Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-01-27

miles to the nearest railroad station, and
here | an, 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
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 her
self with the stranger, she turned on us
like an angry lioness deprived of her
young We had no heart nor courage
to protest against any Of her plans and
could only give her all possible aid in
preparing for the journey, and promised
to keep the little boy until she returned
The strange man needed rest and re-
freshment. and these she urged upon
him, waiting upon him herself, and try
ing to show her gratitude in every way
possible. a e saassrs.,.... .....
Very early the next morning she
started on her long journey to an I'M
hh"NH pihVVf dHu III Cdlt " hu uuhuOWH
individual But she was like new be-
ing all her languor, all her wearied,
haggard looks had vanished, and she
seemed endowed with wonderful strength.
All traces of sadness had left hor face
and in her voice there was thrill of
victory.
II was several days before we received
any message from her, aud then there
were but few lines TO tell US of her
safety of her husbands rapid GONZALES
ence and that we might expect them in
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. Aud
to see him clasp his baby boy and wife
once more together in his arms, was
something never to be forgotten by any
of u.s.
Ia the quiet of his home he told US
the story Of his life while absent, and it
adds one more to the already long lists
of truths that are stranger than fiction.
II shall never forget" said he, chow
happy and light-hearted | felt when |
started out fishing that morning You
know | did not often have u holiday, so
| thought | would get all the good there
was to he had. remembered how
used to enjoy padding about alone in
a row-boat when ( was little boy, on
the Illinois River, so that was why !
wouldn't let the little darkoy boy 60
with me. fastened my lines to the
boat, aud made for the deep water in
the lake, and there | had some good
luck fishing, and then | concluded to 60
ashore on the side whore 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 |
fell down striking my forehead on
large, sharp pointed boulder, Now yau
will be surprised when ! tell you that
remember nothing more until | found
myself in the Pincrics, ia the lumber
camp. Yet the men say that ! came to
them IN the middle of August. so that |
must have wandered through tho woods
for several weeks, unconscious must
have had the outward appearance of
sanity, foe ! was somehow fed and
clothed, as the days went by When
started out fishing | had considerable
sum of money in my pocket, and when
| reached the camp it was nearly gone.
Then follows period in which my
mental condition must havo been very
peculiar. The men say that | gave my
name in the usual manner. and seemed
like other people, except that | did not
like to talk but remember nothing Of
my feelings, and each day passed BY
without my notice. At last my torpor
was broken up by simple occurrence.
One day the mail was distributed, and
sat Watching the men read their letters
and papers II is strange that il never
occurred to me to wonder why | re-
ceived 10 letters Presently saw n
man hide his faco in his hand aud sob
bitterly
"'What can be the matter 2 asked
"'My child boy is dead, said
the poor fellow, grooming aud sobbiug
worse than before And thon he went
on to toll me how smart his little boy
was, how beautiful, how he loved him,
( how he was trying 10 save money just
for the sake Of the boy, aud so on. as
men will talk when the very fountains
OF grief ara broken mp within them,
listened for n while, and suddenly my
brain seemed 10 be on fire For the
6rst Zinc since my fall on tho stone, !
began 10 have conscious identity. |
looked at ny hands, my clothing, and
tried 10 recall memories Of the past, but
in vain. My mental struggles we're
frightful, aud terminated in brain fever.
Then all at once the past oamo back 10
mo the rest you know
Mary looked at ne with .hinlug eyes
Gle called me, aud / heard she
said softly. lyon believe it, nowY
pressed her hand 10 silence could
not speak surely this was love which
passed human understanding
The boy had been sitting for three
hours watching the bob on his f,h.liue
when tho man came along "What ar
you doing there 2 said the man. Fish
in'" said the boy. Got anything 90
said the man. yep" said the boy
What said the man. Patience
said the boy. ard the man offered him