The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1891-04-04
WHAT WAS ITs

A number OF years ago there was
employed la one OF the large wine
manufacturing houses at Egg Harbor
City ste ,dy young fellow OF German
descent named Joseph Zeigler. But
MS sometimes happens to German
young men as we'll as TO those OF strict
American parontage, Joseph was In
love.
Two or three evenings every week
would this devoted young Deutscher
walk four miles out into tho bush TO
call upon pretty, yellow-haired
Fraulein who answered to the name OF
Nina Vanzandt. and to whom he ex-
pected TO be married as soon us he was
able to support family So 1t is not
great source OF wonderment that 1t
was often well along toward morning
before he finally entered the little
room at Egg Harbor where at present
he was lodging
Thus II came about that Joseph was
once trudging on along through the
sand OF narrow and bush bordered
road, among the wee small hours at
the little cad OF the day. He had just
left the Nanzandt homestead and the
charming and amp.e Minna; and nat
urally enough. he was a happy man.
More than two miles Of dusty high
way lay before him before the next
clearing would be reached. and large
tracs OF land thickly covered with
scrub oak and pine crowded close
uptn 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, aud SO thought the young fellow
In question in spite OF pleasant
thoughts OF the fair-haired Maichen
whom he had just left. So he rather
wished he could have company, though
the evening was q bright and moonlit
orc.
Suddenly, and without the slightest
previous warning, Joseph became con-
sciuus 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.
The young man wondered much at
his presence there at that hour. but
his company was decidedly welcome;
for, IL the truth be told, Joseph was
feeling trihe timid.
- Good evening, sir; II 1t Is not too
satc. said he to the stranger with n
view TO being sociable.
The old man p id not the slightest
attention to the saluta:ion; he did not
appear as II he had even he I'D it. for
he KEEP. viking along In the same
absorbed and silent manner.
''Wie gents. men Freund;" said
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 aid unsociably as
ever.
Joseph looked at him even more
sharply than before. but he could not
see anything about him to occasion
the least alarm. The silent old man
not only made no Offer to modest him
In any way, but he paid no more at
tention to him than he would to
fencepost IL one had been there.
Evidently he was not u tramp. for
he was well-dressed. and the glitter OF
gold charm crossed his vcst-front.
Zeigler also observed that he walked
with stout staff. whose head was
grolesquely carved into tho semblance
OF human skull. and tn ( his features
were pale. even to ghastliness.
The taciturn stranger walked along
by his side for nearly q 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 u
narrow by-patb that led of among the
bushes on the right, and disappeared
In the shadows.
Much mystified. Zoigler walked rap.
idly homeward. and when he again
called upon his beloved few even
ings later, lie made some inquiries in
regard TO the matter But Herr Van
zandt knew OF no one answering ut
Ill 10 the young mans description. No
ono lived out in the bush 10 that di-
rection. and there we're no paths there
except cattle-trncks. leading nowhere
In particular.
Tho fair Nina soon engrossed
Joseph's attention. however. so the
queer old man was entirely forgotten.
lie thought no more about the affair
till he set out on his return that night
or rather the next morning. for 1t was
considerably past midnight
Al about the same spot Zeigler
was thunderstruck by suddenly dis
covering that the mysterious old man
was again walking at his side. How
and whence he came. Joseph could not
explain; the first he knew the old man
was there AZ before. all efforts "a
attract his attention we're useless.