Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-09-08
CRAZY JIMS ROMANCE.

In the gathering twilight at the close
Of Il winter afternoon an old man was
Shambling along rough country road.
The sky was sombre and the land
Scape bleak. Cheerlessness pcrvadrd
the entire scene. The environment Of
the man was singularly in harmony
with his forlorp appearance and mis-
fortunes. Like the trees that had
been deprived of their summer foliage
and waved bare, gaunt branches over
his head, he had lost what is beauti-
tul and joyful in life.
The ar was bitterly cold. and the
aged traveller shiyered in his INSULT
cicnt clothing. From head to foot his
aspect was that of a tramp. His mis-
Shapcn old soft hat with holes in its
crown. the dirty comforter around his
neck, the tattcred suit of clothes, his
great coarse shoes broken open at the
sides, all bore testimony to the pow
crty and neglect which he endured.
But his bent figure. his dull. sad face.
wrinkled and peaked. showing the ef-
fccts of continual struggle with dis
comforts, contributed far more Ia his
pathetic appearance than did his bad
apparel.
lie carried in his hand rough and
heavy stick, which he used aS a cane.
and now and then he thumpcd IL
against the ground with an energy
surprising In one who looked So feeble.
His eyes, never wandering to the right
nor To the left. were bent Steadfastly
downward. The mind of tho singular
being was absorbed with troubled
thoughts; he muttcred continually aud
quite loudly, and occasionally shook
his head Ike one who was filled with
pcrpleXity.
At II turn In the road few rods
ahead of him two boys came in sighI.
and gazcd ~ him curiotIsly. Onr of
the boys had recently arrived from the
city To visit his grandmother. who
lived in the ncighborhood. lie rcgar,l-
cd the approaching codger with some
alarm. hut his companion quickly re-
assured him
Its only Crazy Jim" said Robert
Mallory. "IIe looks savage, but be
would not harm mouse"
Il am glad To hear you say he i
harmless, for | was afraid he might
attack us with that big stick" an
Swcrrd Thomas Berkins.
lie docs not hook NJ any person or
talk to any one unless he Is first
spoken To-" said Robert.
WHATS the matter with himF'
"Ile Is lovc-crackc,l. they say. u is
the usual story which We hear abnui
these old hermits who bury them
selves in woods aud caves n j. ~
lated that wheE he was a young man
he was uncommonly smart and hand-
some. lie dressed we'll inde.tI. was
almost dude. although "a kpk at
him now one can scarcely helipvr if
His folks were respectable, bui MT
wealthy. lie fell In hove win the
daughter Of millionaire. aud sha was
was Just rs much In hove as be wa~.
hut her cruel father separated th-m.
and few years later she married
somebody else Jim bccame mvlan-
oholy aud partially lost his wits After
his parents died he wandered away
from home, and has had nn onr o.
care for him since. For twenty years
he has lived In a howell Ia the misisl
of forest about a mile from herr"
Robert ceased talking as Jim WAS
about to pass the boys.
Hello. Jim" cried the cuuniry lad
"IIowdy do" answered Jim, ahScat.
ly.
"Where's your mind, old mann
Its with her. oh. I cannat nnh
her. cannot find her! VIII mt
the good Lord ever let me see her facr
again"
There was a pathos In the trembling
tones which prevented the boys frsin
disturbing Jim with further qucstiams
4 few days later the two frtensi-
visited the her nit's abode. lie was
not There. hut the door was aIen aud
they walked In. II did not take lsng
to satisfy their curiosity. The hui.
hovcl II can be called. had no nnar.
and on the ground were scattered the
wretched belongings. consisting of q
small rusty stove In one corner a frW
cooking utensils, an axe. plies of wo,-i.
dilapidated wearing apparel and mis-
cellaneous articles of small value
Slung from two big hooks was M
hammock In which the hermit Slept
The dirt and disorder Disguised the
boys, and they were about 10 have
when Thomas saw on the only shelf
in the one apartment a small Rlhie
which had evidently been placed there
with care. He opened the bssok ansi
read on an unprinted page next TO thss