Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-03-31

start right back with rank Niie.
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 ore moment, and when some
of the family gently limited that il
would be well TO make some inquiries
before trusting herself with the stran-
ger. 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 pre-
pairing for the journey, and promised
TO keep the little boy until she re
turned
The strange man needed rest aud
refreshment, and these she urged up
on him, waiting upon him herself,
aud trying to show her gratitude in
every way possible.
Very early the next morning she
started on her long journey to All un-
known place, and in care OF an un-
known individual. But she was like
a new being; all her languor, all her
wearied hRggard looks had vanished
and she seemed endowed with Won
derful strength. All traces OF sadness
l.. Fs in Al
there was thrill Of victory.
1t was several days before We re-
ceived any message from her, and
then there were but few lines to
tell us OF her safety, Of her husband 5
rapid convaleScence and tnat 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 rap
idly circulated about town, and all
OF his old friends and neighbors a..
sembIed at the depot TO bid him wei
come home. Aud 10 see him clasp
his baby boy aud wife once more in
his arms, was something never 10 be
forgotten 10y 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, "how
happy and light-hearted felt when
| started out fishing that morning
You know | did not often have hoIi
day. so thought l would get all the
good there was to be had. | remem-
bered how | used to enjoy padding
about alone in "A row boat when ! was
a little boy. on the Illinois river, so
that was why wouldn't let the little
darkey boy 60 with me. fastened
my lines to the boat, and made for
| the deep water i'm the lake, aud there
| had some good luck fishing, aud
| then | concluded to 90 ashore on the
side whete 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 you will
/ be surprised when tell you t'.et re-
member nothing more until found
myself i'm the Pineries, in the lumber
camp. Yet the men say ! came 10
! them about the middle Of August, so
| that | must have wandered through
/ the woods for several weeks, uncon-
scious. | must have had the outward
appearance OF sanity, for | WAS some
! how fed and clothed, as the days went
by. When | started out fishing had
a considerable SUN Of money in pock
/ et. and when ! reached the camp IT
was nearly all gone. Then follows II
period in which my mental condition
must have been very peculiar. The
men say that / gave my name In the
usual manner, and seeIged like other
people, except that | did not like 10
| talk: but remember nothing OF my
feelings and notice At last my tor
por was broken up by a simple occur
renee. One day the mail wai dlstrib
uted, and | rat watching the men
read their letters and papers. 1t II
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
the poor fellow, groa ming and sob
bing 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 90 on, as men will talk when the
very fountains OF grief are broken up
within them. | listened for awhile,
and suddenly my brain seemed on
fire. For the first time since my fall
OH the stone. | began TO have con
scious identity. | looked at my
bands, my clothing, and tried to re
call memories Of the past, but in vain
Ny mental struggles were frightful,
and terminated ia 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. You believe il now =
l pressed her hand in silence; /
could not speak surely this was a
love which passed human under.
standing.
TIL Iafn &. nua1 i Adas.,s NJ Rich.