The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1891-01-22

| -~ I ~ gOu tNtI Duil
g llup against an in
a dividual who baffiec
| L7-XJ lyour curiosity by
E~Io "a drawing a veil of Sc
| lfAMNn. --s,ttfss1 crecy over his past?'
t s.sl ii. l4G!1 - queried the young
IT, - doctor, when it came
his turn to contribute a story to the
general fund. 81 used to think" he
continued, that such characters
emanated solely from the fertile brain
of the fiction writer. But | was
mistaken. Not many years since ]
formed the &C quaintance of a man
who was harder to make out than
the most Ingenious creature of n
novelistcould possibly be. Aregular
human enigma in short, and he
wasn't obliging enough, you know,
to clear up the mystery before he
died either.
at was early in the sos" began
the doctor, lighting a cigar, "and
had just finished my medical studies
and was trying to pick up little
practice in pleasant village in the
southern part of Wisconsin. Bust
ness didn't flourish by any means.
but as | had friends there, and was
too poor, besides, to think of estab-
fishing myself in large city, was
very well content to remain there.
for while at least.
There were several churches in the
town, but at the time of which |
speak the congregational pulpit was
empty. Numerous applica tions for
the position appeared, but none suit
ed until at last one of the trustees
arrived home after short trip and
announced that he had found the
very person. A Rev. MIR. Ramsay it
was whom he had run across quite
accidentally, and who. though tray
cling for his health, had finally con-
sented to come out and preach II
trial sermon and to remain indef-
nitely if his hearers were pleased.
swell, in due time Mr.. Ramsay
arrived and delivered a discourse
which for eloquence and logic, have
never heard excelled. You may be
sure the church lost not q moment
in engaging him, and then maryeled
much at their good luck, wondering
that so talented man should wish
to stay and bury his gifts in such u
SMALL obscure town.
1.-The new acquisition speedily arose
to the place OF first favorite in the
ranks OF the ministers. His sermons
fairly scintillnted with brilliancy, and
we soon found that he certainly DOS
sessed a remarkable fine education
in the bargain. Though he never
spoke of the past, his conversation
gave evidence of his having Travelled
extensively in pretty much every
country on the face of the globe.
Moreover he was young, and such a
geniaiwnr hearted fellow that every
body liked him at first sight. They
couldn't help it.
But, as said, he never alluded to
his former life. For aught we knew
he might have been bishop or n
hlghwayman, an American gambler.
or the son of an English duke, but
the church members were too proud
oil the prize they had captured to be
very curious about the previous re-
cord, and the touch of mystery
clinginS to him only rendered him
more attractive to us. For nv
part, thought the strangest thing
concerning him was that he seemed
never to hold communication with
anybody outside the town. A fellow
so engaging and companionable
must have made friends wherever
he went, and yet so long as we knew
him he didn't receive one letter or
telegram from abroad-not q single
message of any kind.
AT least, that is what the post
master and the depot agent said.
and these officials keep track of such
things in little towns, you had bet
ter believe.
Ramsay and / got to be quite in
innate alter While, and many were
the walks and talks we enjoyed to-
gether. But he wasn't any more
confidential with me than he was with
Others, and of course | asked no
questions. Only once did he saw
something which might be construed
as hearing upon the secret was
convinced that he had. 1t was in
this way:
Ramsay had dropped into my Of
flee, and NE fell to conversing about
hereditary disease. 1t grew out of
some cases | was treating then. II
don't remem Der what. Ramsay. in
his brilliant, earnest fashion began
to lnveigh against people who mar
rled and brought into the world
children cursed with the seeds of
some dreadful malady.
Let me tell you a story" he said.
'and it will show you how MANY
lives may be ruined by one such
deed. The facts came to my knowl- !
edge years ago. Once there was n
boy-never mind his name-who, his
friends said, showed exceeding great |
promise in his youth. His mother. |
n widow, seemed utterly wrapped IN
in him. She Travelled with him in
foreign lands, sent him to the finest |
schools and spared neither pains nor
expense to improve the talents ma. |
ture had bestowed upon him. He
was hopeful and hapnv md ono