Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-01-19


put him of, but bless you, It was no
use. The more | begged of the more
excited he was, and / was afraid he
would go into fits, and maybe die,
and then I'd be to blame Finally
Says
" i don't believe your wife will
come with such q looking codger as
me; maybe she won't believe word
say
"EIe kinder smiled at that, and
said, --
"'You onlygo and offer to bring
her to her usband. Tell her that
Frank Is sick and wants her. and
you'll see whether she won't come
"Well, Of course / couldn't stand
that, so at break Of day / started.
rode fifty miles to the nearest railroad
station and here I am, ready to start
right back with Franks wife"
Mary neither wept nor tainted, but
sank right down on her knees and
poured out her thanks to the man
who had come with such good news.
Strange to say, she never doubted the
story for one moment, and when some
OF the family gently limited that it
would be we'll to make some inquiries
before trusting herself with the
stranger, she turned on us like an
angry lIoness deprived of her young.
We had no heart nor courage to pro-
test against any Of her plans and
could only give her all possible aid in
preparing for the journey, and prom
iscd to keep the little boy until she
returned.
The strange man needed rest and
refreshments and these she urged
upon him, waiting upon HIM herself,
and trying to show her gratitude in
every way possible,
Very early the next morning she
started on her long journey to an I'M
known place, and in care of an I'M
known individual. But she was like
a new being all her languor, all her
wearied, haggard looks had vanished,
and she seemed endowed with won
derful strength. All traces of sad
ness had left her face and in her voice
there was a Ohrlll of victory.
1t was several days before we re-
ceived any message from her, and
then there were but a few lines to tell
us of her safety Of her husbands
rapid convalesence and that we might
expect them in a short time. when
she would explain all.
The story of Frank Hunters discov
cry and his expected return was rapidly
circulated about town, and all of his
old friends and neighbors assembled
at the depot to bid him welcome
home And to see him clasp his baby
boy and wife once more together in
his arms, was something never to be
forgotten by any of us.
In the quiet of his home he told us
the story of his life while absent, and
1t adds one more to the already long
llsU Of truths that are stranger than
fiction.
81 shall never forget" said he,
chow happy and light-hearted l felt
when started out fishing that morn
ing. You know | did not often have
a holiday, so | thought l would get
all the good there was to be had |
remembered how | used to enjoy
padding about alone in a row-boat
when was little boy, on the Hi
nois River so that was why [
wouldn't let the little darkey boy 90
with me. | fastened my lines to the
boat, and made for the deep water
in the lake, and there l had some
good luck fishing, and then l con-
cluded to so ashore on the side where
the woods were thick. | drew The
boat up but just then my foot slipped
on the wet sand, the boat slid back
into the water and l fell down strik-
ing my forehead on large, sharp
pointed boulder Now you will be
surprised when I tell you that re-
member nothing more until | found
myself in the Pineries in the lumber
camp. Yet the men say that came
to them in the middle of August, so
that l must have wandered through
the woods for several week, uncon-
scious. | must have had the outward
appearance Of sanity, for l was some
how fed and clothed, as the days
went by. When l started out fish
ing l had considerable sum of money
IN my pocket, and when reached |
the camp 1T was nearly gone. Then
follows period in which my mental
condition must have been very
peculiar. The men say that l gave
my name in the usual manner, and
seemed like other people, except that
| did not like to talk; but l .remem.
Der nothing of my feelings, and each
day passed by without my notice. At
last my torpor was broken up by a
simple occurrence. One day the mail
was distributed, and l sat watching
the men read their letters and papers.
1t is strange that it never occurred
to me to wonder why received no
letters. Presently saw a man hide
his face in his hand and sob bitterly.
" What can be the matter?'
asked.
"'My child-mY boy is dead, said
che poor fellow, groaning and sobbing
worse than before And then he
went on to tell me. how smart his
little boy was, how beautiful, how he
loved him, how he was irving to save