Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-12-05

and assumed an aggressive attitude to-
ward the opposite window, noticed a few
drops OF water upon the panes, and was
then for the first time aware that It was
raining. A moment after vivid flash Of
lightning illuminated the darkness with
out, opening up phosphorescent vistas in
the mosquitoes with startling suddenness.
Brief as WAS the interval for observation,
II was sufficient 10 confirm my suspicious.
Amid the loud reverberations of the
thunder clap that followed. | was conf
dent that had seen man lurking In the
scanty shrn5bery outside.
cannot describe how much was dis
concerted by this discovery. was alone
In wild and lawless country, where a
man might be attacked and murdered
without chance of succor. / was In a
lighted room, whose unshuttered windows
stared into the black night SO glaringly,
that practically | was as defenseless TO an
enemy hid in the darkness without, as if
shut ia glass case As this thought
leaped to my brain, l suddenly extin-
gulshed the light and cropped for the re-
volyer and cartridge belt, resolving TO
make as determined a stand as possible.
Securing both, bnekied on the belt and
backed against the door, In order to resist
any forcible entrance. In this defiant at
titude | waited, the storm continuing to
rage without.
A Texan thunder storm IL at all times
awe inspiring. | do not think ever lived
more thrilling existence than during the
brief interval | crouched In the darkness
of that little cabin, which was necessarily
lighted by the blue flashes that seemed TO
leap from window to window, and which
shook tremulousiy under the crash of the
shattering reports that followed one an
other in quick succession. My excitement
reached its height when, during one Of
these sudden illuminations, | perceived
pressed against the pane and peeriBg into
tine room wild, red face, with long gray
beard and disheveled hair streaming in the
wind. The apparition, seen by the lurid
light, was SO mnlevolent that / think
was only prevented from firing at 1t by the
brief interval of the fash. When the
lightning CLEANED again the face was
gone, and / was certain now could hear
some one grouping his way along the side
of the house, evidently supporting him
self In that way against the charging
gusts OF wind and sharp fusillade of the
driving rain. At the same time Miss Flo
became uneasy and barked loudly.
''iIulloa, hereg' shouted gruff voice.
iuSt&iN lcI8uhEu tut ftAutp anu UR6Af4
the door In some trepidation.
There entered tall figure, so gratuit-
ousIy limp and bedranglcd with rain as TO
be almost grotesquc; SO worn with travel
and with such an utter weariness of life
in the eyes as to be really pathetic. The
clothes that he wore were torn and
abraded, exposing sub-stratum of red
flannel at the knee, which gave him a
iudicrous suggestion of having worn him
self down TO the quick from the excess of
his devotions. His shrunken pantaloons
enerpached upon the calves of his legs, and,
as he was without stockings, this lack of
intimacy with his hob nailed shoes exposed
n pair Of very gaunt and reluctant ankles.
His beard and hair were long, struggling
and unkempt, and were surmounted by
an cxtravagant slouch hat of the frontier
pattern. Running over the scant details
of my former apparition, | mentally classi-
fled him at once as "border tramp
But | was lonely that evening and dis
posed To be polite. l therefore offered
him the only chair In the room, stretched
myself upon the low bed and calmly
awaited developments.
Good evening" he said, In a rather
husky but pleasant voice, as he lapsed into
the chair. Then he took off his broad hat
with a swirl of spattering rain drops,
wiped his forehead with a red bandana
handkerchief, ruminated few minutes,
replaced his hat, and finally producing u
pipe and a plug of tobacco began slowly
cutting up and crumbling the latter--the
usual frontier preliminares TO n smoke.
watched his movements with absorb
ing interest. lie reminded me so forcibly
of pictures of the lamented John Brown,
that was more than ever inclined to &C.
eept the '.singnlar conflicting conditions
of that martyrs soul and body as ex-
emnlifed in the popular song.
When he had finally lighted his pipe and
emitted several curling rings of smoke,
this odd figure yonchsafed the information
that lie had come across country in the
hope of assisting Us in shearing. In
formed him that we lad just finished that
day for the season. He seemed to ex-
perienee some regret at this, and for n
time smoked on in silence. At length, his
eyes happening to fall upon my relin-
qnished volume he took il up, glanced
over it hastily, and laid it down again.
You have been reading Macaulayfn
he said. assented In some surprise.
Abr said my strange guest; "a won-
derfal mani wonderful man, that same
Maeaulayi What a genius, what learn
ing, what noble style he had, to be surci,
Then throwing his head back and mar
rowing his wild eyes, he suddenly broke
out:
".An acre in Middlesex is worth prin-
eipality in Utopia; the smallest actual
good ii better than the most magnificent
promises OF impossihilities: the wise man
OF the Stoics would, no doubt, be grander
| object than a steam engine. But there
are steam engines. And the wise man of
! the Stoics IL Yet to I've born. 4 philosophy
which should enable man 10 feel per-
| fectly happy when in the agonies of pain
may be better than philosophy that can
assnage pain. But we know that there
are remedies that will assnage pain; and
we know that the ancient sages liked the
| toothache as little as their neighbors.'h
| sat up in some amazcment at this
effort Mt memory. For the past three
months, having associated with individ-
nails whose yocabularies hardly ventured
beyond the possibilities of right smartn
and away over yonder, y was somewhat
startled | admit.
Are yon native of this state, sirs',
asked, with great respect.
Mo- replied he, turning full upon me
for an instant thnse singular eyes Of his.
| II am, like yourself, q northerner."
'Iet me offer you better pipe,h said,
/ pointing out to him the case containing
my best meerschanm; .syou Will find some
excellent Cayeadist In that jar.n
| lie gave me quick glance. rs II appre-
ciatiye OF my hospitality, but declined,
saying that long habit had given him a
/ preference for the natural Leaf