tell you. After
ward, when the men from here went up
to the camp to see if anybody was left
alive, they found Pop lying in the bot
tom of the canon. They thought he was
dead at first, and started to bring him
into town just to bury him; but Jim
CorsOn, the veteri airy, he said that he
reckoned there was some little life left in
the man, and after Ee had worked over
him spell he found that he was right.
We pieced it out that he had been blown
off the bluff where his cabin had stood
ard landed in the ravine; but whatever
became of Noses no one has heard
from that day to this. 'Pop'-he goes
by that name everywhere now, seeing
that he doesn't know any other-wGs
sick more'n month right here in this
house. tended him, and never heard
him say one thing the whole during
time, only just that heart-breakin' ques-
ton: Have you seen-Mose-sr He had
struck his head, and every other idee
'peared to have left it except that he had
lost his boy and must find him. Here
he comes, now. BE kind to him. neigh
Dor; how do We know but that he halls
from Cawncord?"
How, indeed! Yet, even without that
recommendation to my sympathy, l
ShOuld have been "kind" to the harm
less mental wreck whom chance had
thrown in my path.
He attached himself to me from the
beginning, and in a short time became
the constant companion Of nv walks.
He was always silent, save for that pitiful
query, which it is qaite likely heard less
than any one else, but which after long
interval of silence he would suddenly
PROFOUND. He would toss back the iron
gray locks from his worn face and look up
into my eyes with that wide, wondering
glance of his: Have you-seen Moses"
and would lmpassively receive my sor-
rowful, negative shake of the head
Evidently he expected no other reply:
that is. if his brain had any power of
left within lis convolu;ions.
When l left Boomvillc parted with
"POp" with real regret. He was so
patient. so faithful, so unobtrusive. that
his society was more like that of some de-
voted animal than of any human being:
and those who have lived much with the
companionship of a favorite dog or horse
will understand that there are times
when their silent presence is vastly
more agreeable than that of ones own
kind.
As journeyed farther into the wilds,
sometimes meeting not more than one or
two fellowcrcatures in the course of
long days ride, found myself recurring
with strange persistence 10 Pops"
pathetic story, and half impelled to ask
Of each traveller whom met: Have you
'een-Mose-s!r
| do not now remember when it was
upon me that / should vet
''see Noses but became imbued with |
the idea very shortly after leaving Boom
vile. | did not 20 about making the in
luiry which now seemed so natural to |
ne, but ! kept my eyes and ears well
open. If Moses were still alive-and, |
as it might be, no proof of his !
Heath had ever yet been found-he could |
not have wandered very far away from
he scene of the accident which had in |
ured his fathers brain.
He had been described to me as an ex-
remely winning and handsome lad.
Every one. white men and Indians alike. |
lad been kind to him; there was an APP
peal in his silent helplessness which no |
,ne could resist.
The hopeful possibility was that he
lad attached himself to some company
If trappers or miners; and as my business
ed me to visit many camps, had an ex.
,ellent opportunity of searching for the
Missing lad. was the more determined
n my endeavor by the thought that his
to his father might also serve
o clear that fathers clouded intelli-
,ence. For Pops" trouble was not in
anity; | agreed with the landlady in
ha.. 1t was a total suspension of
memory and interest save on one point.
t was like a clog in machinery that is
'nly temporary hindrancc, and of no
injury once it is removed.
l was not at all surprised when found
him. / knew him at once from the de-
cription l had had, and from the intui-
ion that l was destined so to do.
He was washing dishes in q mininn