The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-01-18
SOMERSET. PA. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 49, 1893.

freshment, and these she urged upon
him, waiting upon him herself. and try
ing to show her gratitude in every posi-
bic way.
Very early the next morning she start
ed on her long journey to An unknown
place, and in the care Of an unknown in
dividual. But she was like a new be-
ing; all her lAnguor, all her wesried,
haggard looks had vanished, and she
seemed endowed with wonderful
strength. All traces of sadness had left
her face and in her voice was thrill Of
victory.
twas several days before We received
any message from her, and then there
were but few lines to tell US Of her safe
ty, of her husbands rapid convaleseence
and that We might expect them in
short time, when she would explain all.
The story Of Frank Hunters discovery
and MS expected return was rapidly cir
calated about town. and ali OF his old
neighbors and friends assembled at the
depot to bid him welcome home. And
to see him clasp his baby boy snd 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 it adds
one more to the already long list Of truths
that are stranger than fiction.
Il shall never forget" said he "hoE
happy and light-hearted l felt when ]
started out fishing that morning. You
know that did not often hase q holi-
day, so thought would get all the
good there was to be had. l remember
ed how used TO enjoy padding about
alone in a row boat when was g little
boy on the Illinois river, so that was why
l wouldn't le: the little colored boy 90
with me. I fastened my lines 20 the boat
and made for the deep water in the lake,
and there had some good luck fishing,
and then concluded 10 90 ashore on the
side where the woods were thick. l
drew the boat up, bat just when my foot
slipped Oh the wet sand, the boat Slid
back into the water and fell down
striking nay forehead on a large, sharp
pointed boulder. Now you viii be sur
prised when tell you that remember
nothing more until found myself in the
Pineries, in the lumber camp. Yet the
men say that l came to them in tie mid
die of Aus ust, 50 that must have wAn-
dered through the woods for several /
weeks. unconscious. l must have had !
the outward appearance Of sanity, for |
was somehow clothed and fed as the days !
went by. When I started out fishing | 4
had considerable sum Of money in my
pocket. and when I reached the campit |
was nearly gone. Then follows period I
in which my mental condition must have !
been very peculiar. The men say that l /
gave my name in the usual manner. and /
seemed ike other people, except tina. I |
did not like to talk bat remember |
nothing OF my feelings, and each day !
passed without my notice. At last my
tOrpor was broken up by a simple occur
renee. One day the mail was distribut- 1
ed, and / sat watching men read their
letters and papers. Il is strange that it
never occurred to me to wonder why | /
received no letters. Presently l saw a
man hide his face in his hands and sob 4
~'what can the matter beT asked. /
My ehiid-my boy is dead, said /
the poor fellow, grosning and sobbirg
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 trying to save money just /
for the sake Of the BOY, and so on, as men /
will talk when the very fountains Of I
grief are broken up within them. lis
tened awhile, and suddenly my brain
seemed to be on FIRE. For the first tine 4
since my fall on the stone, l began 70
have a conscious identity. l looked at
my hands, my clothing, and tried to re-
call memories ofthe past, but in vain.
Ny mental struggles were frightful, anu I
in brain fever. Then all at {
once the past came back TO me; the rest |
you know"
Mary looked at me with shining eyes.
"He called me, and | heard, she said |
softly. "YoG believe it, nov ?"
/ pressed her hand in silence; ] could |
not speak; surely this was love which |
passed human understanding