The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-02-21

| charge. My name is Edwin c. Stiles,
| and am at present engaged in obtain
| ing subscriptions to several periodicals
| and religious works.
"Perhaps I could enlist your sympathy
| In my endeavors; if so, l would be
| pleased to have your name as SUBJ
| scrber to this work. 4"
Drawing a handsomely bound book
| from his pocket, he offered it to the Doc
| tor for examination.
1t happened to be work he was about
! buying, having heard it highly recon-
mended, SO Earle pleased the old man by
ordering copy.
After receiving the desired informa-
ton the stranger arose, and bidding
them good evening passed onward
Rather a ngular-lOOking person, :"
remarked Ethel. following him with her
eyes, until he disappeared from sight.
THAT white hair and beard make
him exceedingly venerable in appear
ance, but / should not think him very
DID,
About sixty-fve or six only, 1 should
judge from his skin. But his pale face
shows that his health must be poor"
"Do you think him really a clergy
man?"
NO one seems To know what to think
of him. l have heard the inhabitants of
the town speaking of him many times
lately. All agree he must be very &C.
centric character Did you notice the
wa let he had III his hand? 1t seems
that he clngs To IT night aud day. He
has been going from house To house since
he came To the village, obtaining sub
scriptions 10 his books and papers, and,
being very poor apparently, asks for his
meals, and two Or three Tins has asked
for q nights lodging. Being evidently
an educated man and a clergyman. in
poverty and loneliness, it has been given,
but everywhere his mysterious wallet
has occasioned many remarks and con-
lectures as to Its contents. If meal Is
granted he seems grateful, and leaving
his hat ami cane in the hall takes his
wallet to the dining room and keeps it
within reach of his hand while eating.
He always asks L blessing over his food.
and If he stays all night insists upon
reading the Bible and praying with the
family before he rctireS.
"He prays with the wallet in his hand!
His prayers, say those who have
heard him, are weli-worded and really
eloquent
several have asked where he resides,
ana II he has family.
Ills reply invariably is, that is
painful subject and | cannot answer.
$50 no one knows a thing about him,
except that he calls himself Rev. Edwin
{. Stiles"
,How strange" returned Ethel. as she
heard the story. Poor man. Perha ps
his brain is little unsettled 3"
"Ihe villages seem to think So. Many
of In I.,,- ;aI I'D
him to drop his wallet BY sundry tricks
They have suddenly frightened him on
the highway, have stolen in while he has
been eating, and endcavored Slyly to pick
it away. but they found him ever on the
alert, SO We're disappointed.
"Ihis morning was at the village inn,
and there laughed with the rest over the
failure Of their last Joke IT seems he
remained over night at Mr.. Tracy's, who
has son full To the brim of mischief.
SO after the Old man retired for the
night, wallet i'll hand, Reuben stole out
to acquaint a fellow p!otter with the fact
that 'old Stiles. as they call him. was at
their house, and to ask his assistance
III ferreting out the mystery of the
wallet
1t was agreed that one should go to
his door about midnight, calling fire.
fire. This would naturally brighten him,
aud cause forgctfulncSS; therefore, they
expected he would run out TO see where
the fire was, leaving thu treasure: then
the other was TO dart into his room. seize
the wallet, open it, and SO discover the
nature Of its contents. The whole
joke turned on themselves, however.
when with the iirSt call of fire the door
opened. and old Stiles appeared, wallet
in hand.'
Ethel laughed merrily over the joke,
and then other subjects We're intro
gotten.