The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-04-04
WHAT WAS 1T?

A number OF years ago there was
employed In one OF the large wine
manufacturing houses at Egg Harbor
City ste idy young fellow OF German
descent. named Joseph Zeigler. But
as sometimes happens TO German
young meG as we'll as TO those OF strict
American parentage. Joseph was In
love
Two or three evenings every week
would this devoted young Deutscher
walk four miles out into the bush To
call upon a pretty. yellow-haired
Fraulein who answered TO the name OF
Minna Yanzandt. and to whom he ex-
pected 10 be married as soon as he WINS
able TO support family. So 1t is not
a great source OF wonderment that il
was often well along toward morning
before he finally entered the little
room a, Egg Harbor where at present
he was lodging.
Thus IL came ABOUT that Joseph was
once trudging on along through the
sand OF a narrew and bush bordered
road. among the wee small hours at
the little end OF the day. He had just
left the'Vanzandt homestead and the
charming and ample Minna; and nat
orally enough. he was happy man.
More than two miles OF dusty high
way lay before him before the next
clearing would be reached. and large
tracts Of land thickly covered with
scrub oak and pine crowded close
upon the roadside. Occasional paths
and openings led out into the wood
land on either side. but in spite OF
these the walk was decidedly lone
some, and so thought the young fellow
In question In spite OF pleasant
thoughts OF the fair-haired Naichen
whom he had just left SO he rather
wished he could have company, though
the evening was bright and moonlit
ono.
Suddenly, and wthor' slightest
previous warning, Joseph became con
sclous that he was not alone. An old
man. with long gray beard was walk
Ing along by his side. though SEEM
ingly ignorant OF his proximity.
She young man wondered much at
his presence there at that hour. but
his company was decidedly welcome;
for, II the truth he told. Joseph was
feeling tribe timid.
Good evening sir: II 1t is not too
late. said he to the stranger with
view to being sociable.
The old man p Id not the slightest
attention 10 the salutation; he did not
appear a. II he had even heard IL. for
he kept " king along In the same
absorbed aud silent manner.
''Wle gents. meln Freund." said
10 cph In little louder tone. think
ing HE companion might not under
stand English or was somewhat deaf;
but still there was no sign that he
was heard The old man only walk
ed along as quietly aud unsociably AS
ever.
Joseph looked at him even more
sharply than before. but he could not
SEQ anything about him TO occasion
the least alarm The silent old man
not only made no offer To modest him
la any way. but be paid no more at
tention 10 him than he would To u
feneopost. II ono had been there.
Evidently ho was not n tramp. for
lie was well-dressod. and the glitter OF
n gold charm crossed his vcst-front
Zeiglcr also observed that he walked
with stout stan. whose head was
gro,esquely carved into the scmblance
OF "A human skull. and th his features
were pale even TO ghnstlincss
The tacituru stranger walked along
by his side for nearly a mile. and.
though Joseph spoke TO him several
times in both German and English. he
could not even attract his attention.
Then he suddenly turned down n
narrow by-path that lcd of among the
bushes on the right add disappeared
In the shadows.
Much mystiied, Zclgler walked rap.
idly homeward. aud when he again
called upon his beloved few even
Jugs later, lao made some inquiries In
regard 10 the matter But Herr Van
zandt know OF no one answering nj
all 10 the young mans description. No
ono lived out In the bush IN that d.
rectlon, and there were no paths there
except cattle-tracks. leading nowhere
In particular
z'he fair Nina soon engrossed